DirecTV to start offering even more "free" hardware

[borghe]

http://www.skyreport.com/

Retailers have just been sent letters explaining that starting in August, DirecTV will be giving out free hardware with a two year agreement. What hardware? Well, it seems that you will either be able to choose from HD boxes (non-DVR presumably) or SD DVRs.

Long story short, yes the HD Tivo will still cost you $700, but starting this August you will be able to get either a SD DVR or HD receiver for free. Word is this is only for new subscribers, but DirecTV in offers past have almost always given some sort of deal to existing subscribers as well (even if only through customer retention at times).

The press release also noted that this is in time for DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket start with the NFL Superfan enhancement.

There was also another article (will have to look for a link) stating that Murdoch was interested in looking at replacing ALL DirecTV receivers with a DVR, and even the possibility it would be a 160GB DVR, with only 80GB available to the user and the other 80GB being used for VOD.

[AndrewP]

Satellite companies will be forced to offer free DVRs (even HD) because of cable competition. Dish already offers free HD receivers and for $250 HD DVR with 250GB hard drive (it is a lease plan). So Dish will most likely match whatever D* will offer. Dish fees are less then TWC. In my case lease 942 fee = $0.00 if receiver is connected to the phone line, DVR fee = $0.00 with Everything pack.
The question is who will offer more HD in couple of months? D* will not buy me with Sunday ticket, fortunately we have all Packers games covered in HD this year. I can't even imagine switch to another chanell during the Packers game. I rarely watch the second game, and late game on ESPN (NBC next year), Monday games are all covered.
It will be tough competition this fall. But if D* will not provide national HD chanells they will never win me. If they do it will interesting to see how Dish will respond. Don't forget they will get Voom satellite soon. And Voom offered almost 40 HD chanells and more the 120 SD chanells. I think they will introduce chanells in increments trying to match each other (on a national HD programming, D* will cernainly be on top on local HD level, but it will be not a problem for everybody in our area to get locals HD with simple indoor antenna).
TWC for the most part is in shadows right now. But what if they offer something too?

[borghe]

Milwaukee HD LILs (HD local by satellite) will likely happen sometime in 2006. You WILL need a new dish and receiver, both of which DirecTV has said they will provide for free. will have to find the quote on dbsforums, but basically IF you already have a triple LNB dish AND an HD receiver (HD Tivo counts though they won't give you an MPEG4 HD DVR) they will upgrade you to MPEG4 for free. This is based on their announcement along the same lines for the first 12 local HD markets to happen later this year which will get this offer.

Once all four satellites are launched, DirecTV will have capacity for 1500 HD channels. This is not theoretical but real numbers. Spaceway 1 and 2 will be capable of providing 500 channels nationwide, and the next two satellites to be launched next year will be about 500 channels each. SW1+2 are spot only, though the two after that are presumed to have some CONUS capabilities.

So the current plan is to have 1500 HD channels (there are only 698 DTV stations currently on the air, not all of which are HD), the existing MPEG2 system carrying all of the SD channels, and a DVR in every home to allow for VOD.

Of course there are still people who will prefer cable due to either necessity (no southern view or a landlord who wants to be difficult in putting up a dish), or their own horror stories. However, in the near future (later this year for some, late next year for most) DirecTV will be VERY competitive with cable, in most instances beating cable's feature sets. If DirecTV goes to a leasing plan like you keep hearing, it will end up being a horse apiece to go with either DirecTV or TWC for HD.

It will be interesting, and fabulous considering just 24 short months ago it didn't look like there was anyway DirecTV would be able to compete with cable in terms of available HD bandwidth.

[Scott]

My read of that article and from other BBS discussing this is that that HD-DVR will indeed be free, but with a 2-year committment.  

Seems to be an interesting gambit by Direct, since they will lock up guys like me who don't have huge qualms with my Direct TV service, but now want the HD-DVR.   My only hope is that they roll the program out in this market in August, and we don't have to wait until MPEG 4 comes to this market in 2006.

[borghe]

no, the article is worded very poorly (or deceptively). If you read it correctly it says HD box and DVR box. Also taking into account the HD Tivo is still $700 and they won't have the MPEG4 DVR out in August (likely not til next year).

edit - dan collins on dbsforums clarified.

with a 1 year contract you are entitled to either a $99 Tivo or a $199 HD receiver (non-DVR).

with a 2 year contract you are entitled to either a Tivo or an HD receiver for free ($0).

Both of these offers are BEFORE rebates. they replace the existing 4 rooms for free offer.

both are for new customers only.

the HD receiver IS an MPEG4 capable receiver that is to be announced (but will be available 8/1).

[gparris]

Seems as though unless you would need them (getting HD LiLs, here) the MPEG4 HD DVRs that are coming later would be a big mistake in going over to Directv with a reduced one year or free with two year contract if you are used to recording in HD all along.
In our Milwaukeeland timeframe, I guess the HD Tivo some have already will do fine for the HD national additions until the HD LiLs are available, right?
By the time we'd get them, the HD DVRs in MPEG4 for free or reduced rate or rental (maybe) would be good then...?

[borghe]

the HD DVRs will not be coming out until next year more than likely. This will certainly be a tougher call for TWC subs who are used to recording in HD and have a choice of either not recording, or spending $700 to only record existing HD channels and not new HD channels coming out later this year (and there will be a lot of them). Fortunately, HMC should be out later this year (though not free, it should be able to be leased), though not an HD DVR that you can own (presumably) until later.

[gparris]

I think that once the HD LiLs come out for our area, the HD DVRs in MPEG4 to record them will be in by that time.

What I am not certain of (is anyone?) if the new HD nationals will be MPEG2 or MPEG4 for sure,  so the current HD Tivo could still be used.

At least I could use the current one for all the new HD nationals if TWC doesn't "get it together" with more HD channel additions and I have to go back to two HD providers like I had before.

[borghe]

at this point I wouldn't expect any new HD to be MPEG2. The "big announcement" was only supposed to happen after Spaceway 2 launched. This indicates that any further HD plans would be put on the Ka band MPEG4 system.

The last "new" MPEG2 HD we will probably see will be Superfan this year. By the end of this year an MPEG4 box will pretty much be mandatory if you want any new HD.

[sp44again]

Skyreport said the report about "free" equipment was false. Great!

[borghe]

it won't be. the info from inside is that it will be free, but the memo they reported on only said a two year agreement will be required on advanced technology boxes (HDTV and DVR).

but the boxes will be free starting Aug 1 (with two year commitment).