DirecTV: Yeah, We're Doing That Too

from the don't-forget-us dept

Thu, Nov 3rd 2005 10:09am — Carlo Longino

When all the rumors were flying about cable TV companies looking to hook up with a mobile operator, DirecTV popped up saying it, too, was looking at wireless. Now, with the cable companies' deal with Sprint confirmed, DirecTV's taking the opportunity to remind everybody that it's still got plans to put its video on devices other than TVs. It says it will unveil some of the devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in February, and with no wireless partnerships announced, it sounds like they'll be something like the portable video players for DVR content that its rival Dish Network has already released. In a separate story, DirecTV also said it would air its first original program next year, a music show featuring live performances that will also have segments on unsigned bands produced with MySpace. DirecTV's membership in the News Corp. family, with its wide-ranging TV and entertainment properties may give it an advantage in getting video onto mobile devices, since rightsholders' demands for payment for mobile video may become a significant issue. With News Corp. owning and controlling so much content, that shouldn't be a problem for DirecTV. Of course there's a flip side to that, too -- will other content owners want to work with DirecTV because of that affiliation, leaving it with just News programming and little else?

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3 Comments

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Matt H., 3 Nov 2005 @ 2:34pm

DirecTV Releasing Stand-alone TIVO Features
Why doesn't DirecTV start by letting their customers who have the DirecTIVO DVRs to have the features that stand-alone Tivo users already enjoy? Things like the home media options, networking, online scheduling, etc. that the currently have locked out. That would go along way to getting the edge over the cable companies.
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- Galley, 4 Nov 2005 @ 5:26am
  
  Re: DirecTV Releasing Stand-alone TIVO Features
  I agree 100% with Mat's remark.
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ameyer13 (profile), 7 Jan 2011 @ 1:34pm

Let's Get Real
DISH Network has come out with the technology necessary for having TV everywhere. I have been amazed as an avid TV buff at the simplicity of my Sling Adapter which provides me with all the latest shows I love through my iPhone. All I had to do to utilize this awesome technology was to download the application for my phone. DISH has risen above DirectTV not just in new technology but with equipment, programming and especially customer service. Although I happen to work for DISH Network, I have been a customer for a lot longer and have never been disappointed in service.
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