The writing isn't quite on the wall for traditional cable and satellite television - not so long as companies like Comcast can manipulate the market with artificial monopolies and data caps, anyway - but things are definitely looking up for cord-cutters. The latest fruit of the union between American telecom AT&T and satellite TV giant DirecTV is a series of TV packages that don't require, well, TV packages. These data-only streaming options will become available some time in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to an AT&T press release.

Said packages will come in three flavors. First, DirecTV Now, an all-digital streaming TV service that will offer "much of what is available from DirecTV today," including on-demand programming and premium networks. (These should include options for HBO, Showtime, Sunday Ticket, et cetera, but precise details are not available). This is more or less like DISH Network's Sling TV package, but presumably it will offer more programming. Second, DirecTV Mobile, a similar system that will be exclusive to smartphones and tablets. According to the press release, this service will be available "regardless of wireless provider," so it looks like AT&T's wireless division won't have an exclusive on the service. However, it's reasonable to expect that AT&T Wireless customers will be offered some kind of incentive for DirecTV service, perhaps at a discounted rate or with controversial free data. (Note: DirecTV Mobile is not to be confused with the DirecTV app, which already offers remote streaming of some channels to conventional satellite subscribers.)

The third tier is a freebie service, DirecTV Preview, which will offer an ad-supported showcase of DirecTV content. AT&T isn't saying which channels will be available on which tiers of service, probably because they don't even know yet - this sort of thing will need to be negotiated on a network-by-network basis. There's also no mention of price, but given DirecTV's premium position in the marketplace, I'm guessing that "cheap" isn't on the table.

PRESS RELEASE