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Directv at a Glance
Current stock quote: DTV $21.38 (+0.99)
Headquarters: El Segundo, California
Date of launch: Summer 1994
Satellites in service: 9
Available satellite channels:500+
Estimated subscribers:17 Million+
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Looking for a place to talk about Directv or get your questions answered? Look no further, come on in and participate in our discussion forums.
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 | General Directv Discussion
All aspects of Directv direct to home satellite discussions. Topics about Directv satellite dishes, programming, installation, and multi-room satellite systems.
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| DirecTivo and Ultimatetv Discussions
Discussion forums reserved for all aspects of the Directv with Tivo system and Ultimatetv PVR system. Topics include Directivo, PVR upgrades and more.
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| Directv Local Channel Discussions
Discussion forum for Directv local channel reception topics, including spot beam questions and comments.
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| Directv HDTV Discussions
This forum is for all Directv related high definition television topics and discussions. Directv HDTV offers the ultimate in picture and sound quality.
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| Directv Installation and Reception
All questions and discussions regarding installation and reception of Directv systems and Directv programming can be addressed here.
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| Directv HDTV Tivo Groups
Group retrievals from various Directv high definition Tivo related sources.
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»View All Satellite TV Forums
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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TiVo and DirecTV in marriage counseling, developing new TiVo HD DVR box
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 TiVo has announced that they have extended their service agreement with DirecTV, a new 5 year deal, which now includes the development, marketing and distribution of a new high definition DVR featuring the popular TiVo service. This looks to be the beginning to an end of a strained relationship between the two. In 2005, shortly after NDS took the reins at DirecTV, it was announced that DirecTV would be switching to in-house NDS designed DVR’s, for new installations. The new boxes paled in comparison to the older DirecTV-TiVo systems and were not overly popular as the interface was cold and uninviting compared to the friendly TiVo interface.
In 2006, DirecTV and TiVo extended their service agreement for an additional 3 years, allowing them to extend their service to existing customers, however neither they nor DirecTV were marketing to new customers.
Now that NDS is no longer calling the shots at DirecTV, it makes sense for them to revisit the TiVo pla ...
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 Posted on Sun 14 Sep 2008, 7:02 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Tivo vs. Echostar ruling delayed
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 The seemingly never ending squabble between TiVo and Echostar over TiVo’s DVR patented “Time Warp” technology was further delayed this week by a federal judge in Texas who has delayed his decision on until as late as November.
In August 2006, a jury finding found Echostar liable for infringing on TiVo’s patented “Time Warp” technology which allows viewing of one program while recording another. It was ordered that Echostar disable their infringing DVR systems within 30 days and TiVo was initially awarded $90 million in damages.
Echostar appealed the decision, and was granted a stay of the injunction until the appeal could be heard. In early 2008, the appeal was upheld in part, including the awarded damages.
TiVo asserts that they are owed up to an additional $220 million in royalties and lost profits from the 18 month delay caused by the appeals process. Echostar disputes this, claiming that they had created a “work-around” in their DV ...
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Posted on Thu 11 Sep 2008, 8:09 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Dish Network's new "TurboHD" in a netshell
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 Earlier this week Dish Network rolled out their new “TurboHD” service promising to become the first satellite broadcaster to transmit high definition programming in true 1080p resolution.
The current standard for normal and high action high definition channels is limited to 720p.
The upgrade will only be available to customers using the Dish Networks’ newest MPEG-4 HD receivers and will only require a user initialized software download to the receiver from the satellite to activate the feature.
The TurboHD service utilizes the new Echo XI satellite and Echostar proprietary technology (8PSK-Turbo) which allows them to increase the data transmission and frame rates in order to accommodate the 1080p signal.
The TurboHD service will require a programming package change if you wish to receive it as Dish Network has recently restructured their HD packages. Dish has announced that current HD customers can add the turbo feature to ...
