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story category DirecTV On Demand: Q2
High-definition content, delivered by our competitors...
12:30PM Thursday Mar 13 2008 by Karl Bode
tags: satellite · Video · competition · business · hardware · DIRECTV
Though we've been talking about the not-so-quiet-beta of DirecTV's video on demand service for many months, the Wall Street Journal has more on the project that they say should launch in the second quarter of this year (aka: soon). Obviously not true "on-demand," the company's DVR uses its Ethernet port to download content over a customer's broadband connection. As we've stated repeatedly, this particular launch will be one to watch -- given you've got a satellite provider suddenly using a competitor's bandwidth to deliver high-definition content -- something that speaks strongly to the debate over a neutral 'Net.

Related:
  1. What's Behind Slow FiOS HD Deployment?
  2. DirecTV's Network Neutrality Collision Course
  3. DirecTV To Launch Remote DVR Scheduling
  4. CableLabs To Test SDV, TiVO Adapter
  5. DirecTV, Liberty Deal Almost Done
  6. Troubled Satellite Launch Impacts Dish Network HD Plans
  7. Comcast HD Image Quality Vs. FiOS
  8. Analysts Say TiVo Battle Puts Dish in a Bad Position
Forums » DirecTV On Demand: Q2
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Post a:
Network Guy

join:2000-08-25
New York

Here it comes again

Maybe Verizon won't bark at this, but you can bet the MSOs will.

We'll have to wait and see how the hearing on traffic shaping goes for Comcast to see how well this bodes going forward.

telcolackey
The Truth? You can't handle the truth

join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA

Re: Here it comes again

Riiiight.... The same Verizon that wants you to use VCast and not Sling.
EPS

join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

Re: Here it comes again

Actually, that's a different Verizon... kindof/sortof/maybe...
Network Guy

join:2000-08-25
New York

Re: Here it comes again

Yeah. Don't you know their hands never know what each other are doing?

telcolackey
The Truth? You can't handle the truth

join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA

Yeah... That is the Verizon that got the customer base and now wants to exploit it vs. the Verizon that is going to bait the customer base before it exploits it. Go FiOS!!
--
"Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear." - Dinah Craik

Anon3456

@cox.net
They keep resetting the port I open for my sling box. I think they know what they are doing when this happens. Think of it as the poor man's traffic shaping. Kinda thinking of streaming to a PC 24/7 just to get their goat.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
·Mediacom

said by Network Guy See Profile :

We'll have to wait and see how the hearing on traffic shaping goes for Comcast to see how well this bodes going forward.
It won't become a net neutrality issue because providers aren't willing to open Pandora's Box. However, content providers continuing down this path may invigorate bill-by-the-byte and/or setting caps and billing for overages...effectively restricting their "competition" by not having to worry about net neutrality issues.

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
·AT&T U-Verse
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·DSL EXTREME


edit:
March 13th, @12:04PM

Definitely interesting...

quote:
As we've stated repeatedly, this particular launch will be interesting because you've got a satellite provider suddenly using a competitor's bandwidth to deliver high-definition content -- something that speaks strongly to the debate over a neutral 'Net.
It will defnitely be interesting to see how the broadband industry responds. It's a double-edged sword. It definitely could tax their resources quite a bit, at the worst times. On the other hand, it could give some less technical "joe sixpacks" a real reason to step up to faster, more expensive broadband tiers.
--
Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: Definitely interesting...

Especially if its HD. Standard def wouldn't be an issue for many users - HD = high bandwidth
--
Canada = Hollywood North

brian188

join:2006-03-23
Loveland, CO

Re: Definitely interesting...

All true, but I take exception to the article calling it "competitor's bandwidth". It's MY bandwidth! I'll do what I want with it. I don't buy a Chevy, and then let Chevy tell me I can't drive to a Ford dealer.

Should be fun to watch.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·DSL EXTREME
·DSL EXTREME

Re: Definitely interesting...

I agree... this will be interesting, and as long as these ISP's don't become AOL all over again, they should not care what I use the bandwidth for, even if its competition. Its like me using dry loop DSL to run Vonage so that I don't have to pay BS fees to the Telco.
--
Canada = Hollywood North
DemonicLlama

join:2007-11-19
Potomac, MD

FAP

So ill hit my FAP that much quicker ehh. Its much easier for me to use my Vista pc with the directv guide.

Toadman
Hypnotoad

join:2001-11-28
Medina, OH

Re: FAP

It will be interesting to see how they handle the FAP for their direcway customers. Maybe they will exclude their domain, nah, gready bastards

dave787777

@bellatlantic.com

Re: FAP

Forget download HD content with direcway..........my guess even byond FAP would be 2 weeks pulling down a movie.
JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL

DirecTV R10 receiver

Anyone know if this service will be available for Directv R10 receiver?
--
»www.seabee.navy.mil
viperlmw

join:2005-01-25

Re: DirecTV R10 receiver

Unfortunatly, probably not (I have 2 R-10's). I think this is more for the HR-20/21 crowd (I have one of those, too). But once you get VOD working, Media Share is but a step away.

aaron8301
I can't get myself to go away.

join:2005-01-03
Clarkston, WA
·CableOne

said by JSRoman See Profile :

Anyone know if this service will be available for Directv R10 receiver?
Yes, this is only for the HDDVRs.
neufuse

join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA

Kicked off?

