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Who really uses On Demand?

10K views 118 replies 95 participants last post by  jmudukes07 
#1 ·
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).

Anyone else feeling this way?
 
#52 ·
Without stuff from the "big 4" networks it's pretty useless to me. I have probable really used it 3 times since it first became available.
Stryker412 said:
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?
 
#54 ·
TBlazer07 said:
Without stuff from the "big 4" networks it's pretty useless to me. I have probable really used it 3 times since it first became available.
I think that's the biggest thing misssing, almost all the shows other than the major nets, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox have multiple showings, my local networks have plenty of problems on their own and are the most undependable source of programming I have, add weather related problems, etc and the major networks are about 99% of the time one showing and done. No other opportunity to catch the episode(s) you might have missed.
 
#55 ·
rebkell said:
I think that's the biggest thing misssing, almost all the shows other than the major nets, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox have multiple showings, my local networks have plenty of problems on their own and are the most undependable source of programming I have, add weather related problems, etc and the major networks are about 99% of the time one showing and done. No other opportunity to catch the episode(s) you might have missed.
I keep seeing Fox in the list of networks with regard to VOD. I may be wrong about this, but Fox currently doesn't offer VOD feeds. ABC, NBC, and CBS do, though - and they're starting to offer more in HD (the HD VOD offerings by the networks are still on the sparse side).
 
#56 ·
Stryker412 said:
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?
I dont know about complaints but when I had Comcast I constantly had OD errors that it was unavailable or down. In terms of time to download. It does take some time but keep in mind you don't have to wait for the full download to watch a movie.

One of the things I love the most about DOD is that I can use Remote Scheduler where with cable I had to wait to get to the box to set the on demand. I prefer to surf the titles online then sitting through all of them with my STB and remote. I will say that Directv has a way to go on improvements but its not bad.
 
#58 ·
My cable co meters bandwidth but so far I haven't hit the 5gb daily cap. (Hey it's either that or DSL that barely reaches 1 Mbps and goes off 10 times a day...)

It's hard to hit the limit with the low-res You Tube quality SD video they offer. I played with DOD this morning and got tons of stuff and the "% free" meter never even moved!
 
#59 ·
Tom Servo said:
My cable co meters bandwidth but so far I haven't hit the 5gb daily cap. (Hey it's either that or DSL that barely reaches 1 Mbps and goes off 10 times a day...)

It's hard to hit the limit with the low-res You Tube quality SD video they offer. I played with DOD this morning and got tons of stuff and the "% free" meter never even moved!
Hmmmm....I've go 6MBps DSL and I can't remember it ever going out. :grin:

However, even at 6MB it's still too slow to watch as it's downloading. :(

Mike
 
#60 ·
HDTVFreak07 said:
I don't use them pretty much at all. I only watch HD programs and none of them on demand are closed captioned.
Lack of CC is a major flaw with the service.
TBlazer07 said:
Without stuff from the "big 4" networks it's pretty useless to me. I have probable really used it 3 times since it first became available.
We definitely need the big 4 + any premium you sub to. If the big 4 were there people could sample their shows and plan on watching them regularly. Some people don't want to watch stuff because they feel they can't catch up. Remember when NBC tried to charge for "The Office"? I remember ABC was charging for 'Lost' and Desperate Housewives" on XBL and PSN.

I wonder if people would pay a couple dollars/month for on demand access to all of the Big 4 nets programming.
 
#61 ·
I have used it two or three times. I usually scroll through the menus every week or so but don't really find much. I subscribe to HBO, but none of the other movie channels. Obviously I would like to see HBO OD as well as network OK too. I love IFC but I am pretty disappointed in the offerings of IFC OD.
 
#64 ·
I looked to use it a lot when it first came out, but have since lost interest. I've primarily always been disappointed at the sparse amount of HD programming.

I still go back into it every now and then when some advertisement happens to bring it to mind, but I never seem to find much there that appeals to me. I even keep a VOD-related keyword search active on my Searches menu, but little ever catches my interest.

So I don't use it too much overall, but I'm hoping they will expand the offerings in the future to change that. For now, though, they just don't seem to have enough content for me.

(This thread probably should've been a poll.)
 
#66 ·
Hutchinshouse said:
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.
Ya, if the networks were on On-Demand....like Comcast, I think they had a deal with CBS, I would use it more often.
 
#69 ·
I use it here and there, not much. Would like to see some more expanded offerings though. No, I am not complaining. I am simply stating my opinion. Is that ok with you all? Or shall I say its awesome and I use it all the time so as not to get called out as being a complainer?
 
#70 ·
gfrang said:
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.
You got that to Work? I've never been able to schedule a VOD from the D* web Site, I can do a Regular Sat. Schedule recording every time Day or night.
I can never get a VOD to Schedule?? I stand Corrected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never Mind It NOW works I just tried it haven't used it for a while only the record to receiver from Sat. schedule. :)
 
#71 ·
I have ATT Extreme DSL, 6mbps that usually runs around 4 but better than the cable that I paid twice the price. . .

and I can start a HD VOD, walk to the refer to get a beer, come back and watch it.

If we can get network and HBO VOD, it will be worth it!! (free)
 
#73 ·
For me VOD needs more hdtv and Networks along with uptodate movie channel series. I find the software tiring and prefer Hulu or the network sites themselves for most downloads that I miss with my HD DVR. Would like to use VOD more if their offerings are expanded along with HD and the software is improved. I see Directv improving VOD slowly and keep checking back and occasionally try a show. Right now it just isn't that useful to me but may be more useful in a few months (or years).
 
#76 ·
I use it more and more as time goes by, snagged 5 episodes of the 1967 TV series "The Prisoner" last night.

I was somewhat concerned about hitting my "limits" with my ISP, but after talking to them about it (and I'm getting my D* service through them) I was told I'd have to stream stuff over my connection 25 hours a day, 7 days a week, all month long to even get close. 7 or 8 programs a week are no big thing.
 
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