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DirecTV's Genie DVR extenders clip the cord with a wireless version
DirecTV's Genie DVR setup will serve up to eight rooms in your house (four at once) but what if you're trying to get TV outside, or in a room that's not already wired? It's not the most common situation now, but if that's an issue, DirecTV is matching the wireless set-top boxes coming from Dish and AT&T with one of its own. The Wireless Genie Mini just needs power (and a wireless bridge connected to the main DVR) and it's ready to stream live or DVR'd TV. It's been available as a test in several markets for a few months now, but now anyone in the US can get one for $99, and if you already have the bridge, there's no need for an installer to come out. We liked the Genie system when we reviewed it and thought it was a good competitor to Dish's Hopper DVR system -- we'll see if this year's battle over wireless boxes helps guide any customers to one service or the other.
The Weather Channel comes back to DirecTV, but now with less reality TV
After dragging on for months, a standoff between DirecTV and The Weather Channel has ended and the winner is pretty clear. In mid-January TWC went dark on the satellite service and DirecTV started pushing the three people left who don't get their weather info from the internet to another channel, WeatherNation. There hadn't been any movement since, but after news a few days ago that DirecTV signed a multiyear deal with WeatherNation, it appears The Weather Channel finally blinked. A statement announcing the deal includes an apology to DirecTV and its customers from Weather Company CEO David Kenny, plus a promise to cut TWC's reality TV programming by half on weekdays (Deadliest Space Weather is a real show). Other throw ins include the return of instant local weather and letting DirecTV subscribers stream The Weather Channel's video feed to other devices over the internet no matter where they are. Now that this long national nightmare is over (DirecTV is still duking it out with the Dodgers, PAC-12 and CSN Houston networks), we're hoping they go back and add a line ending TWC's silly new practice of naming winter storms -- that's not a thing, stop it.
Verizon and DirecTV's internet TV hopes perk up thanks to Dish, Disney
Rumors that existing satellite and cable TV providers would launch full internet streaming services have circled for years, but the new agreement between Dish Network and Disney has suddenly stirred the pot. Between a deal that could actually put ESPN on an internet-only TV service, Verizon buying Intel's abandoned OnCue effort plus live TV streaming to Xbox One (pictured above) and Sony's plan for an IPTV package it seems like we'll actually see something arrive in 2014. Reuters reports Verizon and DirecTV are negotiating with content providers for similar access, as Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam told investors he would "love to partner with (content providers) to see how we can take FiOS contact mobilely across the country." Meanwhile, Bloomberg's unnamed sources suggest a Dish Network internet TV service could launch for around $20 - $30 per month once enough content deals are in place.
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Two years later, DirecTV customers can finally use Roku players to watch HBO Go
Even as HBO Go has launched on new platforms over the years, people who pay for TV service and HBO have occasionally found that their provider won't play along. That's been the case for DirecTV subscribers with a Roku ever since the app rolled out in 2011, but now things have changed. Customers started seeing the change Thursday and now the DirecTV Twitter account confirms subscribers can use their account logins on Roku. The Syfy Now app on iOS also has a fresh update that says it supports DirecTV accounts, while some users say they've been able to login to apps for History, A&E, and Lifetime, although that doesn't appear to be officially available yet. Comcast Xfinity customers are the most notable remaining group still denied activations on Roku and Samsung Smart TVs, although the service does support Apple TV and Xbox 360. Will that ever change? After this move and the recent arrival of YouTube on the platform, here's hoping Comcast, Roku and Time Warner can get together to keep the streak going.
