• by Wayne Friedman , September 10, 2009

Adding to the array of digital destinations for entertainment, AT&T is launching AT&T Entertainment, a Web area where consumers can view thousands of TV shows and movies.

Already the new AT&T Internet site -- www.entertainment.att.net -- has numerous content providers, including Disney/ABC, NBC Universal, and CBS Interactive.

AT&T says this is all part of its strategy to extend content to consumers' three main screens: television, computer and wireless phone. The company plans to add more TV programs and movies from other leading providers in the coming months.

"We know our customers want to be able to access their favorite content anytime, anywhere," said Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming, AT&T, in a release. Better still, AT&T says you don't have to be an AT&T customer to view shows online.

TV shows from broadcast and cable networks include ABC, Bravo, CBS Entertainment, CBS News, CNBC, NBC, Oxygen, Syfy, The CW and USA Network. AT&T says consumers can search for content by browsing TV shows and movies alphabetically and by genre, network or studio.

AT&T says the move dovetails with its current IPTV strategy -- AT&T U-verse TV. For example, AT&T says its U-verse Web Remote Access, which it has had for years, allows customers to schedule and manage DVR recordings directly from their PC.

U-verse has been competing with cable operators and satellite programming retailers. Like AT&T, some of those operators have their own Internet entertainment destinations where TV and movies can be viewed, such as Comcast with Fancast.com.