AT T extends DirecTV NOW’s free HBO perk: What you need to know

Select AT&T TV and DirecTV plans are offering one year of HBO Max for free when you sign up for the first time. For both AT&T and DirecTV, the basic or "Entertainment" plan does not include the HBO Max special offer, but there are still three other plans offering the special and other perks.

AT T extends DirecTV NOW’s free HBO perk to new customers

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For current customers with these plans, you can sign in with your AT&T account after downloading the HBO Max app to access the free subscription part of your plan. AT&T TV and DirecTV Choice and Ulitmate plans get one year of HBO Max for free, but the Premier plans get a subscription for free as long as you are paying for that plan.

Right now, AT&T customers with the Unlimited Elite phone plan can get HBO Max for free as long as they are customers with the Unlimited Elit plan. Currently, this is the only phone plan from AT&T that includes the HBO Max special offer.

The same tactic has been used by Verizon Wireless to keep customers locked in to their high-priced unlimited data plans, which offers free access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in those plans. The company also offers extended trials of Apple Music and Discovery Plus on some plans.

Both plans come with some high-speed mobile hotspot data, but AT&T gives you more (15 GB vs. 5GB from T-Mobile). AT&T also has an edge when it comes to perks, giving you a free six month Stadia Pro Pass (for all you gamers out there).

Special offers: DIRECTV is currently offering a special deal for customers who purchase their satellite TV plans. You can get HBO Max, Cinemax, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and EPIX for free for three months. After the three-month promotion period, the rate will be $53.95 per month for the add-on premium bundles.

But what does all this have to do with mobile internet? Well, AT&T included free HBO with many wireless plans over the years and that plan benefit extends to HBO Max, even though the streaming service is now much more than just HBO.

Additionally, starting on June 2, 2020, AT&T Wireless customers who sign into the myATT app or website may get a promo code for 30 days of free HBO Max. It's not clear if this promo is available to all AT&T customers who don't already get HBO Max for free.

Once you've confirmed eligibility, signing up can be a bit complicated depending on your particular situation. Most wireless customers with the free HBO benefit will need to create an AT&T TV account and then use the credentials from that account to get access to HBO Max.

One nice benefit of these acquisitions for AT&T wireless subscribers is "data free TV" which allows wireless customers to stream TV from certain AT&T-affiliated apps over AT&T's wireless network without counting against any data or network management caps - as long as you haven't exceeded those caps with other data use.

AT&T TV: This app is now three old apps rolled into one and supports what was formerly AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now (aka DirecTV Now), and the DirecTV app for satellite subscribers. AT&T wireless customers that get free HBO on their plan will need to create an AT&T TV account in order to get access to HBO Max.

AT&T, the parent company of both HBO Max and Warner Bros., is also offering a complicated matrix of promos for HBO Max for its own customers. Some AT&T customers get Max at no extra cost, while others qualify for a one-month, three-month or one-year free trial. Your best shot at figuring out whether you qualify is to check your account or the my AT&T app, but CNET also lists AT&T's qualification terms for its HBO Max promos. 2ff7e9595c