DIRECTV Introduces New Programming Package for Cars, Vans and Sport Utility Vehicles

[Chris Blount]

DIRECTV Introduces New Programming Package for Cars, Vans and Sport Utility Vehicles
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--

More than 125 Channels Available for Passenger
Vehicles Equipped with KVH TracVision A5 Satellite TV System;
STARZ Premium Movie Service will Also be Available

DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading and fastest-growing digital television service provider, introduced today its new TOTAL CHOICE(R) Mobile programming package, and also announced that it will offer the STARZ Super Pak(R) premium movie channel package for the automotive marketplace. The TOTAL CHOICE Mobile package provides access to more than 125 channels of digital-quality video and commercial-free audio programming for customers using the TracVision A5 low-profile automotive satellite TV antenna from KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI). The STARZ Super Pak movie package, which will be available to TOTAL CHOICE Mobile customers early this year, offers 750 movies each month on 13 digital movie channels in a variety of genres from westerns to romance to mystery.

TOTAL CHOICE Mobile is DIRECTV's first subscription package developed specifically for use in passenger vehicles equipped with in-vehicle video screens. According to a 2003 report published by Frost & Sullivan, the market for vehicles equipped with video screens could exceed 18 million by 2008.

"The launch of TOTAL CHOICE Mobile programming and the future addition of the STARZ movie channels enables DIRECTV to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the automotive video marketplace," said Daren Benzi, vice president of Sales Development and Strategy, DIRECTV, Inc. "Consumers now have the opportunity to enjoy DIRECTV(R) programming not only in their homes, RVs, boats, and on planes, but also in their automobiles. TOTAL CHOICE Mobile and the KVH TracVision A5 antenna create a unique package that provides our customers with tremendous flexibility in where and when they can enjoy the highest quality digital satellite TV programming available."

The introduction of TOTAL CHOICE Mobile follows an agreement earlier this year between DIRECTV and KVH to cooperatively market live DIRECTV programming to cars. TOTAL CHOICE Mobile will be available to those customers purchasing a new TracVision A5 satellite TV system for their car. The TOTAL CHOICE Mobile package will be available to existing DIRECTV residential customers for $4.99 per month, and for customers subscribing only to the mobile programming package, the price is $39.99 per month.

Available at retailers nationwide, the ultra low-profile TracVision A5 satellite TV antenna uses KVH's hybrid phased-array antenna technology (patents pending) and is designed specifically for use in passenger vehicles. It is the only low-profile, in-motion satellite TV system for automobiles that is currently available to consumers in the United States.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with DIRECTV to bring TOTAL CHOICE Mobile and live DIRECTV programming to consumers virtually wherever they travel in the continental United States," said Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH's president and chief executive officer. "By handling the initial account activation, KVH will offer a streamlined process for DIRECTV customers to purchase a TracVision A5 and activate the TOTAL CHOICE Mobile package. Getting the exciting digital satellite entertainment that consumers want while on the move has never been easier."

Passenger entertainment systems are now one of the most popular automotive accessories on the market. According to J.D. Power and Associates, among 2003 and early-release 2004 model vehicles, 28 percent of full-size SUVs, 20 percent of luxury SUVs and 24 percent of minivans have passenger entertainment systems. Roughly 50 percent of the owners of these vehicle classes want passenger entertainment in their next vehicle.

Source (http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=659680&highlight=)

[Nick]

<sigh> I suppose it's inevitable. Sat tv integrated into those 6"-10" GPS+video dashboard displays. Now much difference in watching a map or your altitude and watching the SI swimsuit competition at 85 mph, is there? And how can the cops tell the difference in the first place?

State and local laws not withstanding, I will just have to start calling 9-1-1 on these WWE-watching idiots.

[bpatt]

First post here.

Has anybody purchased the TracVision A5? Seems like its a pretty cool setup. My father was looking for something like this, and I stumbled across it at Crutchfield's website. And its for the rear passengers, btw.

My folks do long trips and this would seem to make sense. He has scheduled the install (in about two weeks).

Any thoughts or experiences on this I'd appreciate.

Thanks.

[IndyMichael]

Wow, not exactly affordable... (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-hSHpP0gUHjV/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=254850&I=700TVA5)

The $4.99 a month for programing sounds great, but then the price tag( $2300) for the antenna and receiver makes it unlikely we'll be getting it anytime soon, and that doesn't even include the cost of having a monitor installed.

[bpatt]

Hmm. Yeah, it is a little up there, in terms of dish installations, that's for sure.

