We’ve received a couple of anonymous tips that DirectTV, a $24 billion satellite TV provider, may be entering the online TV wars with a new site called DirectTV Web On Demand. The site would compete with startups like Hulu, Joost, Fancast, Sling.com, etc.
We don’t know much about the service, or even if it’s real. One of the tipsters says they’ve worked on the project and supplied us with the mockup screen shot above, which could quite possibly be real. On the other hand, we’ve spoken with industry insiders and they say they’ve heard nothing about the project.
The screen shot shows Heroes, which is an NBC show. The only way for Fox and NBC shows to be syndicated on the web is via a deal with Hulu. For CBS shows, they have to go through the CBS Audience Network.
That means it’s either very, very early in the development process or it doesn’t exist at all. We have an email in to DirectTV for comment.
See all
Post
Fair enough, but with a Hulu deal, would they really provide their own metadata?
it will be interesting to see how the networks begin to protect their shows in the online space from the service providers. NewTeeVee conference should be interesting with this news now.
Brilliant move by Directv. Hulu is quickly running away with this market and if Directv wants a future past 2009, this is it.
Competition is good!
I love Hulu, but the more great content online the better!
Does the date at the bottom say 2009?
So I assume it isn’t launching until spring perhaps?
Since Michael Arrington wrote this, I believe it. Why does everything get leaked first on TechCrunch?!? The Sequoia slides and now this…..Hulu is up for a battle!
I wonder if in the image above, they used my accordion from FlashDen.
Most of the 12-18 year old demo watch content online. Directv HAS TO enter or eventually die.
Will this be for Directv subscribers only?
This is a genius/expected move. The amount of premium content viewed online (tv shows, movies) increases 68% a month.
That is insane.
If DirecTV can get in early enough and establish themselves as the place to go for premium content online, they’re set. In a year people will no longer be watching content on their television - they want it now, on their computer, wherever they are.
I don’t think Hulu is the end all be all of premium content online. We’re still waiting for that company that takes it to the next level. Whoever does that first will, without a doubt, win. Maybe its DirecTV.
Can’t wait.
What about Youtube starting to get into this market?
Pretty soon every TV company will be doing this. Its a great idea but TV companys should be focusing more on their service.
I wonder if in the image above…very cool post more about tech visit http://skilltech.blogspot.com
They suck. We’re better hulahoop and other services have Hawaii 5-0, I mean, who watches that. We have Entourage, The Hills, and everything else - you know, shows people actually watch.
http://www.cavenger.com
It’s the same as SurfThe Channel.com. Links to that mega video and chinese site. It’s tough to say you’re better.
Can one service - be it Hulu or YouTube or anyone else - “own” premium content? Could we go from 1000 channels on TV down to just one? Is it really winner take call? Seems impossible to me, but that’s the sense I get in the industry right now.
I don’t see this as a service that would compete with Hulu, but as an add-on for DirecTV subscribers. Video on demand is a service that cable companies have been able to tout as something satellite tv can’t provide subscribers. This would be DirecTV’s response to video-on demand. I don’t see why content producers would help DirecTV build up a competitor, but if the service was restricted to DirecTV subscribers, DirecTV could probably convince a lot more producers to hand over their programming. Especially since it’s to the advantage of content producers that cable have as much competition as possible.
Seems like a logical step for Directv
Congrats
HULU FTW! w00t
$24 Billion might be $24 Million soon if they don’t get a web strategy.
http://qaz1.bannerland.org/kelly/
Hi Mike,
I’m now reading TC on the GPhone 3G
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8.....5599948391
My day totally sucked. I’m working all weekend. Oh well. :/
Let me know if you have an opening at TechCrunch.
Given that the founder of TC wrote this on a Sunday, I don’t think if you want a job where you do NOT work weekends you should be looking at TC!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8.....otostream/
There’s a closeup. BTW, the G1 kicks the iPhone’s butt. The app store is cool. The whole phone just kicks some serious butt.
$179 at the T-Mobile store and the base rate is $25 data plan + $29 a month. So a $55 + tax base rate compared to $70 + tax for the iPhone.
It synchs up with GMail, Goog Calendar and everything. It just kicks serious ass. Plus you don’t need a mac to run the Android SDK. It just runs on Eclipse.
I’d like to see more articles about MY PHONE dammit. Screw apple.
Here’s a money shot of the GPhone’s home page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8.....otostream/
I waited over year for this phone to come out, passing up multiple opportunities to by the Apple phone. I think a lot of people did the same.
They thought competition would never come, they should have http://www.youtechno.info
Looks interesting, I’m excited.
I hope DirectTV is really working on something like this. Hulu has grown to one of my favorite websites this past year. I remember when Hulu just started, the UI was really hard to use. The more video sites out there, the merrier
I wonder if the DirectTV website will be free. The “on demand” in the title makes me think of pay-per-view.
Not that you need my validation, but that was a very well written and researched post.
Will this service support closed captions?
This is cool
I find http://www.primetimerewind.tv still better.
I like that they are getting in the market. The fact is, as a user I want more options than just Hulu, and frankly, Joost is just a nock-off of hulu, but not good. I like simple sites like Jadsters.com, and Hulu. I hope Direct TV doesn’t kill them though!
Please tell me why Joost requires you to log in?!?!
there is a free online tv software on: http://internet-online.org/tv/
Conceptually what is needed is for a single point of receipt of all media within the home, supported by menues and an ability to record and move that media to the various devices of display/sound. This most likely will take the form of reciving the media via satellite on the home desk-top or lap-top which now has adequate capability to store and retransmit the media even on a real time basis to the other display/sound devices.