So what happens when comcast kicks me off for using directtv's VOD too much and "hogging" their bandwidth? can I file a suit in court against them for preventing access to a competetor? This could get sicky fast...

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast


edit:
March 13th, @02:03PM

Re: Kicked off?

said by neufuse See Profile :

So what happens when comcast kicks me off for using directtv's VOD too much and "hogging" their bandwidth? can I file a suit in court against them for preventing access to a competetor? This could get sicky fast...
Verizon, Comcast, etc should just start charging high per byte fees when you go over a threshold. No neutrality issues to deal with. If you are bandwidth hog, you pay.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
neufuse

join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA

Re: Kicked off?

I can see them taking is to the ringer for that though... something like 5GB per month for only $39! each gig after $5!
EPS

join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

If the DirecTV is being purchased through agreement with a telco (like Qwest and Verizon do with DSL- IIRC AT&T uses Dish?), DirecTV-OnDemand shouldn't be capped or thresholded- I would assume that DirecTV would at least try to prevent that from happening when they negotiate their ongoing deals with the telcos

newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

Comcast will block it . . .

. . . and then lie about it.

RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest

Re: Comcast will block it . . .

They'll sneak a prohibition of watching anyone else's VoD into page 72 paragraph 129(c)(4)(ii) after the fact, and confiscate all your video displays if you do. Then give you one which only gets CHANNEL 1.
--
Toolmaster of La Grange.

Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Austin, TX
clubs:

Re: Comcast will block it . . .

Dear god, not channel 1!
Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs:
·Comcast

For a few more angles...

Just how many ethernet connected products are we going to end up with? I've maxed out my four-port wireless router (although I could free up a port if I put the laptop back on wireless).

Speaking of wireless, I wonder if they'll come out with a wireless version so I wouldn't have to run ethernet cable from the cable/DSL modem to the set top box.

Incidentally, this may be more designed to work with DSL than with cable broadband connections. Most MSOs charge you quite a bit extra for broadband without TV. I think with Comcast, the charge jumps from 42.95 per month to $55 or so, so if you really want VOD and cable broadband, you're probably better off sticking with the MSO for TV as well.

On the other hand, this will probably help telcos like Qwest and AT&T that are bundling satellite with DSL.

Finally, I wonder what kind of an impact this sort of VOD would have on someone trying to browse the internet at the same time? And how responsive will this system be compared with the VOD the MSOs offer?
DemonicLlama

join:2007-11-19
Potomac, MD

Re: For a few more angles...

Well i checked with comcast in my area for HSI service but its $62 a month. My hughesnet cost is less then half that(argue and negotiate with CS for a better price for my month to month plan which i chose over the year or more contracts they offer).
Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs:
·Comcast

Re: For a few more angles...

I stand corrected. So it really does make no sense at all to buy naked HSI from Comcast (at $62 per month) and satellite from DirectTV just to get VOD.

You really are better off bundling either with the MSO or the telco for everything (no big surprise there).
DemonicLlama

join:2007-11-19
Potomac, MD
·DIRECTV

Re: For a few more angles...

Well my area is kinda screwed. I live in Montgomery County Maryland. They have some deal with comcast that they recieved alot of income from Comcast tazes locally and they are forcing out competition like verizon. If fios/dsl was available from verizon, and i still get their mail offers for both, i get it in a heartbeat. Comcast is too expensive here(even after the tripledouble play offers promo period ends).
BosstonesOwn

join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
·Comcast Formerly ..

Bad Geek ! Haven't you been listening to the world lately ? Everything will become net connected.

BTW you can use an wireless ethernet bridge to get wireless to that device. but it's slow.

I have moved an 8 port gigabit switch to behind my tv. And The rest of my home is powered by a 24 port cisco router. My feelings where I was wiring not only my hole house (every room , 6 rooms and 2 ports per room) Then I ran trunks to my living room and entertainment room 2 ports there , then 2 wireless aps 1 on each floor.

All fed by a nice pfsense box and sent out over 5 connections , this gives me a nice a set of ports in the closet for a server and some data storage. Everything requiring communications will have an ethernet port and maybe wireless soon.
--
"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!"
Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs:
·Comcast

Re: For a few more angles...

Yeah, I can see that this is the route I'm going to have to follow when I finally buy my own place (assuming I ever settle down in one city!). Unfortunately, I have a predilection for late 19th/early 20th century brick houses (Denver has a lot of these), so wiring the place the way I want to will probably be a massive pain in the behind.
viperlmw

join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net

said by Corydon See Profile :

~snip~ On the other hand, this will probably help telcos like Qwest and AT&T that are bundling satellite with DSL. ~snip~
This is a big reason Qwest is doing their FTTN build-out.

aaron8301
I can't get myself to go away.

join:2005-01-03
Clarkston, WA
·CableOne

First, if you're out of Ethernet ports, get a switch.

