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DTV - Directv

cmattporter

By cmattporter
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MrB Newbie

MrB

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This might be a silly question, but if I can watch Directv on my iPad, what is the difference between it and Netflix? What advantage does Netflix have over Directv?

 

I'm not an expert, but I would think that this is due to the fact that Nexflix's signal is using IP(Internet Protocol)  because it is streamed over the internet while Directv is using an another protocol for delivery (from the satellite to your receiver). To watch it on an Ipad you would have to convert Directv's signal format to IP.

 

What I'm getting at is that most people (me to) seem to talk and and think about DTV as satellite only, but maybe it is a useful to think of it as Netflix with satellite.

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compoundinglife Newbie

compoundinglife

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This might be a silly question, but if I can watch Directv on my iPad, what is the difference between it and Netflix? What advantage does Netflix have over Directv?

 

I'm not an expert, but I would think that this is due to the fact that Nexflix's signal is using IP(Internet Protocol)  because it is streamed over the internet while Directv is using an another protocol for delivery (from the satellite to your receiver). To watch it on an Ipad you would have to convert Directv's signal format to IP.

 

Currently the DirecTV App allows you to watch Live TV in your home with an Internet enabled DirecTV box. But it also allows video on demand to your ipad when you are away from home (over IP). In a world where on demand content was equal between platforms DirecTV has the advantage over netflix of Live TV in addition to the on demand video which both offer. This is a pretty simple 10,000ft view comparison.

 

I don't find the live TV on a tablet inside the home very compelling. But I watch almost no TV.

 

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MrB Newbie

MrB

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Posted

This might be a silly question, but if I can watch Directv on my iPad, what is the difference between it and Netflix? What advantage does Netflix have over Directv?

 

I'm not an expert, but I would think that this is due to the fact that Nexflix's signal is using IP(Internet Protocol)  because it is streamed over the internet while Directv is using an another protocol for delivery (from the satellite to your receiver). To watch it on an Ipad you would have to convert Directv's signal format to IP.

 

Currently the DirecTV App allows you to watch Live TV in your home with an Internet enabled DirecTV box. But it also allows video on demand to your ipad when you are away from home (over IP). In a world where on demand content was equal between platforms DirecTV has the advantage over netflix of Live TV in addition to the on demand video which both offer. This is a pretty simple 10,000ft view comparison.

 

I don't find the live TV on a tablet inside the home very compelling. But I watch almost no TV.

 

Thanks....and a bit more

 

 

 

Online Shift

DirecTV, like Dish, has examined packaging TV over the Internet -- a move that would eliminate the cost of installing a satellite dish for every customer. The primary hurdle has been getting access to digital rights to deliver television online. DirecTV last year hired Tony Goncalves to run a brand new digital entertainment group.

Ergen has described the Internet as a threat to traditional pay-TV providers, a concern White said he doesn’t share. If Web companies try to offer services with cheaper packages of channels, for example, DirecTV can match them, he said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-06/directv-spurns-dish-s-view-that-wireless-is-satellite-tv-savior.html

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compoundinglife Newbie

compoundinglife

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This might be a silly question, but if I can watch Directv on my iPad, what is the difference between it and Netflix? What advantage does Netflix have over Directv?

 

I'm not an expert, but I would think that this is due to the fact that Nexflix's signal is using IP(Internet Protocol)  because it is streamed over the internet while Directv is using an another protocol for delivery (from the satellite to your receiver). To watch it on an Ipad you would have to convert Directv's signal format to IP.

 

What I'm getting at is that most people (me to) seem to talk and and think about DTV as satellite only, but maybe it is a useful to think of it as Netflix with satellite.

 

Yeah, its an interesting way to think of it. Knowing a tiny bit about netflix's technology its not trivial IMO for a company like DTV to scale up to the # of streaming subscribers that netflix does. However now that Netflix has done it once it will be easier for competitors to clone what they are doing.

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LC Newbie

LC

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Yes but netflix is way less expensive, almost comically so. $7/mo for streaming only is simply pennies to their audience. It's so small, once you sign up for it, you almost forget you have it. I haven't used netflix in months, yet I still pay for it. Why? Because it's 7 bucks. If I didn't use DTV in months, you can be sure as heck that I would cancel it!

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compoundinglife Newbie

compoundinglife

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Yes but netflix is way less expensive, almost comically so. $7/mo for streaming only is simply pennies to their audience. It's so small, once you sign up for it, you almost forget you have it. I haven't used netflix in months, yet I still pay for it. Why? Because it's 7 bucks. If I didn't use DTV in months, you can be sure as heck that I would cancel it!

 

I agree. But I think the purpose of MrB's question is does the perception match the reality? The perception being that you have a company with strong CF and relatively fixed cost network but almost certain obsolescence due to companies like netflix (p/e 13 vs p/e 500). Is that the reality?

 

The reality is probably NOT that  DTV is the netflix killer. But the reality quite possibly does match the current perception.

