Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, etc.

You can now get DirecTV on your AT&T smartphone

In a sign of how quickly AT&T hopes to capitalize on its recent acquisition, the wireless provider has just announced a new plan for consumers that incorporates DirecTV's television programming.

The plan is a bundle of TV and cellular service, and AT&T is marketing the so-called All-in-One plans by saying it's the only company that offers a nationwide video and wireless package on a single bill. Customers who sign up for DirecTV and tack on a wireless plan start paying at rates of $200 a month — $160 for a basic phone plan with 10 GB of shared data across four lines and $50 for TV, and a $10-a-month discount off your bill for signing onto the plan.

AT&T is also offering other incentives to get people to switch, such as giving DirecTV subscribers a $300 onetime credit if they start buying AT&T's cell service, too. And, as many expected it might, AT&T is making DirecTV's programming available on mobile devices.

It's clear from AT&T's marketing what it really hopes those new sign-ups will do: Get more people using its cellular data network to watch bandwidth-intensive video. From the moment you walk out of the AT&T store with your new plan in place, the company says, you'll be able to start watching DirecTV on your phone or tablet, even before the technician arrives to install any equipment in your home.

AT&T understands that as more people come to view Internet access as a necessity, it will have to keep offering new features like exclusive video over its networks to keep things fresh (not to mention profitable). Capitalizing on content is the new big trend among Internet providers — whether it's Comcast buying NBCUniversal in 2011, Verizon buying AOL or AT&T buying DirecTV.

Expect this media convergence to produce more plans and deals like these.

Netflix will spend $5 billion on content in 2016

We always like to talk about how Netflix is ‘doubling down’ on original content, but truth be told, that doesn’t really capture the full scope of Netflix’s programming objectives. Netflix doesn’t just want to increase the breadth of its original content, it wants to completely dominate the premium original content space and completely dethrone HBO in the process.

In 2016, Netflix is planning on spending $5 billion on content, a figure which includes a mix of traditional TV and movie licensing costs and wholly original content. To put that figure into perspective, Netflix in 2013 spent $2 billion on content.

With Netflix seemingly spending every spare dime it has on content, the company is particularly sharpening its focus on original content. Indeed, popular programs like House of Cards and Narcos only serve to further differentiate Netflix from rival streaming services like Amazon Prime and Hulu. Indeed, a renewed focus on original content is precisely why Netflix had absolutely no qualms about letting its movie deal with Epix expire, losing thousands of films in the process, including popular titles like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The only media property poised to spend more on media content next year is ESPN. What’s more, Netflix’s content costs may very well surpass those of HBO, Amazon, Showtime, and Starz combined. While most media properties are increasing their content budgets, to be sure, no one is doing so at a more rapid clip than Netflix.

Currently, Netflix has more U.S. subscribers than HBO, but once we account for International viewers, HBO takes the number one spot. With Netflix now more intent than ever before on churning out fresh content, not to mention ongoing plans for global expansion, it stands to reason that Netflix is eagerly hoping to dethrone HBO as a premium destination for fresh content.

And if we look at what Netflix has been able to produce lately, it may very well accomplish that sooner rather than later. HBO undoubtedly has a solid lineup of original programming, with hits such as Game of Thrones and Silicon Valley coming to mind, but it’s becoming increasingly hard for anyone, including HBO, to really keep pace with Netflix.

Netflix may have a few duds in the rotation, but by and large, they have a higher batting average when it comes to delivering well-received shows than any other content producer on the planet.