GetGlue and i.TV combine to create tvtag for iPhone, focus on real-time updates about live TV
After powering second-screen, connected-TV experiences for other companies including DirecTV and Nintendo's TVii app, i.tv acquired TV check-in service GetGlue last year to pull those experiences together. Now, GetGlue is relaunching as tvtag, an advertising-supported, one-stop information and social network centered around television watching, full of information from broadcast partners, augmented in real time by a team of live curators and TV viewers. At launch, the reworked app is available only on the iPhone, but CEO Brad Pelo tells us a version for Android is due in a few days, with a web experience and iPad-ready version launching shortly after that. The i.TV app is sticking around for now, but will be updated in the future, while DirecTV and Nintendo are already lined up for integration with the new platform. The check-in and sharing features -- and built-in user base -- from GetGlue remain, but it's the curated info that the company expects will separate it from other services. The "taglines" are built by more than 50 employees creating high-level tags for live TV (covering the majority of what viewers are watching, on any channel), which users then fill in with additional captures, comments and reactions. It's also why tvtag thinks users will choose to open this app over Twitter and Facebook while they're watching TV, with the ability to search info from sources like IMDb and Google, or add to the tagline with their own notes and doodles. Those taglines are available for browsing later for DVR viewing, but this experience is about live TV. For events like last weekend's Grammys or Pro Bowl, and the upcoming Super Bowl, it can push play-by-play updates, as well as constantly refreshed stats and field positions. Other than the big social networks, competition to provide synced TV info on other screens like your phone, tablet or PC is fierce, with everyone from Google Now, Dijit's recent acquisition Miso and Yahoo's IntoNow offering similar features. IntoNow is one of the most similar, adding the ability to ID TV content via audio and a complete feed of images from live TV channels to the mix. tvtag is more than an app however, and since it can open up access as an SDK or API, we may see its features and content pop up in other apps and on other devices soon. Still, given the following GetGlue has been able to attract we expect to see plenty of tvtag shares popping up in our timelines -- we'll see if its exclusive information and tight TV-focused environment are enough to keep its audience coming back.
DirecTV drops The Weather Channel, accuses it of loading up on reality TV
Usually, when there's a dispute over a pay-TV system carrying a channel, it hinges on sports or in-demand shows like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men. This time, it's DirecTV sparring with ...The Weather Channel? Believe it or not, as of midnight ET, the venerable forecast standby -- and former good friend of the satellite broadcaster -- has been switched out for another channel since the two couldn't reach a new deal. As usual there's a war of words over who is in the wrong, with The Weather Channel claiming DirecTV's move puts lives in danger by replacing its experienced forecasters with a "cheap startup." In response, DirecTV says that TWC has shifted nearly half of its programming to reality TV and that besides WeatherNation (now broadcasting on 362 in TWC's place), it has weather news on local stations and emergency channels. This fight is a surprising one, but we probably should've seen it coming once TWC launched an array of new shows and started randomly assigning names to winter storms. The only real question? With constantly updated weather info available from Google's search and almost any phone's home screen (TWC itself offers apps on platforms from Android to Apple TV), how long will it take before viewers notice the channel is gone?
Samsung's Ultra HD TVs will stream 4K video from Amazon, Comcast, DirecTV, Netflix and more
Samsung's Ultra HD TVs won't sell themselves -- they need the content to justify all those extra pixels. To that end, the Korean tech giant has just announced partnerships with companies that will deliver 4K to the masses. Amazon, Comcast/Xfinity, DirecTV, M-Go and Netflix are all working with Samsung to stream the higher-resolution video format through their native Smart Hub apps. You won't necessarily have to subscribe to a service to get extra-sharp media, though. Samsung is going to sell a UHD Video Pack that stuffs a hard drive full of 4K documentaries and movies, and it will offer downloads of additional shows throughout the year (for a total of 50), similar to the service Sony launched last year. Ultra HD content still won't be ubiquitous in the wake of the deals, but they might give you a good excuse to buy your dream TV a little early.
DirecTV mulls online video service that won't compete with Netflix
Satellite provider DirecTV may already have embraced online broadcasts, but reports suggest it's looking to double-down on streaming to lure back a younger generation of cord-cutters. The WSJ reports that the company is exploring the idea of launching a "price-sensitive" paid video service that won't look to compete with Netflix or similar services, but would instead bundle programs to cater for specific customers, like Hispanic audiences or children. DirecTV appeared ready to dive deeper into streaming when it was linked with a $1 billion-plus bid for video site Hulu, but CEO Mike White has indicated that his company has already begun navigating the choppy waters of online program licensing in an attempt to kickstart its own service. While he isn't sharing his online vision for now, White says he will disclose more information in the next 12 months -- so don't dismantle that satellite dish just yet.
DirecTV to expand out-of-home live TV streaming, Android tablet support
DirecTV Everywhere will soon become much more useful for travelers eager to watch their favorite shows. As of November 21st, the satellite TV provider is expanding its out-of-home TV streaming selection to include more than 30 live channels, such as HBO and Showtime. Subscribers will also have access to more than 100 channels when at home, and 19,000 on-demand shows through DirecTV's website. The company's Android tablet app is receiving a makeover as part of the expansion -- an impending update will stream both live and on demand video to tablets of all sizes and multiple OS versions. Customers will just have to wait a short while before they get access to DirecTV's wider world of content.
