DirecTV Revolution Report

[Scott Greczkowski]

This week DirecTV held their annual DirecTV Retailer Conference they call the Revolution. This show gives retailers a look at what DirecTV hopes to do over the next year.

At the show some new technology was shown to retailers including MultiRoom Viewing between DirecTV receivers. The thing that was different about the MRV being shown when compaired with what we are testing now in the CE program is that the programs were shared over the coax of the receiver and sent to other receviers via the SWM switch. This l lets DirecTV network their DVR's without needed to run cat5 to all of their receivers. VERY COOL!

I had a few retailers there who were going to take pictures of the new DirecTV stuff but they said there was nothing to take pictures of. Just a few receivers connected via SWM.

On the HD front it is reported to me that they said upon launch and testing of DirecTV 12 early next yeat that DirecTV plans to launch 40 - 50 channels of national HD. When retailers asked about short term HD plans they were again told about the DirecTV 12 plans (that does not sound promising for the short term, but they always say good things come to those that wait.)

Other then that there was not much to report and not much entertainment this year (other then girls dancing in cages hung from the ceilings last night)

The retailers I spoke too were disapointed with this years show and said this Revolution was anything but.

 

[DodgerKing]

There comes at time when advancements in technology need to slow down to let the population catch up and come aboard. I have a feeling that the next couple of years will be such a time.

Think about it. Most people still get their TV OTA. Those that have cable or satellite, the majority have a basic, non HD, non premium account. Few people take advantage of DirecTV2PC, mediashare, MRV, ex. It eventually does not become cost effective for a company to continue to expend technologically when they do not have enough customers to take advantage of the new technology.

 

[lee78221]

There comes at time when advancements in technology need to slow down to let the population catch up and come aboard.

Nonsense, DirecTV needs to get them up and running when the demand is low, Because the second people are going to want those things and DirecTV doesn't have them DirecTV well fall flat on it's face. I'm happy DirecTV is trying to get head of the ball.

 

[VinceT3]

if they keep advancing they'll put dish out of business.. dish will have to attempt to complete instead of making believe how they have the best box..

 

[harshness]

There comes at time when advancements in technology need to slow down to let the population catch up and come aboard. I have a feeling that the next couple of years will be such a time.

I'd like to think that they are going to concentrate on the fundamental functionality so that everything works correctly, consistently and without seemingly arbitrary limitations.

Most people still get their TV OTA.

What makes you say this? The number of households that depend exclusively on OTA is estimated to be around 19.6 million or about 17% of the households. Even when you add in those households that use OTA in addition to some manner of paid delivery, the number of households that OTA is used in is estimated at 34.5 million.

Those that have cable or satellite, the majority have a basic, non HD, non premium account.

Given the average monthly investment of around $90 for DIRECTV or cable programming, I'm not sure this is borne out either.

Few people take advantage of DirecTV2PC, mediashare, MRV, ex. It eventually does not become cost effective for a company to continue to expend technologically when they do not have enough customers to take advantage of the new technology.

If the technology was completely realized, documented and given proper technical support, uptake would be much faster. If you consider what is involved in making some of these features work, it isn't ready for the average consumer.

 

[JosephB]

Was there any more in-depth information regarding the MRV over SWM? Will it require new hardware, or will current SWM-compatible receivers and LNBs work with it? Does it take up the space of a tuner to transfer shows, or does it use additional bandwidth outside of the range of the existing 8 tuner limit?

 

[goaliebob99]

Im dissapointed about the lack of short term HD. It seems like D* got so excited there for a little while, they forgot to plan for any launches this year. I dont think they anticipated HD catching on like how it did and the demand for more HD channels. Thus were in this low right now. Too bad they couldnt push the launch of the bird up to sometime this fall. that would be NICE!

 

[legatebroke]

The thing that was different about the MRV being shown when compaired with what we are testing now in the CE program is that the programs were shared over the coax of the receiver and sent to other receviers via the SWM switch. This l lets DirecTV network their DVR's without needed to run cat5 to all of their receivers. VERY COOL!

The problem with this is that retailers don't install SWM switches unless there is more than 4 tuners on the account, so most customers ,installed by retailers, don't get the SWM switch so they will have to do it over CAT5. Wake up D* your still screwing your dealers and customers.

 

[kingofku]

Im dissapointed about the lack of short term HD. It seems like D* got so excited there for a little while, they forgot to plan for any launches this year. I dont think they anticipated HD catching on like how it did and the demand for more HD channels. Thus were in this low right now. Too bad they couldnt push the launch of the bird up to sometime this fall. that would be NICE!

