Direct TV Offers Free DVR To All Customers. Old & New
 

Washington, D.C. (August 1, 2005) -- Direct TV today announced that it was offering free DVR to new and existing customers. This is one of the most pleasant , happy news customers have heard from Direct TV in recent times. This Direct TV offer, is on the Rapid satellite web site, provides a $100 refund on a $99 DVR. This offer also requires a 1 yr. commitment to a Direct TV "Total Choice" programming package, which starts at $41.99 a month. In addition, you also need to pay $5.99/month for the DVR service.

In its offer Direct TV fails to mention if the DVR service will be provided by its prevalent DVR partner, TIVO. Direct TV-TIVO relationship has been known to be on the rocks since last January. The initial free DVRs will include the TIVO service, a Direct TV spokesman confirmed on Monday, though. The new DVR service will come from NDS, which is owned by Direct TV's parent company, News Corp.

Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp., has hinted that Direct TV would offer free DVRs since his company took control of the satellite TV service in 2004. Murdoch believes that a free offering is necessary to persuade reluctant consumers to try the new recording features, which includes pausing live TV and fast-forwarding past commercials, and much more, at blinding speeds.

This is not the only reason for the launch of the free DVR at this time. Direct TV has other reasons too!

Direct TV launched a DVR service in 2001, two or three years ahead of most cable operators. Before Direct TV entered the scene the satcaster and EchoStar dominated the DVR market. If a consumer wanted a DVR, he normally went to a satellite company. Such was the monopoly. It is only today that both Direct TV and EchoStar each have more than two million DVR customers. Cable TV operators started new DVR services across the country. Cable DVRs did not require the purchase of the set-top, though one had to get it for Direct TV. Therefore it is only natural that subscribers purchased cable DVR. This has proved to be a good marketing strategy for cable.

Direct TV, by announcing a free DVR, is only trying to slow the growth of the cable DVR and thereby increasing its customers. One follows the other, and it won't be surprising if before the year's end, Direct TV announces several new exciting features with its DVR!

Now everything is in the hands of the people. They can either be taken up by Direct TV and its offer or choose to say bye to them and take up cable. Who will win? Will it be Direct TV or Cable? You know it!!

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