Wednesday, September 20, 2006

InDirecTV?

I've love my experience with DirecTV so far. The worries of losing video signal to birds, trees or weather never became an issue. I do see some problems in the future.

I love my Tivo. I don't think anything has changed the way I look at entertainment more. I also love my high-definition signal. But it seems that Tivo and DirecTV don't plan to get along anymore. Sure, they have had squabbles in the past but they have worked well together too. Yet, there is a battle starting over the HD personal video recorder market. Essentially, both companies per their agreement will continue to work together for the next few years with no new product on the horizon. Meanwhile, DirecTV has launched new satellites for high-definition programming... that will not work with previous high-definition receivers or even the DirecTV HD Tivo (as the satellite carrier will change over from MP2 video codec to MP4.) This means that viewers that want to get the new programming (which includes many HD local and new HD DirecTV channels) will have to ditch the expensive ($999 in some places) DirecTV HD Tivo they purchased over the last year and pay for the new DirecTV HD DVR. This also bends over the customers (much like myself) who paid $400 or so for an HD receiver to get DirecTV HD channels. Sure, this may be a great way to make everyone buy only a product from the satellite company but it also looks like I'll have to consider putting my receiver on eBay and going back to cable. I haven't made any decisions and patience may be my only option. I'm going to have to wait things out with what I have until Tivo creates a new HD box that works with the new satellite video codec or switch to cable and purchase the new Tivo3.

5 comments:

Ken said...

I'm not sure if we've had this conversation in the past, but I can certainly empathize. Amy and I are having the exact same debate right now. We liked DirecTV, and we LOVE TiVo or DVR. However, it's nice to take full advantage of my TV's HD capabilities on Digital Cable. I think I'm going to wait until after Christmas and look into getting DirecTV again. Of course, that means it would be too late for football season. UGH!

Cupcake Blonde said...

This is what I hate about technology. As soon as you get something it is outdated and soon you'll have to look into upgrading or buy something totally new. And making sure different things do not work together I believe are companies wicked ways to make us spend more and buy new. Its the same with multiple DVD releases. As soon as you buy one version they come out with another different one months later.

LoraLoo said...

I never bought into the idea of TiVo although I clearly see the benefits. We have the HD DVR with Cox, and I'm good with it. Now if the NFL would come over to cable, I'd be completely happy.

David Amulet said...

All this squabbling is really getting in your way. Can't they all just get along!?!

-- david

Lucy Stern said...

It sounds complicated to me. WE are on cable with a high definition box which we pay $ 7.00 a month for. We love our HD cable channels.