First look at DirecTV on Demand

It's been a long time comin', but it looks like DirecTV's bonafide video-on-demand service is nearly ready for primetime. Judging by a descriptive thread over at DBSTalk, the service -- dubbed DirecTV on Demand -- has been rolled out in beta form to at least some users, so here's a quick look at what you can expect. First off, DoD will reportedly "be available for internet connected HR20's that are running on a compatible version of software," and requires that a user request a program via the 'net or through their HR20, after which the DVR "downloads that content via the internet, and stores the downloaded content just like any other recorded program." Feel free to hit the read link for all the nitty-gritty details, but for those into abridged versions, click on through for a few key points...

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Key Points quoted from DBSTalk.com:

• Content can be watched and trickplayed while downloading. But just like a live recording, you can't exceed the end of "recorded/downloaded" content
  
• Content that "costs" will be denoted with a $. These are PPV's and follow the same rules as broadcast PPVs. You will only be charged when you VIEW the conent, not when you download it.
  
• Some content is only available if you subscribe to the corresponding normal channel (such as Starz)
  
• Download speeds are dependent on your ISP, home network, router, etc.
  
• Some content has expiration dates
  
• Some content will be PUSHED via SAT to the systems. This content will be stored in the reserved area of the drive, and will not use your normal recording space.

[Scott Greczkowski @ Aug 27th 2007 11:16AM]

This is an exciting time to be a Satellite Customer! Well done Earl!

Scott
SatelliteGuys.US

[MacGuru @ Aug 27th 2007 11:45AM]

you have got to be kiddin' me!

None of this is "exciting". On demand = instant
and over the internet downloads should be free. Nobody is going to sit there and wait 4-5 hours for an HD movie (if they even offer that) to download over an internet connection. If they beam the movies in advance to the receiver over satellite, they are doing no more than what dish has been doing for months now. So this is neither exciting, not original.

[AKBlade13 @ Aug 27th 2007 11:18AM]

Content that "costs" will be denoted with a $. These are PPV's and follow the same rules as broadcast PPVs. You will only be charged when you VIEW the conent, not when you download it.

Sounds a LOT better than any Cable on demand as of right now...unless that's what they all do in that case my point is null.

AKBlade13

[Patrick M @ Aug 27th 2007 11:18AM]

I might finally get out of Comcasts service if this gets out in full force. I've been waiting for this for a very long time.
I just wonder what the content will be like. Ex. will there be alot of free content? My son loved disney on demand and Comcast no longer seems to offer it.

[paragraph @ Aug 27th 2007 11:19AM]

So basicly, no DVR, no OnDemand. Not so cool.

However, Free Movies and the sort would be great to have if/when service goes out.

I don't know how DTV is now, but when the impliment this they really should go and stop shipping non-DVR boxes.

[sr1329 @ Aug 27th 2007 11:33AM]

How is this "OnDemand?" OnDemand, like the name implies is instant. Not some download BS.

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 27th 2007 11:45AM]

Well Gosh, "Content can be watched and trickplayed while downloading. But just like a live recording, you can't exceed the end of "recorded/downloaded" content" sounds like you can pretty much start watching it right away, depending upon the size of the file and all.

[sr1329 @ Aug 27th 2007 3:20PM]

...and what happens if your internet connection sucks?

[gfar @ Aug 27th 2007 11:46AM]

So, one would need to pay an ISP in addition to DirecTV for this service...what a bargain.

Obviously it will hog all your bandwidth, and if your ISP limits your monthly usage, you'll go over in a hurry.

Wicked lame.

[Robert @ Aug 27th 2007 11:56AM]

hence why Directv is teaming up with At&t

[MacGuru @ Aug 27th 2007 11:58AM]

Ehm.. don't you already have an ISP you subscribe to? Or did you telex this message onto engadget?

[gfar @ Aug 27th 2007 12:23PM]

I said "one" not "I"

[SimbaDogg @ Aug 27th 2007 1:28PM]

jesus christ, you need to switch from aol "per MB" to aol unlimited, and quick...j/k.

[longhairbilly @ Aug 27th 2007 11:53AM]

So can us Directv subscribers finally watch Howard Stern on Demand??

[Jeff Rutherford @ Aug 27th 2007 12:19PM]

Too bad it requires the crappy DirecTV DVR. I am going to hold-out for a new DirecTiVo. With all of the new HD channels coming online soon, who cares about this somewhat on demand service. I predict underwhelming demand for it.

[paragraph @ Aug 27th 2007 12:41PM]

not so, what if you want to watch, lets say for the sake of argument, 300. Right now you would need to check TV guide and find when it's on. Lets say the next time it's on is 4pm on HBO. But you don't have HBO :'(

You could wait, you could go to the video store and pay out the ass for a rental, then forget to return it and pay even more, or you could just pay $3 and see it on your TV whenever the hell you want to. 3:59am, 11:28pm etc.

It's the convenience that you get, you don't NEED to drive anywhere, you don't need to wait for something in the mail, you can watch it when you want to, and you can by it when your ready to. It's never out of stock too.

