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DIRECTV On Demand Now Available Nationwide
By Shane Sturgeon
Publisher & Chief Technologist
Posted on June 30, 2008
Category: Cable & Satellite
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DIRECTV On Demand Now Available Nationwide

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jun 30, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV), the nation's leading satellite television service provider, today launched its highly anticipated DIRECTV on Demand service to customers across the country. The platform is available at no additional charge to customers with a DIRECTV Plus(R) HD DVR or R22 DVR receiver, and offers more than 4,000 standard-definition and HD titles, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

The service allows customers to download the programming of their choice from the DIRECTV on Demand library to their DVRs to enjoy whenever they want. The service offers one of the easiest-to-use on demand interfaces on television, with unique features that make navigating through titles simple and quick, including:

-- Customized Programmer Homepages - Each programmer has its own on demand channel that highlights the latest shows and movies available from the network. Each programmer page consists of rich graphics and posters that highlight the most popular content. The customized home pages correspond to the programmer's regular channel number with a "1" in front of it (i.e. The Discovery Channel is on 276, The Discovery Channel on Demand is at 1276.) Channel 1000 is the main home page for DIRECTV on Demand.

-- Internet Remote Scheduling - On demand customers have access to DVR Scheduler, which will allow them to remotely schedule on demand programming to their DVR from an internet-connected computer or mobile phone.

-- Free Titles - Thousands of free titles (in both standard-definition and HD) always available, including movies, TV series, kid's shows, specialty programming (music, exercise, educational, and more.)

-- Expanded Pay Per View Titles - Expanded variety of pay per view titles is also available with on demand trailers.

"We couldn't be happier with the DIRECTV on Demand service. The folks here have actually made the on demand experience fun and enjoyable," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We are continuing to not only level, but elevate the playing field among pay TV providers with a dynamic on demand service that truly answers the needs of our customers and provides them with a robust lineup of on demand programming."

The DIRECTV on Demand service offers content downloaded via a broadband connection, while other content, primarily blockbuster movies, is pushed to the customer's DVR via satellite. Much of the content, depending on the speed of the customer's broadband connection and type of content, can be viewed in real time as it is being downloaded.

To begin receiving the DIRECTV on Demand service, customers can choose professional installation or request a self-installation kit. Customers will need broadband high-speed internet access, a router or Internet gateway with an available Ethernet port, and equipment to network the HD DVR or R22 DVR. Options to connect the receiver to the internet include: Internet Connection Kit (HomePlug(R) networking device), Ethernet cable or wireless (requires external adapter).

For additional information on the DIRECTV on Demand service please visit www.directv.com/ondemand.


About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV), the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 17 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with 95 national HD channels - more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for eight years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

Posted by Shane Sturgeon, June 30, 2008 10:06 AM

Reader Commentary

See Forum Topic: DIRECTV On Demand Now Available Nationwide (2 replies)
Jun 30, 12:50pm
The service may be free but the content is not. All HD offerings I saw were PPV, even some TV shows. You could spent a lot of money waiting for the slow downloads, at least they were slow during the Beta period when I first hooked up.
Jun 30, 5:30pm
Only the movies that were currently on PPV had an extra charge as far as I could tell. I guess now DirecTV can claim another HD channel for each on-demand HD show just like Comcast......
Showing only excerpts from 2 out of 3, Read More

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About Shane Sturgeon

Shane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University.