Today's update to the official DirecTV Android app enables subscribers to stream content to enabled devices. The update also adds social networking aspects to the service, allowing users to find out what shows are popular.
DirecTV has released a new version of its iPad app, v1.5.0. Users can now watch movies and TV shows over a 3G or 4G connection instead of just Wi-Fi. While live TV is still restricted to Wi-Fi, apps from other TV networks often block cellular support completely.
The deal for AWS spectrum between Verizon and a number of cable companies is facing more troubles as several rivals not keen on the deal have written a letter to the FCC (PDF) asking for full disclosure. Authored by T-Mobile USA, DirecTV, and eight others, the petition asks for redacted evidence that will give them the ability to argue that the deal is anti-competitive. They argue against the parties involved in the deal with Verizon who say access to all the documents isn't in the public's interest.
The long-awaited and promised TiVo-enabled HD DVR from DirecTV is finally available nationwide. Previously, the set-top was only available in 10 markets. The box is unique in combining the TiVo interface and peanut remote control with DirecTV's HD content lineup.
Samsung in a post-event update revealed that all its 2012 Internet-aware TVs will have DirecTV intergration. Americans with the satellite TV service will only need one set-top box in the home for everyone to get access to the same content. A combination of the recent RVU standard and DLNA media sharing replicate DirecTV's interface on every Samsung set in the local network, letting them control the DVR and otherwise get the same access they would as if they were directly connected.
The much-delayed arrival of TiVo DVRs at DirecTV is finally slotted for a launch date of December 8, according to the satellite provider's forums. The TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV (THR22-100) The release is limited to just ten major US cities, however, with an expansion still being evaluated.
DirecTV has posted a new version of its iPad app, v1.3.1. The app is normally intended to be used as a guide and remote control. The v1.3.1 update, though, introduces support for in-app viewing of live TV. Users must be DirecTV subscribers, and on the same Wi-Fi network as a compatible DirecTV HD DVR.
Time Warner Cable just posted its third-quarter subscriber numbers, which reveal there are 128,000 less subscribers to its video services this quarter. The total number of subscribers lost is just 16,000, though, thanks to the addition of 89,000 residential web subscribers. While the cord-cutting syndrome, which involves users getting rid of cable subscriptions in favor of web ones and accessing all multimedia content from the web and streaming video services or others, there are some arguments against this trend, AllThingsD argues.
Hulu in a brief note said it had decided to stop its attempted selloff. The statement, which had the support of Disney, investor Providence Equity Partners, and Fox's parent company News Corp., claimed that each of the owners though there was too much of a "unique and compelling strategic value" for each of them to sell. It would instead center on existing plans.
DirecTV has introduced the Nomad device, which will let users send DVR recordings to mobile devices as well as PCs. Doing so requires a special app for desktop PCs or iPhone (free, App Store), with iPad, Mac and Android apps due out soon. The device can store as many as 20 hours of DVR content and connect to external hard drives for more.
A new DVR coming from DirecTV has been thoroughly detailed thanks to DBSTalk. The five-tuner HR34 got an exclusive first look from the source (PDF), which reveals its technical specs. The DVR will have a 1TB hard drive that can store about 232 hours of MPEG4 HD recordings. The HR34 should be fully compatible with DirecTV's Whole Home DVR service, letting other connected set-tops access its recordings.
Possible content for the October 4 iPhone event came Monday through a late-breaking claim. Rackspace' social media presence Robert Scoble understood from unnamed sources that Apple was working on a presumably video-focused iPad app that "looks a lot like DirecTV without the dish." What it would involve wasn't said, but he linked it to the North Carolina datacenter's video hosting and that it would be "more expansive" than suspected.
US cable and satellite providers signaled Tuesday that they wanted to unbundle their channel packages to stave off the incursion of Internet video and a tough economy. DirecTV, Mediacom, Suddenlink, and others are pushing the FCC and others to alter retransmission fee systems and let them sell access by the channel so that they can lower the actual cost of selling TV services. At costs as high as $4 per month just for ESPN and now with normally free-to-air networks charging for access, they argued to Reuters and others that they were forced to charge high prices.
A leak has exposed what appears to be a training video pitched at the DirecTV sales force in order to get staff re-familiarized with the TiVo box and its functions. This and other details have emerged pointing to a September shipping date for the long delayed set-top-box DirecTV TiVo that promises to bring the best of satellite TV programming and combining it with a subscription service DVR. The only apparent downside for users is that the device will use older hardware, a legacy of its long gestation period, which started back in 2009.
Dish Network is asking the FCC to allow it to combine the S-Band spectrum licenses it acquired with its $1.38 billion purchase of TerreStar Networks and DBSD North America to offer terrestrial-only devices. This is part of a larger goal of offering a satellite-terrestrial 4G network that uses LTE-Advanced. Dish claims this hybrid network that will use the 40MHz spectrum under a subsidiary called Gamma will help meet the FCC's goal of expanding broadband access. Dish cited the conditional waiver the FCC gave to LightSquared as a reason it should get its request granted.
