I have to admit that I've been disappointed by the offerings by DirecTV in relation their On Demand service. I was looking forward to having a Comcast-like type of service where I could go back and watch missed network shows. However, all it appears they have are a few shows from each cable network, and not even complete seasons at that (excluding some of the Premium Networks).
I've checked it a few times, hoping to find something to watch. Never found anything worth watching though. It is a big disappointment for me.
I guess maybe its because I only subscribe to total choice plus HD/DVR.
There is literally almost nothing on the HD program list if you don't have premium type channels.
Also.. the listing of programs in VOD is impossible to look through. There is no way to just look at shows that you can actually watch. 90% of the shows in the listings for HD VOD are either PPV (which I can understand being useful) and then shows from stations I don't receive so I can't watch.
It's pretty useless to me, but I do play with it from time to time.
The main issues I have are poor picture quality and the sound levels on some selections are impossibly low.
After having been 'nearly exclusively HD' for some time in the living room, going back to YouTube-quality downloads is a real letdown. I don't have any movie packages so HD content is limited severely.
I downloaded some snippets from the Travel Channel and Food Network and the volume levels are uselessly low. Whereas I might set the TV at 23/100 when watching the Travel Channel and 19/100 for the Food Network, both's DOD content force me up to 60/100! And if I accidentally hit a button and go back to TV, ho boy is that a wake up call for the entire neighborhood!
And while it is a free service from DirecTV, I had to spend a small amount of money to run cable to DVR, which is across the room from where the cable comes in, since the receivers apparently don't work with certain types of secured wireless networks (which I have).
A smaller niggle is that I used DOD as an excuse to push the family to upgrade to faster cable internet from slow and unreliable DSL. So now we pay more for internet and lost part of our bundling discount in the process. But it's a small thing since the internet is now much faster and more reliable.
Until they get more HD programming I can access, it's gonna remain a pretty useless tool for me.
I use the service for the kids. I haven't found much for me there. I agree with the idea that they need to improve the content. I don't really care one way or another, but if they improved the offerings, I might be more inclined to use it.
I would probably use it more if the interface was easier to navigate and there was a way to filter out channels I don't subscribe to. As is, it's very difficult just to browse and find something I might like that I can actually watch.
I'd use it more if we had ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX On-Demand options. Other than testing it, I've used it a handful of times. A very cool feature by DIRECTV.
I use it a lot. When my grand children come over we download Dora and Diego. I download a lot of Showtime series and movies and I just started looking at the sundance channel.
I don't know how much network you get on cable, but it's not much. I have Comcast in Harrisburg and the only network shows we get are CBS and very few of them. I think there is a little NBC if you want to pay for it, but why do that when you can get it on HULU for free.
Also, you can watch a downloaded show on D while recording 2 other programs. On demand counts as 1 of your 2 channels with Comcast.
On the plus side for Comcast, they do have HBO on demand, but no HD for HBO. Their Scifi, FX, etc is also a little more extensive.
All in all, while I'd like the offering to expand, I'm pretty happy with the service so far.
In my opinion, there isn't a danged thing on TV that can't be missed. Aside from the poor programming quality; endless reruns, and the issuance of entire seasons of programming on DVDs have rendered it a moot point if you miss a show or not.
Hutchinshouse said:
Recording conflicts, software issues, weather issues, power outages etc.
I have a question. I have Comcast internet but D* (obviously) for TV. I didn't know the On-Demand titles are downloaded to your box, I thought they were streamed. So I loaded up the entire season of The Tudors and half of Californication. It took like 12 hours to get everything.
Has anyone had complaints from Comcast about bandwidth usage if you use on demand frequently?
Used it yesterday to record Flying Scotsman,haven't watched it yet.
The only thing i don't like about it is is very slow searching,sometimes i use the dvr scheduler on the Directv website.
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