DirecTV Titanium: the ultimate couch potato package

So if you like watching TV -- and we mean really, really like watching TV -- then DirecTV has a new offer that will fill your set with more content in a week than you could hope to watch in a lifetime -- but it's just a little bit more expensive than the company's regular service packages. For an eye-popping $7,500-a-year (that's about $625/month, or at least six times what you're currently paying), the company is offering membership into the so-called DirecTV Titanium club, which basically gives the wealthy couch potato access to every single bit the satellite provider streams down from up above. That's right, instead of picking up a new KIA, you could be watching every DirecTV channel (including all of the HD stations), every broadcast sporting event, and every Pay-Per-View movie -- even all the dirty ones -- not to mention the fact that you get up to ten HD DVRs to situate around your mansion and 24/7 concierge service (that means they send someone to your house to operate the remote for you). While this package certainly isn't for everyone, if you're already getting all the DirecTV content anyway (read: you're a pirate using illegal access cards), soon you'll have a better way to do it (ETA: June 28th) that won't result in a hefty fine and an embarrassing summons showing up at your door.

[Via HDBeat]

[DJ @ Jun 19th 2006 11:06AM]

I assuming this is only valid for RESIDENTIAL subscribers,otherwise, this would be a helluva deal for sports bar owners and operators!

[GadgetMike @ Jun 19th 2006 11:10AM]

Hmm, I already have three HD DirecTivos, and 9 SD DirecTivos and I don't have enough time to watch everything I record as it is. Who is in their target market here exactly besides professional athletes and CEOs? Actually, I bought five HD DirecTivos when they first came out at $1000 a pop so $7500 would've been a good deal (if they let you keep the boxes after having the service for a year).

[Reuben @ Jun 19th 2006 11:12AM]

Instead of creating a package catering to the very few, why don't they get off their arses and release the HD DVR that will work with the new satellites?

[Jon A. @ Jun 19th 2006 11:16AM]

Reuben, that is comming in the fall.

[sracer @ Jun 19th 2006 11:24AM]

GadgetMike, I believe that this is to put a pricetag on their service so that they can more easily take legal action against those who are pirating DirecTV service. By making their entire programming available at a fixed price, they can show a court exactly how much it is worth...

[zack @ Jun 19th 2006 11:27AM]

That's some expensive porn!

;)

[bryan Ribas @ Jun 19th 2006 11:37AM]

Very good point. Sracer!!!

[paolo @ Jun 19th 2006 11:51AM]

nice. where do i sign up?? *i wish*

[Will @ Jun 19th 2006 12:04PM]

When they say Every PPV, does that mean We can watch as much movies as we want without having to pay for viewing? If so, plus every sporting event, thats one h*ll of a deal.

[Raikage @ Jun 19th 2006 12:07PM]

I had one of those cards once but we had to take it out everynight because it would scramble it around 2-3am so eventually it became too much of a hassle...
P.S. My dad got it from a D-TV employee so it was probably illeagal for us to have...I wonder if employees get one of those cards...

The Raikage

[TexRob @ Jun 19th 2006 12:09PM]

This is definitely something there is a market for. I knew a guy in high school whose dad had around 3-4 dishes on the roof for all his DirecTv subscriptions alone. He had one of those contracts with Columbia House to have every Laserdisc that was released shipped to him. I know he'd sign up for this in a minute.

There is a market for this stuff, it might be small, but it's there.

[MrHorse @ Jun 19th 2006 12:12PM]

"and 24/7 concierge service (that means they send someone to your house to operate the remote for you)."

For $7,500 per year, I'd have to call BS on that one. That's one heck of a loss just to have a guy--dressed in true concierge form--drive out to your place at your whim 24/7.

BTW:
"and every Pay-Per-View movie -- even all the dirty ones"

Dirty? Says who? ;) ;)

[Jon A. @ Jun 19th 2006 12:13PM]

Will, yes it does

[David @ Jun 19th 2006 12:33PM]

I'm going to save my money. And with all my free time I'm going to read some books, and maybe even get some exercise.

[binaryvisions @ Jun 19th 2006 12:43PM]

David, what are you, some kind of dirty hippy?!



...as was pointed out earlier, this actually wouldn't be such a bad deal for a big sports bar. Frankly, I wouldn't be able to handle all the choices - I think I'd probably throw the whole package out the window during the first week due to the frustratingly large amount of time it'd take to scroll through the options.