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MrB Newbie

MrB

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Yes but netflix is way less expensive, almost comically so. $7/mo for streaming only is simply pennies to their audience. It's so small, once you sign up for it, you almost forget you have it. I haven't used netflix in months, yet I still pay for it. Why? Because it's 7 bucks. If I didn't use DTV in months, you can be sure as heck that I would cancel it!

 

I agree. But I think the purpose of MrB's question is does the perception match the reality? The perception being that you have a company with strong CF and relatively fixed cost network but almost certain obsolescence due to companies like netflix (p/e 13 vs p/e 500). Is that the reality?

 

The reality is probably NOT that  DTV is the netflix killer. But the reality quite possibly does match the current perception.

 

Also, DTV is throwing off oodles of cash compared to Netflix...

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MrB Newbie

MrB

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http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/spaceway.htm

 

Hughes Network Systems is developing a global satellite network named Spaceway, which will provide high-bandwidth and high-speed communications for broadband and multimedia applications.

 

The North American constellation will include two BSS-702 geosynchronous satellites and one in-orbit spare. The satellites are the next generation in satellite communications technology, transmitting and receiving up to 100 times faster than conventional telephone lines. Spaceway North America will operate in Ka-band.

 

Due to less than expected demand, DirecTV Group Inc.may use two new satellites to provide more for high-definition TV, programming instead of an Internet-access service that the company had planned. It may also use them to offer both services. Boeing modified the first two satellites for bent-pipe Ka-band communications for use in high definition television and disabled the regenerative on-board processing of the original system that was to be used for broadband satellite communications.

 

The first of the three satellites was scheduled to be launched in 2003 by Sea Launch on a Zenit-3SL (2) booster but was delayed to 2005. The Spaceway 2 satellite has been moved to an Ariane-5 launch vehicle to launch Spaceway 1 and 2 both in 2005. Spaceway 3 was moved in 2007 also to Ariane-5 in the aftermath of a Zenit-3SL (2) launch failure.

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enoch01 Newbie

enoch01

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DTV case study...from page 22

http://www.docseek.net/kutrsi/newscorp-directv.html

 

p.23 "25 satelites covering 98% of world populations"? Does not seem correct. Can anyone confirm?

 

I don't think that's right.  They operate 12 satellites; 11 owned and 1 they lease.

 

Second, the coverage is too high.  All except for one are in the Western Hemisphere.  I bet even for some locations to the far north and south, the angle is too shallow to reach.

 

Here's where there satellites are:

 

101 WL (three), 110 WL (one), 119 WL (one), 95 WL (one-leased), 99 WL (two) and 103 WL (three).  They are renting out another to a third part at 56 EL.

 

You can plot them here:

 

http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html

 

EDIT: Maybe the case study was thinking that the satellites could be repositioned to cover 98% of the population.  In that case I don't whether that is true, although I doubt it is.

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MrB Newbie

MrB

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DTV case study...from page 22

http://www.docseek.net/kutrsi/newscorp-directv.html

 

p.23 "25 satelites covering 98% of world populations"? Does not seem correct. Can anyone confirm?

 

I don't think that's right.  They operate 12 satellites; 11 owned and 1 they lease.

 

Second, the coverage is too high.  All except for one are in the Western Hemisphere.  I bet even for some locations to the far north and south, the angle is too shallow to reach.

 

Here's where there satellites are:

 

101 WL (three), 110 WL (one), 119 WL (one), 95 WL (one-leased), 99 WL (two) and 103 WL (three).  They are renting out another to a third part at 56 EL.

 

You can plot them here:

 

http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html

 

EDIT: Maybe the case study was thinking that the satellites could be repositioned to cover 98% of the population.  In that case I don't whether that is true, although I doubt it is.

 

This site also seem to support what you are saying

http://www.kvh.com/Pages/Satellite-Coverage-Maps/Satellite-Coverage-Maps/TracVision-Maps/Latin-South-America/DIRECTV-Latin-America.aspx

 

http://www.kvh.com/Pages/Satellite-Coverage-Maps/Satellite-Coverage-Maps/TracVision-Maps/North-America/DIRECTV-US-Marine.aspx

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Yours Truly Newbie

Yours Truly

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Just received notification that Warren Buffett has filed a 13G on DTV stating that they now own 6.7% of DTV purchased using the pension accounts of National Indemnity, GEICO, Acme Brick, Buffalo News Pension, Dexter, FlightSafety, Fruit of the Loom, John Manville, Justin Brands, Scott Feltzer, BNSF, Lubrizol...

 

Also shows R. Ted Weschler owns 0.1% ~ 712,568 shares

 

 

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Libs Newbie

Libs

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Sorry if this has been posted.

 

CEO White ( and the Berkshire boys, according to White) does not believe the internet is a threat.

 

( This seems like one of the few BRK holdings which is contrarian in nature. There isn't a groundswell of skepticism over the futures of IBM, KO, and WFC; but there sure IS about the future of pay TV.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-06/directv-spurns-dish-s-view-that-wireless-is-satellite-tv-savior.html

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