Big Quarter for DirecTV
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, November 4, 2011 · 
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DirecTV is reporting its largest third-quarter subscriber increase in the last five years. From July to September, Direct TV added 327,000 subscribers. This increase is likely the result of the NFL Sunday Ticket promotion DirecTV launched earlier this year.
DirecTV also is reporting a larger average revenue per U.S. user, up 3.6% from a year ago. The company’s stock is trading at a higher price, reflecting a 6.2% increase.
In related news, AT&T announced that it had renewed its agreement to re-sell DirecTV, agreeing to a three-year extension.
DirecTV Opens NFL Sunday Ticket to Non-DirecTV Subscribers
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 22, 2011 · ·
DirecTV announced last week that it is adding the PlayStation 3 gaming console to its distribution network for its NFL Sunday Ticket To Go mobile service.
As a result, the satellite service will distribute its exclusive, live-game, out-of-market package to both current DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket customers, as well as non-DirecTV football fans through the PlayStation 3 video game console. Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League already offer games through the Sony-produced game systems. Read more
AT&T Gets Out of the ESPN 3D Game
Posted by Josh Seidemann on Friday, August 5, 2011 · ·
UVERSE sports fans searching for a football to fly through their living rooms will be bereft of that thrill now that AT&T has terminated its contract for ESPN 3D. AT&T cited a confluence of high prices and low demand.
ESPN 3D was introduced in 2010 and has covered the FIFA World Cup, NBA Finals, NCAA football and basketball and Major League Baseball. But despite the assumed thrill of being at the center of the action, too few AT&T customers were interested in paying $10 per month to experience it. Read more
Verizon, DirecTV Testing LTE Home Broadband
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 13, 2010 · (1) ·
Verizon Wireless and DirecTV are quietly testing an in-home broadband and video service near Erie, Pa. They are looking to pair Verizon’s new 4G LTE broadband with DirecTV broadcast satellite content.
By bundling the two services, Verizon and DirecTV could effectively compete with cable companies outside Verizon’s traditional FiOS service footprint. According to media reports, the two companies may expand the trial in 2011.
DirecTV Plans for Lower-Priced Basic Packages
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 6, 2010 · ·
DirecTV will attempt to expand its customer base by offering cheaper TV packages with fewer channels, the company’s Chief Executive Mike White reported last week.
Speaking at the company’s investor day in New York, White said that the satellite provider will try to grab market share from its cable counterparts by offering fewer channels at a lower price point. The company will test its theory, launching a pilot program next year in a few, select markets. White emphasized that he expects to focus on financially strained rural customers.
This comes on the heels of Time Warner Cable’s announcement last week that it plans to test drive a ‘TV Essentials’ package featuring a discounted tier of channels without ESPN service. Read more
Whole-Home DVR: A Necessary Feature of Your Video Bundle?
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 21, 2010 · ·
Several video service providers are now offering whole-home DVR services, which leaves me wondering, is whole-home DVR a mandatory feature in order to remain competitive in the video marketplace?
Whole-Home DVR typically lets users record and playback from multiple locations within the household. When users choose to watch the same recording, they can do so in different rooms with the ability to fast-forward, pause or rewind without affecting other viewers. Whole-home DVR also allows a subscriber to pause a show in one room and resume watching in another one. Read more