Second, Wireless Ethernet Bridge. Plug one of those into the HR21 (and anything else without wifi), problem solved.
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY

On Demand..

If you are wired for a broadband connection.. there isn't a whole lot of reason to have DirectTv except for exclusive programming.. though once a program airs.. there's nothing to prevent it from hitting the bittorrent superhighway.
djeremy

join:2004-07-12
San Francisco, CA

Re: On Demand..

I don't know about all that. I have Directv because of all those wonderful HD channels. Comcast doesn't even offer half the HD programming in my area and still costs more.
viperlmw

join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net

Re: On Demand..

said by djeremy See Profile :

I don't know about all that. I have Directv because of all those wonderful HD channels. Comcast doesn't even offer half the HD programming in my area and still costs more.
...with more HD coming with the launch of DirecTV 11 in the next week. Check it out »www.sea-launch.com/current_launch.htm

aaron8301
I can't get myself to go away.

join:2005-01-03
Clarkston, WA
·CableOne

said by tmc8080 See Profile :

If you are wired for a broadband connection.. there isn't a whole lot of reason to have DirectTv
If you have an HDTV (which this service is for anyway), DirecTV is the best option for programming. They currently have more HD channels than any other provider, and are launching a new sat next week to provide more.
almaden

join:2004-03-03
Renton, WA

My experience with DTV VOD

I've been trying out the DTV VOD since early December on my HR20-700. Overall, I've been very pleased with it. So far, I've only been downloading programs that I selected, so if there is an automatic push feature I have not tried it.

Pros:
- Good selection of recent programs from History, A&E, NAT, and the rest

- Relatively easy to select programs and add them to the download queue

- HR20 can download a VOD program, record two more from SAT and play something from the hard disk all at the same time - cool

- Currently is free (hope it stays that way)

-VOD programs usually only have 1 or 2 30 second ads

Cons:
- HR20 is sluggish when trying to browse VOD selections, it takes a long time to populate a list and complete a selection

- Quality of VOD titles, especially SDTV programs, is a little pixelated and the screen area is cropped to keep the file sizes smaller

- There seems to be no way to determine what the file size of a program is before you download it

- Overall download speeds seem slow, although it is difficult to determine how fast DTV is pumping it out - I suspect they are limiting it on the head end to not anger their competitors/ISPs

I think the DTV VOD is a great feature to have. Just don't charge me more for it.

dbmaven
There's no shortage
Premium,Mod
join:1999-10-26
Sty in Sky
clubs:
·magicjack.com
·Optimum Online
·Frontier Lightning..

Host:
Filesharing Software
No, I Will Not Fix..
Road Runner
Computer Hardware ..
Computer Hardware ..

Re: My experience with DTV VOD

DirecTV is definitely either:
1 - rate limiting specific downloads so as not to anger broadband providers
or
2 - choked on their outbound connection from the VOD servers.

If (2) were the cause, you would expect to see different transfer rates at different times of the day - and based on most people's experiences and testing, that does not appear to be the case.

When they first enabled VOD last fall - transfer rates were significantly faster. As they opened the Beta up to more people, it got progressively slower - which would tend to point to (1) as the likely scenario.

Currently, the HD content is limited to a few movie selections that are effectively Pay Per View - and none have been anything I want to watch - so I haven't tested that at all.

It will be very interesting to watch what happens with DirecTV customers who use Comcast.....(thankfully, I am not one...)

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus

join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

Its my bandwidth

"given you've got a satellite provider suddenly using a competitor's bandwidth"

The bandwidth is bought and paid for. I am not a competitor of DirectTV.

Alster

@sbcglobal.net

Re: Its my bandwidth

My sentiments exactly. Net-neutrality just means they want to get paid on both ends.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
It's bought and paid for based on your ToS and AUP. It isn't your bandwidth, it's your provider's.

Neyland85

join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC

Dish Does It Now

I can get 'VOD' through Dish via the internet now...

'Course I wonder how ATT's new upcoming DNA sampling will deal with it?

PINGPINGLAMING

@pacbell.net

How come?

We only see news here about DirecTV's VOD? There are other companies providing VOD correct? Looks like I need to find a better place for news from now on.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Re: How come?

»/news
chrisbmoore

join:2003-08-28
Frederick, MD
·DIRECTV
·Comcast

been using it...

I've been using the VOD beta on my hr21 with Comcast for a few months now. I haven't had any issues with Comcast saying I'm hogging bandwidth, but the speeds have drastically decreased as of late. I can download any program on the on demand though in a fairly reasonable amount of time (10-15 min) and it really isn't difficult to do at all. I think when the service officially launches it will be a great one. I'm enjoying the beta immensely.

old_dawg
"I Know Noting..."

join:2001-09-22
Westminster, MD

just like...

...using a competitor's bandwidth...

Just like Sprint's Airave!
--
"Our network engineers are aware of the problem..."
Forums » DirecTV On Demand: Q2

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