R15 VOD suggestions

[klwillis]

As D* engineers work wildly away at to get VOD on the R15 I thought now might be a good time to throw a few suggestions out there.

I am aware D* wants to increase revenue through pushing PPV using VOD.
But I also think they will make a critical error if they only offer PPV on VOD.
They need to pay particular attention to their best consumers and a way to migrate more of their base level customers to the premium packages.

I think the best way to approach this is to allow the customers to choose a VOD package. For example a customer with Stars could choose Stars Ondemand or any of the other Premium channels.

I remember when D* did offer a version of this on their D*Tivo box. Which I must admit I actually found appealing. It basically pushed the movie premieres to the tivo box before they were scheduled to to play on the conventional channel.

Ok now lets get to my most controversial suggestion.
Allow the customer to turn VOD off and use the space for any content they would like to record. I think its a waste to push content to consumers that don't want it. And I believe even the non technical customer will resent that the space is being used to push content to them they do not want.

Personally I subscribe to D* Total Choice Premier so PPV is not that attractive to me, the movies will eventually hit the premium Movie Channels and this is typically when I view or record them.

Keith

[morgantown]

Ok now lets get to my most controversial suggestion.
Allow the customer to turn VOD off and use the space for any content they would like to record. I think its a waste to push content to consumers that don't want it. And I believe even the non technical customer will resent that the space is being used to push content to them they do not want.

Keith

All good points.

I too was going to mention the ability to turn off VOD (i.e., like "Suggestions" with TiVo) after the dual buffer news yesterday, but seriously doubt DTV would take such a customer-focused approach. Personally, I think they are more focused on saying they have VOD at their investor meetings and the customers preferences are secondary. I'd LOVE to be wrong on that...

Given the choice of VOD or dual live buffers, dual buffers wins hands-down in this house. Hopefully DTV will wake up and smell the coffee.

[Bista-Buster]

but seriously doubt DTV would take such a customer-focused approach. Personally, I think they are more focused on saying they have VOD at their investor meetings and the customers preferences are secondary. I'd LOVE to be wrong on that...

If they don't take in customer opinions, they will loose accounts with them. Myself included. I'm not too sure I want one of those DTV DVR's just yet. I'll stick with the TiVo's for right now until they get the bugs out of the system and some better features as well. I'm hearing that this DVR is a little bit more confusing to use than the TiVo's. Even the manuals stink. I hope this is not true.

[Clint Lamor]

If they don't take in customer opinions, they will loose accounts with them. Myself included. I'm not too sure I want one of those DTV DVR's just yet. I'll stick with the TiVo's for right now until they get the bugs out of the system and some better features as well. I'm hearing that this DVR is a little bit more confusing to use than the TiVo's. Even the manuals stink. I hope this is not true.

Ya the manual is pretty bad, as for confusing no it's not TiVo but it's a lot more like all of their other receivers. Once you get used to it it's pretty easy to use. I wish they would get better remotes. :)

[Wolffpack]

Ya the manual is pretty bad, as for confusing no it's not TiVo but it's a lot more like all of their other receivers. Once you get used to it it's pretty easy to use. I wish they would get better remotes. :)
But Clint....Tell me why a standard non-DVR receiver has to have the same look and feel as a DVR? I just do not get this logic that DTV is PUSHing (ha) on the customer?

Sure, make the guide look the same. I don't have a problem with that. Maybe some options like color and such, but the only common points between a D11/H20 and a R15 is the guide. That's it. So, use the same interface for those.

Beyond that, look to a DVR interface that has worked. Tivo would come to mind...haha I know. But seriously, saying DTV wants a common GUI between all receivers/DVRs doesn't excuse the poor choices made in the DVR side of the R15.

Once you go into DVR programming there is no common GUI to reference. All existing DTV receivers other than the R15 do not support this so once you get into "DVR Land" it's all designed from scratch. My question is why not design something that is not confusing?

The R15 interface is confusing. The manual is worthless and DTV should stop including it other than for the basic "how to attach your equipment" section.

Since this have nothing to do with the R15 VOD, the original topic, I will stop now.

Perhaps we need a thread to discuss how we little people out here using the unit would like the DVR side of the GUI to work. Earl started a CED on this and we need to express our views there.

[laxcoach]

I suspect the common interface desire has to do with HR20, R15, and media center. The media center is the biggie. All of this work builds the foundation.

[morgantown]

I suspect the common interface desire has to do with HR20, R15, and media center. The media center is the biggie. All of this work builds the foundation.

Not picking on 'ya here Laxcoach,

But, if I am going to drop $1.5k - $2K on a HD DVR and not even own it -- VOD is the least of my worries.

Peace.

[jonaswan2]

But Clint....Tell me why a standard non-DVR receiver has to have the same look and feel as a DVR? I just do not get this logic that DTV is PUSHing (ha) on the customer?

Sure, make the guide look the same. I don't have a problem with that. Maybe some options like color and such, but the only common points between a D11/H20 and a R15 is the guide. That's it. So, use the same interface for those.

Beyond that, look to a DVR interface that has worked. Tivo would come to mind...haha I know. But seriously, saying DTV wants a common GUI between all receivers/DVRs doesn't excuse the poor choices made in the DVR side of the R15.

Once you go into DVR programming there is no common GUI to reference. All existing DTV receivers other than the R15 do not support this so once you get into "DVR Land" it's all designed from scratch. My question is why not design something that is not confusing?

The R15 interface is confusing. The manual is worthless and DTV should stop including it other than for the basic "how to attach your equipment" section.

Since this have nothing to do with the R15 VOD, the original topic, I will stop now.

Perhaps we need a thread to discuss how we little people out here using the unit would like the DVR side of the GUI to work. Earl started a CED on this and we need to express our views there.

The DVR side of the GUI is very similar to the Sky+ box. Both are NDS made, so yeah...

[klwillis]

Looks like D* will offer Some VOD opt in features.

[Clint Lamor]

But Clint....Tell me why a standard non-DVR receiver has to have the same look and feel as a DVR? I just do not get this logic that DTV is PUSHing (ha) on the customer?

Sure, make the guide look the same. I don't have a problem with that. Maybe some options like color and such, but the only common points between a D11/H20 and a R15 is the guide. That's it. So, use the same interface for those.

Beyond that, look to a DVR interface that has worked. Tivo would come to mind...haha I know. But seriously, saying DTV wants a common GUI between all receivers/DVRs doesn't excuse the poor choices made in the DVR side of the R15.

Once you go into DVR programming there is no common GUI to reference. All existing DTV receivers other than the R15 do not support this so once you get into "DVR Land" it's all designed from scratch. My question is why not design something that is not confusing?

The R15 interface is confusing. The manual is worthless and DTV should stop including it other than for the basic "how to attach your equipment" section.

Since this have nothing to do with the R15 VOD, the original topic, I will stop now.

Perhaps we need a thread to discuss how we little people out here using the unit would like the DVR side of the GUI to work. Earl started a CED on this and we need to express our views there.


To be honest I don't think they have to be, my old receivers all looked different and I didn't care. I don't dislike the current interface but at the same time I don't really like it. I think it looks kind of bland to be honest. Then again I was never really in love with the TiVo interface either.

IF I had my way the interface would be skinnable and I could make it look like whatever I want.