Bloomberg: If Aereo wins in court, cable companies might buy it or build clones
While TV broadcasters like CBS and Fox continue their legal battle against Aereo and its leased microantenna-to-internet streaming scheme, Bloomberg reports cable companies are watching more closely than ever. Since they're currently paying retrans fees for a lot of the same content networks broadcast over the air (and that Aereo is catching, then streaming to its subscribers on various devices -- web browser, Roku, Apple TV via AirPlay, iOS and most recently Android) if Aereo wins, they might see it as a way out of deals said to be worth billions of dollars over the years. Specifically, the usual unnamed sources name Time Warner Cable, Charter and DirecTV as candidates to build their own versions of the technology, with TWC mentioned as considering a purchase of the company. One thing that could complicate any potential end run however, is the fact that said broadcasters also own a number of cable channels. CBS has Showtime (as seen during its showdown with Time Warner Cable earlier this year), Fox has Fox Sports, FX, FXX and more, ABC brings ESPN and Disney to the table and Comcast-owned NBC attaches USA, Syfy and a few others to its umbrella. Time Warner Cable namechecked Aereo during its dispute with CBS, while Fox's CEO threatened to make the channel pay-TV only if it can't get the service shut down. For now though, the lawsuits still fly back and forth and Aereo's footprint continues to expand, if this ever means your cable bill might shrink a bit then we'll let you know.
GetGlue for iPhone's redesigned TV guide adds VOD and streaming video listings
GetGlue is continuously massaging its socially connected app for TV watchers, and the latest update reflects some of the ways TV viewership is changing. Like Foursquare's recent changes, after an initial focus on check-ins and sharing, the new updates are all about helping users figure out what they're doing / watching next. There's a redesigned guide (again) in v5.0, now offering a personalized view at not only what's on right now via traditional broadcast networks, but also video on-demand and internet services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, HBO Go and more than a dozen others. With the rise of on demand viewing from a number of sources, it will be interesting to see if GetGlue can fill in some of those viewership statistics companies like Netflix have kept private. There's also a new "Search & Discover" feature to find programs with browsing by genre or curated lists from GetGlue staff. Reworked show pages feature more social tie-ins, and the app also lets users directly add images, videos or news articles to their posts for some IntoNow-style meme creation and spreading. Finally, DirecTV customers can connect the app to their satellite boxes and change the channel directly from GetGlue's guide. The new app is rolling out today, let us know if its social networking focus is helping you finding new shows to watch or if it's just another source of oversharing on Twitter and Facebook.
DirecTV for Android updated to 3.0, boasts voice commands and new UI
DirectTV's comprehensive app overhaul has finally jumped to a second operating system: Android. The refined UI debuted on the iPad earlier this month before migrating to the iPhone, adding a Watch button to choose where content is played, a redesigned Info Page and more customization options in the guide. Now, these same improvements are available on Google's mobile OS, including DVR scheduling and voice search for programming. There's no word on when DirecTV for Tablets will get these features, but hopefully it doesn't take two years.
DirecTV for iPhone reaches version 3.0, touts redesigned look and improved navigation
We knew DirecTV had a few things in mind for its various mobile apps, with the focus being on discovery features and an overall better experience. Now, following a refresh to the iPad app earlier this month, the iPhone version is getting updated to version 3.0. The highlights of today's release are the completely overhauled look and user interface, which allow users to browse content in an easier way and have more customization options within the guide -- things like setting your favorite channels. DirecTV also added a redesigned Info Page that displays more details about the content you're interested in, while a new Watch Button will let you seamlessly choose whether you want to view something on your iPhone or TV. Oh, and just in case you're still stuck in the old days, we should tell you that the company says this is the last update to support iOS 5, so any future versions are to only be friendly with iOS 6 or later. [Thanks, Stuart]
Google, NFL meeting reportedly includes Sunday Ticket discussions
In the least surprising news of the week, as DirecTV's rights to the vaunted NFL Sunday Ticket package come close to their 2014 expiration date, rumors of who else may bid for them are starting and Google is right at the top. According to AllThingsD, league officials met with the internet giant today and among many topics, the package of rights to air all of the league's games to out of market viewers came up. As suggested, the folks in Mountain View (and several other companies we can all think of) can certainly afford the reported $1 billion DirecTV has been paying -- and YouTube has already shelled out to stream sports in the US and around the world -- but whether or not the NFL would actually sell to them is still in question. As we mused on this week's Engadget HD Podcast, what's kept the NFL from selling the package in a different way -- explained by league officials as "really in the consumer's best interest" -- so far is a fear that other networks like CBS and Fox would want to pay less to broadcast those games. With billions at stake we'd be extremely surprised to see the status quo actually change, so while anything is possible your best bet without satellite is probably still a copy of Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition.