DirecTV and Sony have joined forces to offer NFL Sunday Ticket subscriptions to PS3 owners. The deal gives the game console's owners access to up to 14 out-of-market NFL games every Sunday as well as DirecTV's Red Zone Channel. The special subscription is priced at $340 for those who don't have DirecTV's satellite service.
Sources revealed Thursday that bidding would start in earnest on Hulu's self-sale late next week. Potential buyers are expected to make first bids worth "at least" $1.5 billion for both Hulu itself and the content deals it has with three major TV networks. The AllThingsD tip warned the price could drop if Hulu's management doesn't want to reduce its stake or rise if a buyer wanted a longer license than what Hulu has today.
New tips Sunday ruled out Netflix as one of the candidates to buy Hulu. The movie streaming service hasn't been actively involved, sources for the WSJ said. Hulu also reportedly hasn't been actively interested, in part since it would create overlap and reduce the number of suppliers, not increase them.
Zatznotfunny reports that a possible slip up on DirecTV's website gives some encouragement to DirecTV customers that a TiVo HD-DVR receiver may be available in the not to distant future. Screen shots from the DirecTV site show a TiVo receiver that can be added to a customer's shopping cart as a receiver option. The photo of the unit is marked "FPO" (for positioning only), indicating that the webpage is a placeholder for a future offering. Price is listed as $99.
DirecTV has issued a new web survey to its subscribers on Tuesday that is nearly entirely devoted to Netflix and users' experience with or knowledge thereof. The company openly said it was considering launching a similar service to existing satellite TV subscribers. Called a concept in the survey, it would only stream rather than mail physical DVDs.
Verizon on Monday announced significant changes to its cable Internet services. Chief among them is the elimination of contracts, along with related early termination fees. There are two tiers of service, with the first offering voice service at home for local and long-distance calls, along with web speeds of between 500Kbps and 1Mbps. It costs $35 per month.
Microsoft in a response to the USPTO (below) on Tuesday cited the just launched Amazon Appstore as evidence that Apple couldn't maintain "app store" as a trademark. It used the launch last Tuesday as evidence that there was a "competitive need" from companies to use the concept of an app store generically. About 17 stores were already using it where Apple had claimed that use beyond its own shop was virtually non-existent, Microsoft said, and those that hadn't had primarily been intimidated into avoiding the name.
Netflix now has a dominant share of the online video on demand business, according to new NPD data. The subscription streaming service has 61 percent of all the movies downloaded or streamed in January and February. Apple, despite iTunes' reputation, was at just four percent and tied with both DirecTV and Time Warner Cable.
At an industry conference in San Francisco, DirecTV chairman and CEO Mike White hinted that the company was interested in partnering with other telecoms as LTE service becomes more widespread. He may have been referring to an ongoing test with Verizon of fixed location LTE service in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Expanding that collaboration would enable Verizon to offer broadband service in rural areas without needing to hardwire new subscribers. DirecTV would bring its installation experience with roof-mounted hardware and would be able to offer customers high-speed internet service and additional support for on-demand programming .
The promised DirecTV iPad app is now available (free, App Store) for download. The app will let users control their DirecTV services but not watch streamed content. They can browse sports games, view scores, use the iPad as a remote control and schedule DVR recordings or change channels.
DirecTV has announced plans to introduce an iPad app that integrates the company's range of satellite TV services. The utility allows users to organize favorite channels, browse sports games and view scores, tune into channels, or view additional information such as cast names or parental ratings. Playback controls and DVR management are also built into the interface.
A network fully dedicated to broadcasting 3D TV signals will launch on February 13. Called 3net, it will be offered by DirecTV on channel 107 and is a joint venture between Sony, Discovery Communications and IMAX. On the 13th, the channel will air two one-hour long, original programs in native 3D, China Revealed and Forgotten Planet. A longer movie, Into The Deep 3D, will make its TV debut afterwards.
The planned DirecTV TiVo HD receiver that dates back to 2008 and has faced numerous delays may have been shown off to a select few at the CES show last week. The hardware may finally show up in April or May,sources speaking to Fudzilla said. Unofficial rumors also indicate the device will not contain all of TiVo's latest features.
The DirectTV TiVo that was set to be delivered before the end of 2010 has now been delayed until 2011. CEO Tom Rogers has indicated that beta testing for the device will continue into next January. TiVo executives have also begun to suggest that TiVo will begin to shift towards service delivery, rather purely on manufacturing hardware.
DirecTV and TiVo appear to be continuing beta testing for their updated DVR hardware, which has been delayed several times since its inception. Customers are still receiving rejection letters for participation in the private beta program, which is reportedly full, according to alleged correspondence posted by Zatz Not Funny.
During a quarterly earnings call this week, DVR maker TiVo revealed that it is still working on bringing tru2way technology to its set-top boxes. This would allow two-way interaction over cable set-tops, including services such as games, chat, web browsing and shopping. At the same time, CEO Tom Rogers said DirecTV TiVo is still scheduled for a 2010 release, but there is now some doubt as to whether this can happen before 2011.