I find it handy when that late night insomnia strikes. The downside here is the speed. It isn't going to be near instant like with cable, it will have a decent lag while you download to disk.

[Neeko @ Aug 27th 2007 12:36PM]

verizon fios has been a partner with directTV for a while now. but fiosTV is out now so iam sure theyl kill that.

[SimbaDogg @ Aug 27th 2007 1:31PM]

I actually dont think this is all that bad, maybe cuz i actually have had some good download experiences thus far. Depending on how the movies are encoded...guessing they're going to be mpeg4, those downloads should go pretty fast. I mean, i timed some of the downloads i was doing w/ my ps3, and in 10 minutes it was downloading 190 MB. I wouldn't mind picking a movie, letting it download for 10 min while i take a piss get something to snack/drink while it gets started. Shiet...if its free, i can't complain too much

[SimbaDogg @ Aug 27th 2007 1:34PM]

then again, i wish it could be more like the dvr/on demand service from verizon fios. played with it a bit @ my friends house over the weekend, very neat.

[george @ Aug 27th 2007 2:00PM]

I'd be careful before getting a DirecTv HR-20. I had huge problems with bad lip sync and very sluggish response. I sent the unit back. Google "HR-20" and get read other's experiences with DirecTV's DVR before plunking down your hard-earned cash. Too bad they kicked Tivo to the curb for the piece-of-crap HR-20.

[GetAGrip @ Aug 27th 2007 2:30PM]

Please, the HR20 definitely had teething pains A YEAR AGO but has been fine for quite a while now. Mine has worked flawlessly since I got it two months ago.

You Tivo groupies really need to get over your anger at DirecTV.

It's just a friggin' DVR...

[george @ Aug 27th 2007 2:47PM]

GetAGrip, I got my Hr-20 three months ago. Sync problems right away. DTV says dish not aimed properly. They sent a tech out to re-aim the dish (never had reception problems) and he said that re-aiming the dish would not fix the problem, that there are problems with the unit. As for being a DTV-hater, I was a subscriber to DTV for seven years until my DTV experience got too frustrating to continue, thanks to the HR-20. Yes, people had problems a year ago, the fact that new units still have the same problem tells you something, doesn't it. Now excuse me, I have to pack up my xBox360 to get it fixed.

[somebody7 @ Aug 27th 2007 3:47PM]

@george. Dude, you obviously dont have an HR20 now, so I dont think you have the right to argue at how bad it "currently" is. To be honest, I didnt like the HR20 about 6 months ago, but within the last few months, I havent had any problems with it and it works better than my HD Tivo or any other tivo I have (5 of them). So dont be judgmental about a product you had a year ago when it doesnt compare to the performance of today.

[george @ Aug 27th 2007 6:39PM]

GetaGrip, you need to get a grip and re-read my post. I said I got the HR-20 in May of THIS YEAR and returned it (In the DirecTv provided FedEx box) LAST WEEK. When I got the run around about why sound was 2 seconds ahead of picture on so many of my recordings, I looked up HR-20 on the web and discovered the problems going back a year. That's when I realized that I bought a machine that's been on the market for a year and still has the same troubles that were complained about a year ago.

[Nick @ Aug 27th 2007 2:40PM]

whats with the nasty 1990's teal interface?

[BootDisc @ Aug 27th 2007 10:38PM]

its meant to be high contrast for people with TVs that have pour contrast ratios, they recently changed it for the entire hr20.

[Blaineo @ Aug 27th 2007 2:54PM]

So how does Verizon FIOS look compared to Direct TV. I have FIOS Internet and ohone right now and would go for TV but my Direct TV commitment doesn't end until May 08 and if I left now they would vharge me $300.

[roach @ Aug 28th 2007 4:37PM]

"what you want, when you want it" isn't that what all those fake pages that come up when you misspell a url say....

[drx792 @ Aug 27th 2007 5:42PM]

This is coming from someone who is testing DOD right now. It works great. 6meg Bellsouth is fine for downloading and you can start watching from 1%, BUT HD on the other hand is still on the sluggish side. the pic quality does look significantly better tahn regular D* broadcasts as well most likely cause of raised it rate and less downrezzing. DOD is a great thing so far!

Ohh BTW the HR20 works perfectly i havent had one problem at all. I love it and would take it over TiVo any day..........I would however make some improvements to it though.

[scotty @ Aug 28th 2007 5:53AM]

i think it's great

[Bob Zalusky @ Aug 28th 2007 1:46AM]

First off this experience will vary dramatically between users because of the variation in quality of their internet connection. IE 8MB vs 1.5MB

Second will their be HD on demand like comcast.
How long will it take to download an HD movie?

Third will thy allow you to somewhere else for content than DTV like say youtube?

[Jeff @ Aug 28th 2007 3:37PM]

It's too bad their DirectWay internet service could never support this feature! You down load a You-Tube video and your beyond the "Fair Use Policy"!!

[Tim @ Sep 12th 2007 9:54PM]

I wonder if this is why comcast is cutting of heavy users of bandwidth? This is another reason for net neutrality.