About Directv®
Directv® is the current leading
all-digital satellite tv service provider in the United States. Their
services are capable of delivering more than 250 channels of digital
entertainment, informational and sports programming to over 15 million
homes, as well as businesses, throughout the United States of America.
In 2006 Directv® had 15.4 million subscribers. This is more than
any other satellite TV company in the industry. Directv® signed
up their 15 millionth customer in November of 2005.
Directv® is the nation's #1 digital
satellite entertainment service provider and their only true competition
is Dish Network. A comparison of the features and deals that are offered
by Directv®
vs. Dish Network will show you what they have in common
and also where they differ. You can order
the Directv® service online or over the phone by using
the toll free number of an authorized reseller.
By using only the most advanced satellite
TV technology, Directv® can deliver access to more than 250 channels
of pure entertainment and other types of programming to homes and
businesses that have the Directv® receiving equipment. The Directv®
receiving equipment uses a satellite dish, a digital set-top receiver
and a remote control. Directv® offers this equipment for free
including free installation for up to four rooms in your home. The
Directv® satellite TV service offers a wide selection of entertainment
that can be suitable for just about every member of the family.
Directv® subscribers have access
to popular television programming networks such as the Disney Channel,
ESPN, TNT, CNN and others. They also offer up to 55 pay per view choices
per day. The pay per view choices can include major Hollywood films,
specials and sporting events. Popular premium movies start as often
as every 30 minutes. With pay per view movies you can make your selections
and then pay only $3.99 for each movie by using your remote control
to place your order.
Directv® also offers a wide array
of professional and collegiate sports subscription lineups. Some of
these include the NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NHL® CENTER
ICE®, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT and more. With the DIRECTV SPORTS
Pack premium service and TOTAL CHOICE® PREMIER package you can get
your favorite sports action from across the nation.
Directv® delivers their television
programming services to many
U.S. cities from their high powered satellites that are located at
the core assigned orbital slots which are 101°, 110°, and 119°. Plus,
Directv® is planning to launch 5 additional new satellites in
the next few years. The Directv® satellites are in geo-synchronous
orbit about 22,000 miles above the Earth.
History of Directv®
In the summer of 1994, Directv®
introduced their all-digital satellite TV system. Being an all digital,
direct to home satellite TV service that featured crystal clear digital
channels on a tiny 18" satellite dish in conjunction with a set top
receiver, it was the first of its kind. This new direct digital satellite
system was actually made up of two separate and distinct satellite
services. These two satellite services were Directv®, which had
the job of delivering most of the cable vision favorite channels as
well as the network feeds, and USSB (The United States Satellite Broadcasting
Co.), which had the honor of delivering the premium programming services
such as HBO and Showtime. USSB was also responsible for delivering
the pay per view sporting events.
The new Directv® satellite TV
system soon became one of the best selling and most popular consumer
electronics products in 1994. At that time, their complete 8 bit RCA
direct satellite system was being sold for around $700 and that did
not include installation. RCA also released an advanced system that
offered more features, a universal remote control and a more sturdy
satellite dish. This unit sold for around $900. In the fall of 1994
Directv® launched the DBS-2. This new configuration offered an
additional 16 high powered transponders. This allowed the Directv®
programming selections to be expanded to around 150 channels. At the
time cable was only offering about 30 analog channels. In comparison,
the Directv® satellite TV service zoomed way ahead of the competition.
By 1998 Directv® had bought out
the United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB) for a sum of 1.3 Billion
Dollars. This action made it possible for Directv® to bring the
premium sports and movie channels under their control. Now subscribers
did not need to have separate accounts in order to get a wide variety
of programming all under the umbrella of the Directv® services.
In 1999, Directv® purchased the TCI Primestar for 1.8 Billion
Dollars and absorbed their 2.2 million subscribers.
