|
DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite service located in California that transmits digital satellite television and audio to households, business offices, retail businesses, bars and pubs, and more. DirecTV Satellite Services is owned by DirecTV Group, which is controlled by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group.
DirecTV Satellite Services uses a fixed 18-inch diameter dish antenna to receive its signals. Direct tv also offers a 18x24-inch elliptical antenna as DirecTV attempts to offer more programming onto their ever growing satellite systems. Directv is now offering local television network affiliate stations, as well as HDTV programming. Directv Satellite Services is now installing a dish that has five LNBs (receives signals from five satellites) for HDTV programming in select markets.
DirecTV offers local channels to 93% of U.S. residents (including Alaska and Hawaii) and growing. Direct tv Local channels are transmitted over optical fiber networks to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where they are uplinked.
As of November 30, 2005 DirecTV has over 15 million customers in the U.S. and 1.57 million in Latin America.
The History of DirecTV Satellite Services
- DirecTV was launched in 1994 by General Motors subsidiary Hughes Electronics. It was the first high-powered DBS service in the world.
- In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB. In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar.
- On December 22, 2003, General Motors sold controlling interest in Hughes Electronics to Fox News Corporation.
- On November 15, 2005, DirecTV stopped carrying Music Choice audio-only channels, replacing it with 72 channels of XM Satellite Radio.
DirecTV Satellite Services and High Definition
DirecTV also offers high-definition television or HDTV and interactive services. Its self-branded digital video recorders DVRs are based upon technology licensed from TiVo.
To handle the HDTV broadcasting, DirecTV is now broadcasting local HD content using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec while employing a newer transmission protocol - or DVB-S2 - over their new SPACEWAY-1 satellite and SPACEWAY-2 satellite. This allows DirecTV to squeeze much more HD programming over its satellite signal than was previously feasible using the older MPEG-2 compression and DSS protocol it has been using.
The Following High Definition - HD - channels are broadcasted by Directv in the HD Lite Format.
The HD channels offered by DirecTV are:
- HBO High Definition - HD
- Showtime High Definition - HD
- ESPN2 High Definition - HD
- ESPN High Definition - HD
- Universal High Definition - HD
- TNT High Definition - HD
- Discovery High Definition - HD Theater
- HDNet Movies
- HDNet
- CD USA
DirecTV also broadcasts the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD.
Local stations like CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX broadcasts are currently being rolled out in major markets. Where not available through satellite, local High Definition - HD channels can be received through Directv Satellite services.
The Technical side of DirecTV
DirecTV transmits programming with encryption to mitigate signal piracy. The receiver (also known as an IRD, or "integrated receiver-decoder") utilizes ISO7816 smartcards which tell the receiver how to decrypt the programming for viewing. In a continuing effort to combat piracy, DirecTV is now utilizing a fifth generation of access cards.
- P1, also known as F cards, were used until 1997 by Direct tv. F cards have a picture of a satellite on the front.
- P2, also known as H cards, were introduced by Directv in 1996 to replace F cards. H cards look the same as F cards. H cards were in use until 2002.
- P3, also known as HU cards, were introduced by Directv in 1999 and are no longer supported. HU cards have a picture of a football player on the front. HU cards originally shipped with receivers with serial numbers above 0001 700 000. These were removed from circulation due to high piracy plaguing the system.
- P4 cards were introduced by Directv in 2002 and are currently still in use. P4 cards are labeled "Access Card: 4."
- D1 cards were introduced by Directv in 2004 following compatibility problems with the P4 cards in some receivers. This is the current "standard issue" card. These cards can be identified by the silver edges, and simply bear the word "DirecTV" on the front.
- D2 cards were introduced in 2005. These cards can be identified by a two-toned blue dot pattern resembling the DirecTV logo in addition to the DirecTV logo and the words "DirecTV Access Card".
DirecTV has long been a victim of an active signal piracy underground, but has recently begun to crack down on illegal reception of its signals. On its anti-piracy website, DirecTV claims to have sued over 24,000 end users as of March 17, 2004, including celebrity O.J. Simpson. DirecTV bases its suits on purchase records of ISO-7816 Smart Card devices. Although these devices could be used to rewrite DirecTV's access cards, there are countless legitimate uses for them as well.
|