It's all a matter of bandwidth. You can only shove so many carriers onto a satellite transponder which has a finite number. Directv will not compromise the quality of HD just for the sake of putting up more. Lets wait for the new bird to launch. Of course, that one will be maxed out as well, but with MPEG4 and higher order modulation schemes, there will be a time when they can cram more up there for us to watch. After all, how many channels can you watch/record at one time?

 

[DodgerKing]

Nonsense, DirecTV needs to get them up and running when the demand is low, Because the second people are going to want those things and DirecTV doesn't have them DirecTV well fall flat on it's face. I'm happy DirecTV is trying to get head of the ball.

I am happy as well. What I am saying is that most people are not like us here on sites like these. They need to focus more on making making the technology they have better than anyone else and LESS on creating too much overwhelming technology that does not have a whole lot of demand. My point was more addressing the lack of technology at this conference and not so much the MVR.

In fact MRV is said example of making current technology better. This too me is an excellent idea that will not cost DirecTV much at all to advance. They are simply taking something that already exists (DVRs and COAX lines) and making better use of them.

 

[DodgerKing]

I'd like to think that they are going to concentrate on the fundamental functionality so that everything works correctly, consistently and without seemingly arbitrary limitations.What makes you say this? The number of households that depend exclusively on OTA is estimated to be around 19.6 million or about 17% of the households. Even when you add in those households that use OTA in addition to some manner of paid delivery, the number of households that OTA is used in is estimated at 34.5 million.Given the average monthly investment of around $90 for DIRECTV or cable programming, I'm not sure this is borne out either.If the technology was completely realized, documented and given proper technical support, uptake would be much faster. If you consider what is involved in making some of these features work, it isn't ready for the average consumer.

I stand correct on the OTA, but my general point about technology only advancing as fast as the public is willing to accept it still stands.

 

[uncrules]

It's all a matter of bandwidth. You can only shove so many carriers onto a satellite transponder which has a finite number. Directv will not compromise the quality of HD just for the sake of putting up more. Lets wait for the new bird to launch. Of course, that one will be maxed out as well, but with MPEG4 and higher order modulation schemes, there will be a time when they can cram more up there for us to watch. After all, how many channels can you watch/record at one time?

The thing is that D* has spare HD capacity right now for about 10 channels or so. So I don't buy the out of bandwidth argument.

 

[JosephB]

The problem with this is that retailers don't install SWM switches unless there is more than 4 tuners on the account, so most customers ,installed by retailers, don't get the SWM switch so they will have to do it over CAT5. Wake up D* your still screwing your dealers and customers.

It's easy to upgrade to SWM, though. Replace the LNB + put a splitter where the switch is and bingo. Plus, as they get closer to the whole home DVR they can begin mandating SWM installs to their install network.

 

[HD MM]

Is this MultiRoom Viewing that DirecTV is working on pretty much the same thing that at&t U-Verses offers?

 

[jacmyoung]

Are they trying to move away from the CAT5 based MRV?

Also still not a single word of the new TiVo?

 

[tsduke]

I haven't kept up on the talk about D12. Is D12 to a new slot or replacing an existing bird?

 

[goaliebob99]

It's all a matter of bandwidth. You can only shove so many carriers onto a satellite transponder which has a finite number. Directv will not compromise the quality of HD just for the sake of putting up more. Lets wait for the new bird to launch. Of course, that one will be maxed out as well, but with MPEG4 and higher order modulation schemes, there will be a time when they can cram more up there for us to watch. After all, how many channels can you watch/record at one time?

Yes but we can get rid of a few of those HD PPV channels we have enough of allready.

 

[Ramy]

So why aren't they using the space they have now? Why wait? They have room to use, why not use it?

 

[goaliebob99]

So why aren't they using the space they have now? Why wait? They have room to use, why not use it?

Thats the million dollar question. By not using it they are wasting it. Its not like anyone watches those channels, if I want to watch something, I would rather watch it in 1080P and downloaded to my receiver than those PPV channels. Use those channels for something like the HD movie channels or channels that counts like Travel HD or WGN AMERICA HD.

 

[Ramy]

Thats the million dollar question. By not using it they are wasting it. Its not like anyone watches those channels, if I want to watch something, I would rather watch it in 1080P and downloaded to my receiver than those PPV channels. Use those channels for something like the HD movie channels or channels that counts like Travel HD or WGN AMERICA HD.

Sounds good to me.