NFL Sunday Ticket won't be on PlayStation this season
We got our first taste of NFL Sunday Ticket on the PS3 back in 2011, but now Sony has confirmed it's not available for the 2013 - 2014 season. IGN asked PlayStation reps why the app would not be active this season and they wouldn't confirm any specific reasons. For its part, DirecTV told us it's working on enhancing the experience for new and existing satellite customers, although those who can't get satellite TV can still sign up for the mobile / web streaming package. That league commissioner Roger Goodell recently made a cameo in Microsoft's Xbox One launch event probably isn't a total coincidence, but the package won't be available there either, at least not for this season.
PS3 won't get NFL Sunday Ticket this year, does receive live events app [Update: Xbox too]
The NFL's regular season is just around the corner, but those hoping to fire up their PlayStation 3 consoles to stream games through DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket app will need to find a new method. Sony recently confirmed to IGN that the service will not be available on PS3 this year. The reason for the switch remains unclear, though Microsoft announced a partnership with the NFL during its Xbox One reveal event in May that has yet to be clarified. The partnership involves live broadcasts of NFL games through Xbox One. Additionally, those that pre-order the special edition of Madden NFL 25 through Amazon this year receive a free year of NFL Sunday Ticket's PC and mobile service. PS3 owners won't be totally in the dark, however, as the console received a new Live Events Viewer app this week. The app offers both free and pay-per-view streaming options for sporting events and other live entertainment events like concerts, starting with WWE's SummerSlam this Sunday. Live Events Viewer is free to download from the PlayStation Store. Update: DirecTV has confirmed with Joystiq that NFL Sunday Ticket will not be available on PS3, nor will it be available this year on Xbox 360 or Xbox One. Update #2: DirecTV has also confirmed that NFL Sunday Ticket will not be available through the PS4.
DirecTV's revamping its mobile apps with a focus on discovery, iPad is up first
DirecTV's added features to its mobile apps piece by piece over the last few years, and now it's reworking them entirely. The first one to get a makeover is its iPad app, which is getting an update today with a new menu section to make browsing easier, plus TV Show and Networks filters to go along with the existing Guide and Movies options. It also has a revamped Watch experience that helps you filter out whether the content will play on the TV or tablet and even the information pages have a new look. Of course, other features that have been around like Facebook, Twitter and GetGlue integration, channel guide, search and DVR scheduling are still in effect as well. The update provides a more "cohesive experience across platforms", which viewers can check out pictures of in the gallery below or judge for themselves once it hits the App Store.%Gallery-195892%
gdgt's best deals for August 12: Epson Expression Inkjet, Panasonic 50-inch 120Hz Smart 1080p LED HDTV
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Today's hottest deals include a remarkably cheap Epson Inkjet printer/scanner/copier, as well as an impressive 50-inch Panasonic Smart HDTV at a hefty discount. Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
gdgt's best deals for August 7: Best Buy gift cards with Xbox 360, Wii U purchases
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Today's hottest deals both come from Best Buy, which is offering big-ticket gift cards to those who purchase the latest Xbox 360 iteration or a Wii U. There's also an appealing offer out there for those who crave DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket Max app. Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Hulu bids are in, if it sells then the next owner's identity may hinge on video rights
Take two of the sale of Hulu is approaching its inevitable end, as multiple sources report the final bids have come in. Currently the site is owned by Disney, Fox and Comcast, while reported interested buyers include DirecTV, Chernin Group / AT&T and Guggenheim Digital Media. Of the potential buyers, The Hollywood Reporter reports Guggenheim would be the one most likely to retain the site's "entreprenurial spirit," while DirecTV may want to use it both as a part of its satellite package and as a standalone business. Finally the Chernin Group is reportedly backed by AT&T, which may have goals similar to those of DirecTV. According to the Wall Street Journal, the site's current owners are considering how potential buyers will want to license content going forward as part of the bids, with potential restrictions on their top rated shows, or longer windows before content is available on Hulu. We'll have to wait and find out who had the best pitch before we move on to the next step -- deciding if whatever Hulu becomes under new ownership is still worth visiting.
