    
|
Its primary competitors are Dish Network and cable providers. DirecTV is owned by DirecTV Group, which was controlled by News Corporation. In November 2006, News Corp. has reportedly agreed to transfer its interest in DirecTV Group to John Malone's Liberty Media. In return it will buy back Liberty's shares in News Corp. In addition to consumers, DirecTV offers service to bars, restaurants, hotels, dorms, and hospitals through their DirecTV for business service. The company also offers mobile service for cars, boats, and RVs (DirecTV Mobile) as well as aircraft (DirecTV Airborne) in cooperation with Connexion by Boeing.
General informationDirecTV typically uses a fixed 18-inch diameter dish antenna to receive its signals. Traditionally an 18×24-inch elliptical was used, however most new installations use an 18x20-inch antenna to receive signals from three geostationary satellite positions simultaneously. These systems are becoming more common as DirecTV attempts to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems. DTV is now installing a dish that has five LNBs for HDTV programming and local channels in selected markets. These systems receive signals from up to 5 separate satellites in both the Ku-band and Ka-band. The new DirecTV HD requires a new H20 or H21/HR20 or HR21 set top box, or STB. In order to receive the new HD channels (channels added in late September 2007), viewers must have a B-Band converter installed. If the converter is not installed, viewers can only receive older HD channels (channels 70-99). The new STB's support the ATSC standard (for over-the-air broadcasts) and also include QAM Tuner. In addition, there is HDMI support for HDTVs with a HDMI port. New STB's also support MPEG-4 standard for HD Programming. As of 31 December 2006, DirecTV had approximately 16 million customers in the U.S., 1.4 million in Latin America through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, 1.3 million through its 74% ownership of Sky Brasil Servicos Ltda., and 1.4 million though its 41% ownership of Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V. of Mexico. 2006 revenues were US$14.76 billion. In late July 2006, DirecTV added several channels to their online guide that are apparently not available to viewers — these include UK-based Sky Sports One, Sky One and Sky News. The three are channels that are generally available to satellite television viewers in the United Kingdom, though Sky News has been made available in other countries internationally.
| |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Home
Contact
Resources
Exchange Links
eBay
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Home
Cable TV Boxes
DIRECTV
