DIRECTV Debuts Interactive Digital Video Recorder at CES Tradeshow

[Chris Blount]

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading and fastest-growing digital television service provider, debuted a dual tuner DIRECTV(R) digital video recorder (DVR) with rich interactive functionality, today at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new DIRECTV DVR allows consumers to maximize their DIRECTV viewing experience. Users of the new DVR can record and store up to 100 hours of DIRECTV(R) programming and directly access interactive services(a). The Interactive DVR offers a wide variety of popular DVR features, such as one-touch recording, dual tuner functionality, instant replay and the most powerful search function available on the market. In addition, the new DVR's large cache will enable consumers to pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes. The new DIRECTV interactive DVR will be commercially available in mid-2005.

"DVRs have changed the way people watch television and our new Interactive DVR introduces additional features and ease-of-use to ensure the best viewing experience," said Eric Shanks, senior vice president, Advanced Services and Content, DIRECTV, Inc. "This product opens the door for an entirely new wave of programming on the DIRECTV platform."

Interactive DIRECTV DVR Features:

-- One-Touch Recording -- Customers can record favorite shows by
pressing one button on their remote control.

-- Record Now/Pay Later -- Provides users the flexibility to
record all pay-per-view (PPV) movies they might be interested
in and only pay for shows the user actually views.

-- Recording of Series -- Provides consumers with the power to
seamlessly schedule a recording of an entire season of their
favorite show. This feature automatically tracks changes to
the programming schedule to ensure proper recording.

-- DVR Controls -- Users have full control of their viewing
experience with pause, instant replay, rewind, fast-forward,
slow motion, and frame-by-frame viewing capability.

-- Playlist -- Displays all recorded content in an organized
list, including convenient groupings of series recordings and
DIRECTV extras.

-- Viewmarks -- Customers can easily mark favorite places in
their recordings and jump directly to them.

-- Advanced Search Capability -- Users can quickly search for
shows, genres, actors, directors, channels or key words both
in upcoming shows and shows they have previously recorded.
Users can also return to previous searches to find matching
programs.

-- AutoRecord -- Users can set the new DIRECTV DVR to record all
programs matching a keyword or other search criteria.

-- Onscreen caller ID -- Logs phone calls and offers the
on-display convenience of users browsing current or previous
calls without interrupting the television viewing
experience(b).

-- Enhanced viewing experience -- Supports Interactive
programming, such as DIRECTV Mix channels, NFL SUNDAY
TICKET(TM) interactive and DIRECTV Active.

-- Picture-in-guide -- Users can browse through the various
features of DIRECTV's new user interface while connected to
their program, which is always present in a video window.

Other significant features that will enhance the viewer experience include Dolby Digital 5.1 optical outputs and USB ports to support future services.

(a) Actual recording capacity depends on type of programming being recorded.

(b) Customer must subscribe to a caller ID service through their phone company.


Source (http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=660040&highlight=)

[UnnDunn]

So DirecTV has finally made it clear they are dumping TiVo then...?

[rh26]

-- DVR Controls -- Users have full control of their viewing experience with pause, instant replay, rewind, fast-forward, slow motion, and frame-by-frame viewing capability.

What about 30 sec. skip? Or is that slated for the dustbin? :confused:

[bhuber]

Picture of the new dvr at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000793026327/

[Crystal Pepsi Ball]

Picture of the new dvr at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000793026327/

I tried the link above and it said "service Unavailable"

[Jacob S]

It also says "service unvavailable" for me.

[Link]

Is there the usual $4.99 DVR fee and what about name based recording?

[lee120]

yes it will have nbr

[wipeout]

I wonder if I should try and return my HDTIVO? Seems like I may have wasted a thousand bucks.

[Capmeister]

I wonder if I should try and return my HDTIVO? Seems like I may have wasted a thousand bucks.
Why? I'll still get one in a few weeks. Showing up at a trade show and being on the market to sell are two different things.

Show me a link to where I can order one of these new boxes, let alone buy outright, and then I'll consider not getting an HD-TIVO. But for now, it's what they have.

[HappyGoLucky]

Why? I'll still get one in a few weeks. Showing up at a trade show and being on the market to sell are two different things.

Show me a link to where I can order one of these new boxes, let alone buy outright, and then I'll consider not getting an HD-TIVO. But for now, it's what they have.
Will you have to lay off one of the maids in order to make ends meet? :sure:

[rh26]

I wonder if this DVR will play nice (i.e., work as a client) with the Home Media Center box coming out later in the year.

[freakedout]

It does not say anything abut HD. Is this just a sd box or both? It would seem that they would have highlighted HD as part of the feature set if it was HD capable?

[Capmeister]

Will you have to lay off one of the maids in order to make ends meet? :sure:
I only have the one, and why would I let my house be dirty?

[LOBO2999]

I didnt see this in the press release, is there going top be a Fee for the DVR services like with the Tivo ?

[rh26]

It does not say anything abut HD. Is this just a sd box or both? It would seem that they would have highlighted HD as part of the feature set if it was HD capable?
I'm pretty sure it's only SD.

I wonder, though, if it could be an SD client to the Home Media Center. My thought was, get the new SD DVR now (actually 6 months from now when released) as a primary box. Then, when the Home Media Center is released (in a year or so), get it as a primary and move the SD DVR to another room, assuming they can talk to one another.

It seems sort of short sighted to have not included this functionality/compatibility...

[ds650]

Anyone here have a SD D10 receiver? When I upgraded to locals they changed out my RCA440's (best recievers ever!) Anyway on the D10 remote are buttons that look like DVR buttons, like 10 skip back & 30 skip ahead. Is this remote used on any current Drectivo? My Samsung Directivo has the stanard peanut remote.
Just wondering if these new receivers will be "a client" so to speak on a HMO type setup?

[jpurkey]

I didnt see this in the press release, is there going top be a Fee for the DVR services like with the Tivo ?

I thought it was going to be no-fee, but if it has two tuners I kind of doubt it. I would gladly settle for one tuner though if there was no fee.