Audio Video News

Yo. Come here. No, closer. I gotta deal for you, but we can't let anyone know about. No really, I'm serious. Step into my office-in that back alley. Here's the deal. AT&T is launching its new U-verse television service, perhaps in your very own neighborhood, but unless you know to ask for it, you'll never know. 

In a world of massive advertising blitzes, viral marketing, billboards and screaming commercials, AT&T isn't doing a thing. If you want to know if U-verse is available in your neighborhood, you have to ask. AT&T is going small scale-direct mailing and inserts in bills. Does anyone actually read those things? Currently, over 9 million households have access to the service, but only 379,000 have signed up. If no one knows about U-verse, how is anyone going to know to sign up?

U-verse is a cool option-up to 42 channels of high-definition over high-speed digital lines, plus 120 hours of record/storage time, games, phone directory, on-screen tool-bar.

Why are they being so secretive when this foray into television puts it into competition against companies such as Comcast who already offer the four services? Right now, AT&T isn't sure this service is going to work. If it fails and no one knew about it, does anyone really care? If a tree falls and no one hears, did it really fall? Or how about this: if I fall on my ass in my own home, I don't care. If I fall on my face in front of a crowd, I'm mortified. Not that I would ever do that.  They're keeping the brand name protected, so if the current format fails, the brand is still viable. This soft-launch gives AT&T a chance to work out the kinks quietly, without an audience. Actually, sounds kind of smart, not sleazy. Not so sleazy at all. Psst - sign up! -Leslie Shapiro