DirectTV Now Problems, Roku Release Date Rumors: Users Unable to Stream VOD With Buffering and Freezing Issues; Roku Compatibility Arriving Soon?

DirectTV Now, AT&T's streaming television service, was supposed to be a game changer in terms of how subscribers consumed media content. However, since its launch in November 2016, the subscription-based service has been bogged down by persistent issues, which, in turn, have infuriated those who are part of the program.

According to the latest posts on the AT&T community forums, a lot of subscribers are having issues with the constant freezing and buffering of videos. While some aspects of the service seem to work fine, most of the complaints seem to be about video-on-demand (VOD) and how subscribers are unable to properly stream content.

Subscribers have also noticed that the streaming quality of content provided by DirectTV Now seems to have been downgraded. Instead of a high-definition resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, many are reportedly only getting a standard resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. This is disappointing as other services are able to provide better quality. The subpar quality is also problematic as more consumers are using 4K televisions nowadays.

To add insult to injury, DirectTV Now subscribers are unable to receive a proper response from the streaming television service. As such, there are a lot of users who are threatening to cancel their subscriptions. Unfortunately, those who pursue termination may not be able to get refunds.

With over 200,000 subscribers, DirectTV Now acknowledges the customers' feedback and AT&T is optimistic that future updates will help prevent these issues.

"With any new technology there are going to be fixes that need to be made. While we understand we still have work to do, overall feedback on DIRECTV NOW has been very positive. We're continuously updating the app to provide a better experience for customers. We encourage customer to keep the app updated," an AT&T spokesperson told TechCrunch last month.

Meanwhile, a lot of consumers are still waiting for DirectTV Now to be available on Roku players and Roku TV models. AT&T has confirmed that Roku compatibility will be added in the first quarter of 2017 but an exact date has yet to be revealed.