New Interactive DVR from D*

[hdtv4me2]

DIRECTV Debuts Interactive Digital Video Recorder at CES Tradeshow
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading and fastest-growing digital television service provider, debuted a dual tuner DIRECTV(R) digital video recorder (DVR) with rich interactive functionality, today at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new DIRECTV DVR allows consumers to maximize their DIRECTV viewing experience. Users of the new DVR can record and store up to 100 hours of DIRECTV(R) programming and directly access interactive services(a). The Interactive DVR offers a wide variety of popular DVR features, such as one-touch recording, dual tuner functionality, instant replay and the most powerful search function available on the market. In addition, the new DVR's large cache will enable consumers to pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes. The new DIRECTV interactive DVR will be commercially available in mid-2005.

"DVRs have changed the way people watch television and our new Interactive DVR introduces additional features and ease-of-use to ensure the best viewing experience," said Eric Shanks, senior vice president, Advanced Services and Content, DIRECTV, Inc. "This product opens the door for an entirely new wave of programming on the DIRECTV platform."

Interactive DIRECTV DVR Features:

-- One-Touch Recording -- Customers can record favorite shows by
pressing one button on their remote control.

-- Record Now/Pay Later -- Provides users the flexibility to
record all pay-per-view (PPV) movies they might be interested
in and only pay for shows the user actually views.

-- Recording of Series -- Provides consumers with the power to
seamlessly schedule a recording of an entire season of their
favorite show. This feature automatically tracks changes to
the programming schedule to ensure proper recording.

-- DVR Controls -- Users have full control of their viewing
experience with pause, instant replay, rewind, fast-forward,
slow motion, and frame-by-frame viewing capability.

-- Playlist -- Displays all recorded content in an organized
list, including convenient groupings of series recordings and
DIRECTV extras.

-- Viewmarks -- Customers can easily mark favorite places in
their recordings and jump directly to them.

-- Advanced Search Capability -- Users can quickly search for
shows, genres, actors, directors, channels or key words both
in upcoming shows and shows they have previously recorded.
Users can also return to previous searches to find matching
programs.

-- AutoRecord -- Users can set the new DIRECTV DVR to record all
programs matching a keyword or other search criteria.

-- Onscreen caller ID -- Logs phone calls and offers the
on-display convenience of users browsing current or previous
calls without interrupting the television viewing
experience(b).

-- Enhanced viewing experience -- Supports Interactive
programming, such as DIRECTV Mix channels, NFL SUNDAY
TICKET(TM) interactive and DIRECTV Active.

-- Picture-in-guide -- Users can browse through the various
features of DIRECTV's new user interface while connected to
their program, which is always present in a video window.

Other significant features that will enhance the viewer experience include Dolby Digital 5.1 optical outputs and USB ports to support future services.

(a) Actual recording capacity depends on type of programming being recorded.

(b) Customer must subscribe to a caller ID service through their phone company.

[Bull Moose]

So what's that mean for D*'s relationship with TiVo?

[hdtv4me2]

I believe I read somewhere that they announced that are breaking away from TiVo, and others, and now partnering with other companies to develop all their own receivers and DVR's.

[Chillidogg9]

Does this record High Definition or just an upgraded DVR?

[hdtv4me2]

Read the article over a couple of times and it never says. My guess would be if their not saying it will be HD capable then it probably isn't.