From the Satellite to the DVR: A DIRECTV Overview

There’s a reason DIRECTV has topped Cable in customer satisfaction for nine years in a row. They make the installation and use of their service stress-free for customers. Once you choose your DIRECTV package, an experienced professional will arrive at a convenient time to set everything up. From the remote to the receiver, each DIRECTV plan comes with equipment that’s easy to use. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect:

The Satellite Dish: It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the satellite dish is an important component of your satellite television subscription. Luckily, you’ll never have to deal directly with this piece of the puzzle, because it’s installed for you by a skilled technician during the initial set-up.

Receiver Box: Think of this component as the brains of the operation. The box receives signals from the satellite dish, converts them into video and audio, and then sends these transmissions to your high-definition television and stereo system. Of course, the receiver also serves as the controls for user operations such as changing the channel and browsing through the listings. The software in the receiver box is automatically updated via the satellite connection.

DVR: DVR is a relatively new addition to the DIRECTV package. It more or less revolutionizes the way people watch television by allowing them to record their favorite programming right onto the receiver box, without dealing with pesky tapes or DVDs. For busy professionals looking to catch must-see television on their own schedule, this can be a lifesaver. Talk with your DIRECTV sales representative about adding the DIRECTV HD DVR.

The Remote Control: You’ve probably been using these for a number of years, and the DIRECTV remote control isn’t much different from older models. One notable exception is the addition of On Demand, a feature which can be accessed with the push of a button. It allows you to watch TV shows, movies and premium programming on your schedule.

Having a solid grasp of the technology behind your satellite television will allow you to make the most of the service. Take a few minutes to browse through the owner’s manual to learn about the newest DIRECTV features.

The NBA Season Tip-Off Is Here. Are You Ready?

Basketball fans rejoice - there’s now a DIRECTV package made exclusively for you. DIRECTV’s NBA LEAGUE PASS brings the entire NBA season right to your living room, with a variety of features that let you watch the game like never before.  With NBA LEAGUE PASS, you get access to up to 40 games a week, with up to 20 airing in HD. But there’s a lot more to this popular DIRECTV package:

Exclusive access: Get 24/7 access from NBA TV on Channel 601. Watch live games, exclusive player and coach interviews, game analysis and more with this unique NBA LEAGUE PASS feature.

NBA Highlight iPhone application: The perfect addition to your NBA LEAGUE PASS package, this iPhone app puts hot video highlights right into the palm of your hand. You’ll also have access to schedules and scores once the playoffs begin.

Replay that dunk with DVR: Like other DIRECTV programming, NBA LEAGUE PASS lets you watch at your leisure with the DIRECTV HD DVR. Want to see Lebron throw down one more time? It’s available at the click of a button.

NBA LEAGUE PASS BROADBAND: Traveling for business or fun? With NBA LEAGUE PASS BROADBAND, you never have to miss a game. This feature lets you watch your favorite teams right on your computer, and you can even watch multiple games at once. You’ll also have access to NBA archives from the entire season.

The ultimate resource for fantasy basketball: Fantasy basketball is quickly catching up to football in popularity, and the NBA LEAGUE PASS STATS CENTRAL feature will put you ahead of the curve. With STATS CENTRAL, you can tap into real time data to follow your favorite players!

The NBA LEAGUE PASS is a must-have for every NBA fan. From the 24/7 NBA access to HD coverage of up to 20 games a week, it’s ni surprise DIRECTV is the leader in sports.

DIRECTV Plus DVR: Don’t watch TV without it

Searching for the latest and greatest in home entertainment technology? Look no further than DIRECTV Plus DVR, a relatively new development in the world of satellite television that is changing the way people watch their favorite shows. DVR stands for digital video recorder, which refers to the disk drive that stores the programming. Below, you’ll find some of the benefits that come with DVR, a feature easily added to your DIRECTV package.

How it Works:
With DVR, it only takes a few clicks of the remote to record a movie, TV show or an entire series. Simply find the program you want to record on the programming guide and press the red record button on your DIRECTV remote. It’s that easy. If you want to record an entire TV series, press the red button twice. You can then customize how long you want to save each episode, how often to record the show and more.

DVR also brings flexibility to your TV watching schedule. Before, you either had to be in the living room at the start of the show or inconveniently plan to record it on a VHS. DVR is completely digital so you never have to worry about a loss of quality, whether you’re recording in standard resolution or HD.

With DVR, you’ll have all sorts of options for setting up multiple shows to record. Is Monday Night Football more important to you than the old Seinfeld re-runs? With the DIRECTV DVR feature, you don’t have to choose. You can set the DVR to record two programs at a time, while you watch another show of your choice.

This brings us to perhaps the most important aspect of DVR: saving time. With the addition of DVR to your satellite TV subscription, you’ll be able to skip through the commercials that previously took up so much of your time.  You can save of up to 20 minutes during each hour of TV you watch. Who thought watching TV could be so productive?

With DVR technology, DIRECTV offers a whole new way to enjoy your satellite television subscription.