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Posted on Fri 8 Aug 2008, 10:11 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Ergen's Dish Network eyes XM-Sirius Merger as positive sign for merger
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 Dish Network CEO Charles Ergen has been keeping his ears to the ground and eyes closely on the XM Radio/Sirius Merger as a sign that the political landscape may be changing enough to make another attempt to merge with rival satcaster Directv Inc.
The last attempt to get past the FCC and Justice department in 2002 ended badly with both regulators deciding it was not going to happen and would not be in the public’s best interests.
Since then however a number of things have changed, chiefly the successful merger of XM Radio and Sirius, which Echostar could use as a loose blueprint to clear the federal regulators in Washington and become the leading satellite broadcaster in America. The political landscape in America is also changing, with Democrats likely to make some significant strides this fall in both the house and senate and possibly even the white house.
Technology has also changed since 2002 as well, with increased video competition ...
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Posted on Wed 6 Aug 2008, 5:45 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Directv to limit pay per view viewing time
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 In a move that can be interpreted as a cave in to major movie studios, DirecTV has recently announced that they will begin limiting pay per view movies recorded to the Directv DVR. Effective April 15, 2008 all pay per view movies recorded by the DirecTV DVR will automatically be deleted 24 hours after initial recording.
"Major movie studios have required that satellite and cable providers alike may no longer allow their customers to view these recordings for longer than 24 hours” reads the DirecTV announcement.
This move will eliminate the ability to view a PPV recording several times, or even the ability to view a recording made more than a day after recording, which will force consumers to pay for each viewing, or go out and purchase the movie from a retailer. For example, a customer may record a pay per view movie on a Sunday night, intending to watch it the next day, but does not have the opportunity until Tuesday. The recording that has been paid f ...
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Posted on Thu 20 Mar 2008, 11:30 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Bell Expressvu dishes out new signal security upgrade
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 Similar to its security upgrade in July 2005, Canada’s leading satellite broadcaster, Bell Expressvu is in the process of a new signal security upgrade in an effort to curtail its’ rampant piracy problem.
Bell Expressvu utilizes equipment and signal encryption technology manufactured by Echostar, the U.S.’s second largest digital satellite broadcaster. Echostar’s Dish Network has been plagued by piracy issues for many years, despite numerous expensive attempts to resolve the problem. This has lead to widespread piracy issues for Bell Expressvu due to the similarity in technology. Recent estimates peg more than 2 million pirates are currently receiving Dish Network and Bell Expressvu programming without payment.
The Bell Expressvu satellite signal is encrypted, allowing only authorized users, such as subscribers to decode the signal and allow them to view the channels that they are subscribing to. Signal pirates exploit vulnerabilities in the encrypti ...
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Posted on Thu 28 Feb 2008, 6:12 PM
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Digital Satellite TV Articles
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Liberty Media closes deal to assume control of DirecTV
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Posted by : RiseStar , Lounge0101 Administrator
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 The deal allowing Liberty Media LLC to acquire control of DirecTV Group Inc., the leading U.S. direct to home satellite company was closed this week.
Liberty and News Corp. entered an agreement in December 2006 to trade Liberty’s 16 percent ownership of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. for News Corp.’s 39 percent controlling interest in the El Segundo, California-based Directv.
Earlier this week, the deal was approved by the FCC, which was the final hurdle needed to make it a reality. In its decision, the FCC required that business relationships between Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico and Directv be severed within a year.
For Liberty Media’s founder John Malone, the agreement creates a domestic television empire not seen since his TCI cable conglomerate was purchased by AT&T Inc. TCI is remembered by many for running very aggressive anti-satellite ads nationwide in the mid 1990's while fighting for subscribers which were flocking to th ...
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Posted on Thu 28 Feb 2008, 4:58 PM
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»View Older Article
Archive
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08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
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Secret Millionaire 8:00 pm ET
A millionaire is coming to the neighborhood to give out money? Where do we sign up? In each episode of this new reality series, a wealthy person spends a week in a poor neighborhood getting to know the people -- those who are struggling and those who are trying to help. At the end of the week, the millionaire calls together those he or she has chosen to help and reveals the secret. If you have a heart, prepare to have it warmed.