As promised, a Best Buy store in Union Square, NYC sold the first Panasonic Full HD 3D home entertainment system on Wednesday. The only 3D bundle offered thus far includes a 50-inch class Panasonic VIERA VT20 Plasma 3D HDTV bundled with one pair of Panasonic 3D Active Shutter Lens Eyewear, and the Panasonic BDT300 3D Blu-ray Disc Player, all priced at $2,900. Individually, these components cost $2,500 and $400, respectively. An additional pair of glasses costs $150.
Confirming earlier rumors, Panasonic at CES announced a new partnership with DirecTV that will allow subscribers to access 3D content via satellite. The service will be available following a free software upgrade to existing set-top boxes. Subscribers initially will be able to watch three dedicated 3D channels, with a variety of material from various networks. The different channels will offer standard programming, on-demand content, and 3D sampler materials.
DirecTV is on the verge of becoming the first US TV provider to roll out an HD resolution, entirely 3D channel, a purported leak argued on Monday. Helped by a new satellite just launching now, the carrier is expected to unveil the channel at CES early next month and carry a variety of movies, sports and general programming whose sole rule is that it comes in 3D. The network would appear in time to accommodate the anticipated deluge of 3D-capable TVs at CES and would support the 3D display methods used by most if not all of these sets.
Verizon's chief executive on Friday dispelled rumors about the telecommunications company's interest in buying satellite TV provider DirecTV. Ivan Seidenberg believes his company has no need for DirecTV as Verizon already offers its own HDTV service, FiOS TV.
DirecTV has disclosed plans to launch an iPhone app, Supercast Mobile, with a focus on NFL content. Users will be able to view any NFL Sunday Ticket game, except for those excluded by local blackout rules. Along with streaming video, the app is said to provide game highlights, scores, game stats, or player stats that can be used for fantasy football.
Fresh from a win against EchoStar, TiVo is set to tie directly into pay-per-view systems as well as Time Warner's cable network, according to two sources. The DVR producer is said by Bloomberg to be talking with more than one pay-per-view provider to either allow its recording directly or else to license out the technology for third-party hardware or software. Details are vague, but it would be separate from online-only support for Amazon VOD, Netflix and other services.
An expected replacement for DirecTV TiVo DVRs that would allow them to record HD programming has been delayed yet again, as revealed by TiVo's CEO Tom Rogers in the company's recent quarterly earnings call. Instead of sometime in 2009, the new expected date for the upgraded products is early in 2010. No specific reason was given for the delay, though it is likely tied to TiVo's loss of $4.1 million during the past quarter.
DirecTV this morning said it would merge with the eventual spinoff of Liberty Entertainment from Liberty Media. The deal is meant to simplify Liberty Media's own structure but puts the satellite TV provider together with TV channels themselves, including the Game Show Network and 3 local sports stations. Executives at DirecTV will keep their positions, though the move will still have Liberty Media founder John Malone and trusts have about a 24 percent stake in the new venture.
DirecTV has launched an app that allows customers to control their home DVR systems from an iPhone or iPod touch. A search function can be used to find shows up to 14 days in advance, or the content can be browsed by channel or date and time. The listings include additional information such as show descriptions, length and rating. Users can record single shows, an entire series or Pay Per View content.
After avoiding declaring bankruptcy last month, Sirius XM has announced plan to stream its subscription radio service to the iPhone and iPod touch this spring as part of the company's latest fiscal results conference call. The new app will let either Apple device receive Sirius or XM stations over their Internet connections without requiring a separate radio. Currently, Sirius has roughly 19 million subscribers, an improvement of about 10 percent from last year, but is being significantly slowed by plunging car sales and the absence of radios.
Sirius XM on Friday took emergency steps to save itself by starting a debt exchange. The company says it has started a deal that will swap about $172.5 million of the convertible senior notes keeping the company afloat for equivalents that will expire at the start of June 2011. The exchange would give the company about 1.5 years of extra time to pay the portion of the debt, which would otherwise have come due in December this year.
A DirecTV spokesperson recently announced the company has discontinued any and all development work on the HDPC-20 tuner that promised to link DirecTV's high-definition content with Windows Media Center. The HDPC-20 was first introduced at CES in 2006, or nearly three years ago. The decision to end the project was reportedly made after DirecTV missed the August 2008 update for Windows Media Center software and timing of the next release.
Satellite TV provider DirecTV and TiVo today extended their cooperation with each other and said they would work together to build a version of TiVo's digital video recorder that can properly capture HDTV from DirecTV's current network. The two provide few details but explain that the set-top box should support features specific to either company, such as TiVo's Swivel Search that can suggest shows based on the presence of certain actors or other metadata from a TV show.
Comcast's cable TV network will be all digital in the space of three years, according to claims by an unnamed senior executive at a communications company. The service provider is allegedly buying up as many six million digital-to-analog devices from Motorola and others this year as well as 12 million in 2009, all of which will be handed out to subscribers whose TVs don't support digital tuning. The move will let Comcast shut off analog cable entirely in favor of purely digital networks; the process should have all of Comcast's cable base on digital channels by 2011.