Watch the World Series in HD with DIRECTV

It’s the most exciting time of the year for baseball fans – the World Series. DIRECTV, which exclusively offers MLB Extra Innings, is delivering all the action as the Yankees and the Phillies face off. With Game 3 just a day away, DIRECTV subscribers are prepping to tune in and enjoy the biggest games of the season.

Last night, the Yankees defeated the Phillies 3-1, tying up the Series with one win a piece. Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett was the player of the night. The 32-year-old, who has yet to stand out in a game of this magnitude, threw first-pitch strikes to the first 11 Phillies up at bat against him.

In the first game of the series, Philadelphia beat New York 6-1. Tomorrow night the action continues as the Yankees take on the Phillies in Philadelphia at 7:57 p.m. The following three games are in Philly and Games 6 and 7 will bring the series back to New York.  If you’re an MLB Extra Innings subscriber, you can catch every inning in high-definition.

Bar and restaurant owners with DIRECTV business packages can expect bigger-than-usual crowds tomorrow night and during the rest of the World Series. In fact, 90% of DIRECTV subscribers say having the satellite television service increases their business. With one of the most exciting World Series matchups in recent years, customers should think about showing up to their favorite sports bar early.

This weekend, DIRECTV customers and baseball fans can pull for their favorite team and watch all the action in high definition.

DIRECTV Movie Channels Deliver 24/7 Entertainment

Looking for the best in entertainment? DIRECTV delivers more premium movie channels than any other television provider. Of course, movies aren’t the only kind of programming available on these top channels – you’ll also be able to watch incredible TV shows, concerts and documentaries. For satellite TV customers, the movie channels are often their favorite part of the package.

There are a number of DIRECTV movie channels available, including HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME and Cinemax. Each offers its own lineup of programming with a special twist.

HBO: HBO continues to set the bar in terms of great TV. Popular shows include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage and Real Time with Bill Maher. Add their full lineup of hit movies and exclusive sporting events like some of the biggest prizefights in boxing, and it’s no wonder HBO continues to lead the pack.

Starz: The Starz Super Pack has more channels than any premium movie package, with more than 600 movies playing every month across 14 channels (five broadcasting in DIRECTV HD). With all those choices, your entire family will have something to choose from.

SHOWTIME: SHOWTIME often premieres movies earlier than rivals, and has its own unique blend of original series, including Dexter and Californication.

Cinemax: Cinemax’s three channels (two broadcasting in HD) offer a range of romance, comedy, action and foreign films.

Each premium movie channel also has its own On Demand service, which allows you to watch great shows and movies on your schedule. You’ll never have to worry about getting home in time to see your favorite show. For that rare occasion when there’s nothing on, DIRECTV on DEMAND makes your options limitless.

So what are you waiting for? Check out DIRECTV’s premium movie packages for the hottest programming in all of television. You won’t be disappointed.

The Top 5 Teams to Watch with NFL SUNDAY TICKET on DIRECTV

The 2009 NFL season is well underway, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years. In fact, several records have already been broken; never before have so many teams made it to the seventh week without losing a game. If you subscribe to NFL SUNDAY TICKET on DIRECTV, you haven’t missed a moment of the action. With 14 games a week broadcast in high-definition and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, it’s like you’re in the first row of the stadium at every game. So without further ado, here are our very own power rankings after seven weeks of play.

1.The New Orleans Saints: Behind Drew Brees (arguably the best quarterback in the league) and a vastly improved defense, the Saints have risen to a record of 6-0. If the running game stays on track, New Orleans could make a run at the Super Bowl.

2.The Indianapolis Colts: Perhaps more than any other team, the Colts have a massive out-of-market following of fans who watch games with DIRECTV’s NFL SUNDAY TICKET. And that’s not surprising. With a recent Super Bowl win and perennial division championships, Peyton Manning and his Colts are ever-reliable. Even without retired receiver Marvin Harrison, they’ve shown a powerful punch on offense.

3.The Minnesota Vikings: Who would have predicted that Brett Favre’s 43rd reincarnation would result in a 6-1 Vikings squad that looks like it could potentially make it to the big game? With Adrian Peterson running the ball, teams seem to be at a loss as to how defend this squad. That game-winning pass against the 49ers had to be seen in DIRECTV HD to be believed.

4.The Denver Broncos: Football’s most surprising story of the year, Denver is off to an unbelievable 6-0 start behind 33-year-old coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Kyle Orton. The best defense in the NFL is based out of the Mile High for now.

5.The New England Patriots: After a couple of early stumbles, New England is back to looking like its former champion self. A 59-0 demolition of the Tennessee Titans seemed to be Tom Brady’s 2009 coming out party, and if the defense continues to play well, we might once again see a matchup with the Colts in the AFC Championship Game.

You can keep track of all of these teams (and the other clubs playing catch-up) on NFL SUNDAY TICKET. Going out of town this weekend, and worried about missing the game? Don’t be. You can catch all 14 games on your computer, one of the unique features of your DIRECTV package. With DIRECTV, staying on top of your favorite team has never been easier.