Video on Demand Launched by DIRECTV
DIRECTV is widely believed to be on the verge of launching a Video on Demand service sometime during the second quarter of this year. The service will be broadband-enabled and will require a high-speed Internet connection in order to operate. Through this service, satellite subscribers will have the advantage of choosing from among thousands of selections for viewing whenever they wish.
Several areas around the country have served as testing ground for the video on demand service over the past few months. Some of the first areas to be test were particular locations in Mountain Time Zones. The service was launched as a test pilot there last fall, offering approximately 2,000 movies and shows. CNN and Discovery were just two of the networks to be included in the launch. At the time no programming in HDTV was included; however, DIRECTV stressed that they were working diligently on making programming in HDTV available.
DIRECTV owners can utilize a broadband connection in order to download both high-definition television shows and movies as well as standard definition programs and movies.
In addition to being able to download programming, users will also be able to have certain shows sent directly by DIRECTV to their DVR. It is anticipated that the service will be a welcome addition to DIRECTV users. It has been estimated that at least half of all current DIRECTV subscribers already have high-speed Internet connections and will be ready to take advantage of the service as soon as it becomes available. A HR20-700 HD DVR is necessary to take advantage of the service. It is connected to a Broadband Internet line using either a power line device, home plug, Category 5 cabling or wireless network.
Consumers can choose from one of two ways to receive their videos. One method is an automatic transmission of certain movie titles which can be stored on the DVR of subscribers and then ordered whenever the subscriber wishes to view them. A second method would be through an Internet download that is streamed to the set-top box of the subscriber.
According to DIRECTV, approximately 3,000 movies and television shows will be offered as soon as the service is launched. In some cases, a small fee may be required for certain movie titles. Pricing is expected to be about $3.99. Numerous non-movie based programs are free of charge; however. In direct comparison to other providers, including Comcast, it is expected that this new service by DIRECTV will be quite economical. While Comcast does offer a large selection of free content, movies tend to run about $5 each.
It has been anticipated that this new service will help to counter the video on demand services which have already been offered by phone companies and cable operators for quite some time now.
Although the service has only been available in beta until this point, it certainly appears as though many satellite subscribers will be able to take advantage of the service throughout the country very soon.