Great Performances 9:30 pm ET
You may not know his name, but you've heard his music. The new episode "Hitman: David Foster and Friends" is a star-studded tribute to this prolific Canadian music producer and composer whose work includes the score for the movie "St. Elmo's Fire" and the Grammy- and Oscar-nominated song "I Have Nothing." Among the artists taking part in the celebration are Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Peter Cetera and Celine Dion
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 10:01 pm ET
It's about ... gift ideas for your wife or girlfriend! Yeah, that's the ticket! Despite complaints from some viewers, this prime-time showcase of lovely ladies in suggestive attire returns year after year. Models Alessandra Ambrosio, Selita Ebanks, Doetzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller and Miranda Kerr hit the runway for this edition of the special. Heidi Klum is also scheduled to make an appearance, and Usher is the musical guest.
A Christmas Story 8:00 pm ET
It'll be run nonstop over the actual holiday, but here's an early screening of the nostalgic comedy about young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his obsession with finding a BB gun under the tree. If you've ever given a bully what-for, double dog-dared another kid, or dreamed of laying the mother of all guilt trips on Mom and Dad for a perceived cruel and unusual punishment, you'll feel his pain ... and laugh all the way through it.
Christmas in Rockefeller Center 8:00 pm ET
If you live in the Big Apple, it's not really Christmastime until they light that big tree. If you don't, television's coverage of the event is still a nice way to jump-start your holiday spirit with live music and pretty holiday images. It's the sort of special you can have on while doing something else -- like wrapping presents or addressing cards. Enjoy!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 8:00 pm ET
"I'm cuuute! She said I'm cuuute!" "Bumbles bounce!" "I wanna be a dentist." And of course, "Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" Ol' Rudy is 44 this year and as cute as ever, ready to delight the children and grandbabies of the viewers who met him back in '64. If you haven't seen this Christmas chestnut in a few years, it's worth another look.
Borrowed Hearts 9:00 pm ET
It seems almost sacrilegious to pan this 1997 drama, what with the angelic Roma Downey in the cast and all. But its very concept is unsettling. A businessman (Eric McCormack) needs to pretend he's a family man to impress a potential client, so he asks an employee (Downey) and her daughter to pose as his wife and kid. Dude, if this guy is so narrow-minded as to discriminate against single people, you don't need his business. And sorry, the "Pretty Woman" ending doesn't make up for that plot point.
Life 9:00 pm ET
When a sheriff's deputy is found dead on an American Indian reservation, Crews and Reese (Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi) find themselves in the middle of a turf war between tribal police and the county sheriff's department. It turns out the deputy was not well liked on the reservation, where the opening of a casino may have a connection to his death. Then Crews attends a fundraiser thrown by one of the people he believes was involved in the conspiracy against him.
The Grammy Nominations Concert Live: Countdown to Music's Biggest Night 9:01 pm ET
It couldn't hurt to generate some buzz ahead of time -- and to place that buzz generator between two annual television classics. Bookmarked by "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," this new special celebrates the Grammys and the opening of the Grammy Museum with announcements of this year's nominees and performances by some hot stars. Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, B.B. King, John Mayer and Taylor Swift are scheduled to appear.
Parking Wars 10:00 pm ET
We hope the change Obama promised includes more free parking because this week Marylin takes it to heart when a man she ticketed flies into a rage. Seriously, we see his point. Then the hurdles might be a bit too high for a couple struggling to retrieve their beloved car from impound. Meanwhile, cursed by Sherry, Steve loses his mojo and nothing goes right for the rest of his boot beat.
World's Toughest Fixes 10:00 pm ET
Replacing an engine in any motor vehicle is a major project, but replacing an engine on a ship weighing more than 55,000 tons is an enormous undertaking. In this new episode, host Sean Riley joins 300 shipbuilders as they hoist a cruise ship into a dry dock almost 10 football fields long and refit it with a new generator and diesel engine. That requires cutting a huge hole in the hull -- and making sure it's sealed up properly when the job is done.
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