note: putting all of Hokies posts here
Directv starts off with a flashy and loud video showing all their content and new offerings.
Joe Gieselman is first up to introduce Chase Carey, President and CEO.
2006 Highlights
- Local Channels
- Technology
- Interactivity
- Original Programming
Local TV from a SD and HD perspective, made big strides.
2007 Highlights
- HD capacity
150 National Channels
1500 Local Channels
- Exclusive sports programming
- Directv on Demand
- Interactivity
HD Leadership
On track for 100 HD Channels in 2007 and agreements in principle with more than 70 national networks
- Sports - NFL Network, YES, RSNs
- Major Networks - CNN, USA, Sci Fi, Weather Channel, Food Network, TBS, Cartoon Network, Speed, FX
- Movie Channels - All Premium Services
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Says they have a large number of agreements in place with content providers.
Steven Roberts is next up, VP, GM of DTV strategic initiatives.
Championship Gaming Series
- Professional Video gaming
Shows another loud video about video game competitions. Directv 101 invites you to get your game on with the championship gaming series.
Over 30 hours of the coolest players tearing up the latest games.
Still talking about CGS. They introduce Fatality, who will be exclusive to Directv over the next couple years.
- Broadcast to over 100 million homes worldwide (with parnerships in Europe and Asia)
- Franchised teams, salaried GMs, player draft.
Treat professional gaming just like other sports on Directv.
Something that will be "really really" special. 2007 is truely going to be the year that Directv brings professional video gaming to the masses
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Eric Shanks is next up. EVP of DTV entertainment.
Mentions the HD DVR will be their workhorse with a massive amount of content in 2007. Mentions staying connected. Connect to multiple devices in the home. The home network, and also connected outside the home.
Talks about the Viiv technology that the DVR is built on. They can plug the DVR in and see pictures and videos from any viiv enabled server.
Announces Directv On Demand. Says the existing VOD offerings are "a real pain in the ass" to find the content you want. When you plug your box into your home network, 1000s of non linear titles available for viewing. They will be delivered via either satellite or broadband.
They will show up under Directv onDemand Channels in the program guide. Add 1000 to your existing channel to get the onDemand channel. For example, NBC is usually channel 4, so goto channel 1004 and get the NBC ondemand content. The ondemand screen will be designed by the content provider, not directv so they can update it whenever they want and it will be customized for that provider.
You can use the DVR to search the onDemand portals. Watch trailers for movies, and then add the movie to the queue. The application will then find the movie, wether from satellite, broadband, or already existing on the DVRs storage.
They show a queue menu of programs that have been selected and are queued for download (much like your netflix queue).
Introducing something called gMessages, which will show up in the program guide to let the customer know important information immediately. They show an example of selecting channel USA, and an advertisement for monk appears allowing you to select to record upcoming episodes of monk.
gmessages stands for guide messages.
DTV on demand will go beta 1Q2007.
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Now talking about Sat->Go!. A portable satellite system. The worlds first completely portable self contained satellite system. It looks like a oversized briefcase. Says they can fit into the overhead bin of an airplane.
When you unfold the briefcase, the top portion of the case is a flat satellite antenna which you point, and it has a satellite finder built in.
A flat screen TV folds out and you can watch DTV all in one unit. Perfect for tailgating and camping.
The system has video inputs so you can plug in external video sources. The TV can be removed from the case so you can watch outside the case.
Available to A list customers around April of this year. Wide offering to best customers later.
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Thinks the NASCAR hotpass will be the NFL sunday ticket of NASCAR. People dont really goto the race to watch the race. Says people want to watch their favority driver, not the leader.
They are going to produce 5 dedicated driver channels. Starting at Daytona, Directv will produce 5 new channels, 30 extra cameras, and dedicated announcers for each driver. Each channel will watch one driver the entire race.
Shows a NASCAR hotpass video. Again loud and flashy. Says NASCAR will be the leading sports programming. Fastest growing spectator sport. NASCAR hotpass will take you closer than every before.
All cameras on the channel will only show that driver, showing all pit stops etc. 5 cameras per channel will capture footages from the track, pit, and inside the car. Hear driver communications and strategy. Dedicated announcers for each channel and real time race statistics and leaderboard.
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CEO comes back on and says they are looking at what customers wants and providing that to the customer. Thinks it will be a great year for them.
First question, something about new HD channels and the price structure.
Channels will be part of an HD package. Still determining the best way to price the package. Premium movies will be extra etc. Look and feel like the packages offered today.
Says some of the HD networks dont exist today (CNN etc), some launch dates 3Q 2007.
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Question about quality and compression. Committed to bringing the best quality to the customer. Commited to providing an experience the customer expects.
Some other guy comes on and says the signal they are providing is of a superior quality than competitors and thier research says that customers are satisfied with the product they offer.