[Todd Lokken @ Jun 19th 2006 12:48PM]

Yeah, but they are still going to give you a lousy DVR.

[Jon @ Jun 19th 2006 12:52PM]

I think the real reason for this is sort of hit upon in your piece. DTV would like to be able to easily prove in a court of law what someone's theft of service actually costs. SO now when they take a pirate to court they can difinitively say that individual was stealing $x a month in service.

[Craig @ Jun 19th 2006 1:51PM]

except pirates don't get 24/7 concierge service. or 10 HD DVRs for that matter

[DCFC Fan @ Jun 19th 2006 1:53PM]

Screw Dave. Their lawyers threatened me with letters demanding thousands for purchasing a generic card reader. That was years ago, so I'm assuming the P5 cards were finally broken.

And anyone who spends so much money on programming they will never see isn't the brightest bulb in the bunch.

[pr0xie @ Jun 19th 2006 1:56PM]

Hmm.....

Looks like a good deal for a frat house, or people with lots of roomates.

That's less than $70 a month per reciever.

[Damage @ Jun 19th 2006 2:31PM]

You know, if that includes all the sporting packages like the NFL, NBA, MLB all access pass and the like, including all of the sporting PPVs that run into the $75-$100 range... Not too shabby.

It's definitely worth the dough if you have a sporting bar or the like, and I can see something like this going into those places as well, with higher tag. DirecTV Platnium Pro.

Or some Pro tacked on to it.

[gio @ Jun 19th 2006 2:47PM]

I have 3 Premium Packages and still, 80% of their network content is garbage. I spend more of my time flipping channels. I guess its great for the ultimate sports Fanatic or your Bookie.

[Ryan Gardner @ Jun 19th 2006 3:08PM]

Does it include every local channel? That would be quite interesting - but I think it would be illegal for them to do that based on deals with the local channels...

and since it likely wont include local channels - do they still charge you an extra $5 a month for local channels if you are already paying $7500 a year for the service?

[dvddesign @ Jun 19th 2006 3:19PM]

What about local channels? Those in the deal too? I'd love to violate some moronic FCC rules on rebroadcasting!

It's so fun, it's easy!

When I moved from Houston to Dallas, I carried Dallas programming up until I re-plugged in the unit to a phone line.

[Guruboy @ Jun 19th 2006 3:30PM]

holy crap

I guess if I was rich I'd get it, but who has the much time to actually watch all that?!

[dustin @ Jun 19th 2006 3:37PM]

(read: you're a pirate using illegal access cards), You cant pirate all the channels anymore. Since they switched to P4/P5 cards they've not been hacked.

[ms @ Jun 19th 2006 3:47PM]

DirecTV conditional access is not piratable, it uses the same system as used by Sky around the world, and developed by NDS, who include Adi Shamir (the 'S' in RSA) on their payroll. The basic system has never been broken. I know there are probably a bunch of people reading this thinking "whatever, all these systems are piratable ..." -- I suggest you talk to someone who knows something about the topic and they'll confirm this.

I'm not sure that it has anything to do with quantifying the total cost of a DirecTV feed.

[rocko @ Jun 19th 2006 4:18PM]

aww man, I can't rob 3 banks by June 28th!! Those people are crazy to think I could afford to rob 3 banks within 9 days, crazy I tells ya!!

[JIMMY @ Jun 19th 2006 4:45PM]

My wife complains about the 80.00 I spend a month. This would send her system into shock.

[Chris @ Jun 20th 2006 9:46AM]

@ ms :

Um, yeah. You don't need to break the security system to pirate it. Just fool it. But then again you know everything, so lets all just listen to you say...hmm...absolutely nothing.

[farris @ Jun 20th 2006 9:49AM]

This was talked about on Bob and Tom!!!!

[havanahjoe @ Jun 26th 2006 4:39PM]

I don't see why they would have to be able to prove how much it costs seeing as how DirecTV is not pirateable at the moment. Ever since the P3 stream was shut down everyone moved to Dish and stopped tinkering with Dave. Maybe Charlie is working hard with Nagra to find another flaw in the NDS security to get into the card again and leak it like they did before. Or was it the other way around? Don't know. Maybe the NDS expert here can tell us.