But, if you have a manufacturer provided video system already, this isn't too outrageous if you ask me. I'd compare it to a GPS system which some people insist on buying, and then use once a year when someone new is in their car.

I'm typing this enroute to a family gathering in NC, and watching Frasier DVD's is nice, but being able to see today's football games would be much better!

Installation is going to cost about $300 on top of that, and Dad's also getting a active security system to protect the investment (Excursion only comes with an engine lockout - if you break the window, help yourself). I'll see if I can post some pics and a review after its done.

[sobal]

Are local channels available with this? I assume for $4.99 it will just mirror your home system and if you drive out of your local spot-beamed area you'll lose any access to the national broadcast networks.

[bpatt]

Good queston - I'm not sure. I better find out...

[bpatt]

No locals - yet, I was told. Bummer. I wonder if an mobile OTA antenna makes sense.

[sobal]

If you go the TracVisionA5 website

http://www.kvh.com/Products/product.asp?id=79#

and click on the link to the package channel listing, there are no Fox Sports Nets listed or channels such as ESPNU, CSTV, etc. I can see the package not knowing if you subscribe to the Sports Pack, but shouldn't you at least get your local Fox Sports Net?

It also lists some of the channels available in the Total Choice Plus package. Will these be available even if you don't subscribe to them via your home package?

[bpatt]

Good questions - I guess we'll find out.

[brzmkla]

First post here.

Has anybody purchased the TracVision A5? Seems like its a pretty cool setup. My father was looking for something like this, and I stumbled across it at Crutchfield's website. And its for the rear passengers, btw.

My folks do long trips and this would seem to make sense. He has scheduled the install (in about two weeks).

Any thoughts or experiences on this I'd appreciate.

Thanks.

there was a review of the system on LA Times a while back. Seems like it works well on the open field, but whenever you are driving thru an urban area (specially with tall buildings or overpasses) the signal break-ups were quite pronounced... in my opinion, you will probably do better by installing a TIVO in your car (make it removable so you can take it from the car to the house to "load" the drive) if you live and drive mostly in urban areas. Of course, for an RV or someone doing a lot of highway driving with rear seat passengers, it is a great option.

[bpatt]

Ok, we picked up his Excursion yesterday, and it looks really good. A five minute call to DirecTV to tell them about the receiver (they simply add it as an additional receiver to your residential package), gave them the access card # etc, and voila we had satellite!

Ok, a word about installation - the guys we went to (Audio Advisors in West Palm Beach) were awesome. They were a little pricier than another location that we went to who was also offering the unit, but we felt better about their setup, location, salesperson, etc. It ran us about $300 for installation, and they did an excellent job. They mounted the receiver under a rear seat but attached to the seat, so when the seat was slid forwards or backwards it moved as well. The TV/DVD unit up top was factory, so that was cake for them to plug into. We requested the ability to run the satellite, TV, and sound separate from the ignition (no key needed), and they installed a switch in the back corner for when we need that.

The channel listing on the KVH's website is wrong - you actually get every channel that your residential package gives you, including locals. The guide data was very fast, and the grid / remote were easy to use (I gave the remote to my mother, who is technically averse, and she found Oprah in no time).

We asked for an additional coax mount in the rear next to the switch, which will allow him to add an additional KVH receiver in their travel trailer, and easily use the dish on the Excursion instead of needing to get a second dish on his trailer. We also had the antenna/dish connected to the security system, just in case.

On the short test drives we've done so far, signal does drop for a split second as you pass under low trees, but this wasn't terrible, nor did we notice this under overpasses (because of our higher speed, I would imagine). When we got home and parked in his driveway, where he has several large trees in the front, we dropped signal. I switched to the signal strength meter within Setup, and had him inch forward slowly and found a spot where we got a solid 85 on the signal strength, even though there wasn't much sky to see. Thus, it seems very good at pulling in signal where you think it might not.

So far, I'd say its a great package. I'll reiterate what I said before - I'm surprised more dealers are not offering this as a dealer-installed option, along with the installed video system. The only thing that could improve this would be DVR features (Pause, rewind, etc), but not so much for taping stuff while you're gone.

I'll post some pics if I get a chance.

Edit: Any thoughts on the locals when he drives out of the area? Will he keep them, or lose them beyond a certain location?

[sattec]

those A-5's are hell on your battery when the engine is not running. Your A-5 will "beep" at you when your "draining your battery". Mine was wired always on with the motor, we put it on it's own toggle up by the other light switches.