1080p PPV Online Ordering Confusion

[DBordello]

I today saw a movie that I would like to watch in the "Top Movies". I attempted to play it, it would not let me order with the remote since I do not have a phone/internet line connected (fair enough).

The on-screen directions prompted me to visit the website to order it. I did so, for the exact same movie title. However the HD PPV channel was authorized, the 1080p recording was not.

I am on the phone with Directv right now, but I am pretty much spinning my wheels. They have no idea what the 1080p PPV is.

Thoughts, who I should talk to, etc?

[jdspencer]

I didn't think DirecTV was providing 1080p movies via PPV yet.
Only with On Demand. However, I think the Top Movies are loaded via the internet. But, without an internet connection you can't get it.

But then I could be wrong as per this thread.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=157796

[DBordello]

This box was connected to the internet in the recent past. Perhaps it downloaded the 1080p PPV then.

After 25 minutes on the phone I gave up. Explaining 1080i verses 1080p to the CSRs is worthless. I wasn't convinced they knew about the prerecorded PPVs yet.

Very frustrating.

[DBordello]

What is required is getting them to send the authorization for the 1080p automatically recorded PPV down the sat.

I did find a separate 1080p item on the Directv website. However, purchase doesn't seem to be an option.

I am wondering if I am stuck in that happy place of having the PPV, however unable to get it authorized.

[redsoxfan26]

Top Movies are not downloaded over the internet. They are pushed over the satellite in real time and recorded on a reserved section of the hard drive.

[DBordello]

So the question is, is there a way to authorize them remotely?

[JoeTheDragon]

So the question is, is there a way to authorize them remotely?

try saying you want to order a movie in movies now / top movies online?

[BattleZone]

So the question is, is there a way to authorize them remotely?

No, there isn't. You must have a phone or Internet connection to authorize them. You can authorize normal PPV channels online or via phone, but not Top Movies.

[DBordello]

This is good to know. I am sure I am not the only one fooled by the information on the receiver stating to order online. This obviously should be fixed.

Also, the CSRs need to be better educated. They don't even know what top movies are. Do these people even use this equipment?

[JoeTheDragon]

Also, the CSRs need to be better educated. They don't even know what top movies are. Do these people even use this equipment?

Yes they do one once told me that I needed the sports pack to get my RSN alt in HD.

[BattleZone]

Also, the CSRs need to be better educated. They don't even know what top movies are. Do these people even use this equipment?

Many of them have never even seen a DirecTV receiver. They don't get a free account or anything, and for most, it's just a job. They follow their scripts and can solve most issues that way, but anything that isn't well documented is going to be beyond their ability in most cases.

[Stewpidity]

I had a similar issue over the weekend, they were/are having issues with the top movies/on demand authorization. After trying to watch a "Top Movie" I was getting a blue box telling me to call to watch it, I called but they could not figure it out why, so she told me to reset the box, well once I did that the Top Movies changed and the movie we wanted to watch was gone, so no luck.

So decided to just download it over night to watch Saturday, tried to watch it but had the same Blue Box over 1/3 of the screen telling me to call or go to directv.com/ppv to authorize (not just the smaller blue box that asks you to confirm that you want to pay to watch the movie) So I again called in the morning this guy sent all new authorizations told me within 24 hours i should be fine.

Well that night i am aggravated this is still not working, so i called and got a CSR who knows his stuff, I was finally told this was a known issue and they are working on it, he tried a bunch of stuff, nothing, then he deactivated and reactivated my box, at this point i am not sure he did something else, but i then tried to watch the downloaded movie and the smaller box to confirm the charge appeared and we were finally able to watch the movie.

so, this is a known issue and they are working on it

Also, I downloaded a 1080P movie and do NOT have a 1080p TV and it played no problem

[DiSH Defector]

I had a similar issue over the weekend, they were/are having issues with the top movies/on demand authorization. After trying to watch a "Top Movie" I was getting a blue box telling me to call to watch it, I called but they could not figure it out why, so she told me to reset the box, well once I did that the Top Movies changed and the movie we wanted to watch was gone, so no luck.

So decided to just download it over night to watch Saturday, tried to watch it but had the same Blue Box over 1/3 of the screen telling me to call or go to directv.com/ppv to authorize (not just the smaller blue box that asks you to confirm that you want to pay to watch the movie) So I again called in the morning this guy sent all new authorizations told me within 24 hours i should be fine.

Well that night i am aggravated this is still not working, so i called and got a CSR who knows his stuff, I was finally told this was a known issue and they are working on it, he tried a bunch of stuff, nothing, then he deactivated and reactivated my box, at this point i am not sure he did something else, but i then tried to watch the downloaded movie and the smaller box to confirm the charge appeared and we were finally able to watch the movie.

so, this is a known issue and they are working on it

Also, I downloaded a 1080P movie and do NOT have a 1080p TV and it played no problem



1080p will play just fine on TVs with only 1080i, the resolution just downconverts automatically.