DirecTV... Drum Roll...

[Tom Snyder]

Yawn....

The "big" announcement at CES today from DirecTV is that they'll be rolling out an HDTV Digital Video Recorder (posted elsewhere),  they;re adding a new HD PPV channel, and they'll be doing HD Football as part of Sunday Ticket.

No mention of Mark Cuban's new channels, ESPN or Discovery HD.  

Here's the press release.

 LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2003 - DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, today announced several new initiatives at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, including the launch of 50 new local channels markets in 2003.

DIRECTV made the following announcements, all designed to stimulate growth:

50 New Local Channel Markets

Strengthening its competitive position as a complete alternative to cable service to more consumers, beginning this quarter, DIRECTV will launch local broadcast channel service in 50 additional markets by the end of this year. Ten of these new markets will be served by the end of June. DIRECTV currently offers local broadcast channels in 51 markets. With the successful launch of the DIRECTV 7S spot-beam satellite in the fourth quarter, and using advanced digital compression technology, DIRECTV will provide local broadcast channel service in approximately 100 markets by year-end, representing roughly 84% of U.S. television households. As with all existing local channels markets, DIRECTV will deliver all local broadcast channels in the new markets to a single, small satellite dish.

The initial 10 new DIRECTV local channel markets are:

Richmond, VA Louisville, KY
Colorado Springs, CO Shreveport, LA
Wilkes-Barre, PA Roanoke, VA
Des Moines, IA Green Bay, WI
Jackson, MS Tucson, AZ

New DIRECTV® HDTV Digital Video Recorder

DIRECTV, Inc. and TiVo (NASDAQ:TIVO) will introduce a new DIRECTV® HDTV Digital Video Recorder that will enable consumers to record and play back DIRECTV high-definition, as well as standard-definition DIRECTV® programming and terrestrial ATSC broadcasts. The DIRECTV® HDTV DVR, to be demonstrated this week at CES (DIRECTV Booth 13525, TiVo Booth N208), is expected to be available to consumers by year-end. The DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service will apply all the familiar TiVo functions to DIRECTV and ATSC high-definition programming - including the ability to record, pause, instant replay and rewind live television. The new DIRECTV® HDTV DVR will feature a larger recording capacity than existing DIRECTV® DVRs, and will feature component and digital video outputs for enhanced audio and video. Manufacturers and pricing will be announced at a later date.

New DIRECTV® DVR Receivers from Philips and Samsung

Philips and DIRECTV are introducing the Philips DSR7000 DIRECTV® Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a second-generation Philips digital satellite recorder. The Philips DSR7000 DIRECTV DVR will go on sale at major retailers this spring and will combine reception of DIRECTV® programming, which delivers more than 225 digital-quality channels, with the ability to record and play back programming using DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service. Samsung and DIRECTV have introduced the first lineup of Samsung®-DIRECTV® DVR, in the United States. The Samsung® SDR-S350-DIRECTV® DVR will go on sale at major retailers in Q2 of 2003 and will also combine reception of DIRECTV® programming with the ability to record and play back programming using DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service.

High Definition PPV Channel

DIRECTV today launched its fourth high-definition television (HDTV) channel. The new channel is dedicated exclusively to pay per view movies from New Line Cinema, DreamWorks and MGM. Launched today on DIRECTV® channel 198, the new HDTV channel will offer movies for purchase on a pay per view basis for $4.99 each. The new HDTV pay per view channel joins three other dedicated HDTV channels available from DIRECTV: HBO® HDTV, SHOWTIME HDTV® and HDNet. HDNet is available exclusively to DIRECTV customers. Under terms of its new five-year agreement with the National Football League for exclusive rights to NFL SUNDAY TICKET(tm), DIRECTV also plans to begin offering high-definition telecasts of professional football games during the 2003 regular NFL season. Additional enhancements to the DIRECTV HDTV programming lineup are expected throughout the year.

First Quarter Offer

New residential customers who purchase any DIRECTV System between Jan. 12, 2003, and March 15, 2003, and subscribe to HBO and Cinemax with a one-year commitment to any TOTAL CHOICE or OPCIÓN EXTRA ESPECIAL programming package ($31.99/mo. or above) within 30 days of purchase, will receive three months of HBO and Cinemax, compliments of DIRECTV.

New customers can purchase a basic two-room DIRECTV System with installation for $50 or less at such national retailers as Circuit City, Blockbuster, and Best Buy, as well as through other authorized DIRECTV dealers.

Editor's Note: The complete text for each of these announcements is available on the DIRECTV Web site at DIRECTV.com.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service provider with more than 11 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo, TOTAL CHOICE, DIRECTV PARA TODOS and OPCIÓN EXTRA ESPECIAL are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. HUGHES is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband services, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at DIRECTV.com.

[gparris]

Sounds good-but you are right  to yawn..so they added channel 198- a PPV channel? HDNET still does late-late HD PPV anyway-what about DISCOVERY HD? Even if it  has a price tag like DISH has (worth a couple of PPV's) , you are paid-for the month! Then DIRECTV goes on about more "announcements" about future HDTV-like as if they are gonna give us more useful programming! The sports HD is going to come from where? ESPN? HDNET SPORTS? I have tried in vain to get clarification by calling and web questioning, but to no avail. They say they cannot supply any more information for "competitive reasons"! Competitive? Who? DISH Network's gonna care? If this keeps up, when I move later this year, I may not invoke the DIRECTV movers special deal-it will be a "cancellation" deal if TWC cleans up its HD channels for  the better (read posts)...and DVR's become available. I am the "competition". Maybe they don't understand the concept.

[borghe]

Actually HDNet is now 24 hours. HD PPV is only available on 198 now.

[gparris]

So big deal, HD-PPV--on Channel 198!!  
If you look at the HDNET site in the DIRECTV schedule, HDNET still blacks out at 2-10AM(ET) for PPV and the morons at DIRECTV still haven't figured it out that it should be changed! If HDNET really IS on for  24  hours- it is NEWS to DIRECTV...visit the DBSForums site today and readup. DIRECTV is more clueless than a "valleygirl" in California!