Murdoch earmarks $1 billion for Directv internet business

[lee espinoza]

News Corp chairman & CEO Rupert Murdoch has said the group's satellite platform Directv might spend up to $1 billion to enter the high-speed Internet business.

Speaking at a Citigroup investors conference, Murdoch said Directv and News Corp. were exploring possible partnerships to offer the satellite platform's subscribers high-speed Internet access as part of a bundled package.



"You'll be hearing from us within two months on a very clear plan for what will happen, and it's not as expensive as you might think," Murdoch has been quoted in a Bloomberg report as saying.

Speaking about the plans to deliver content online and on other platforms, Murdoch said, "Big companies like ours, big industries with fixed business models, have to change. And we're preparing ourselves for that."



In the US, Cable giants Comcast and Time Warner Cable already offer their service with high-speed Internet access. News Corp. ramped up its internet business in 2005 with several acquisitions, including that of the social network portal MySpace.com.

http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/jan/jan122.htm

[tbeckner]

News Corp chairman & CEO Rupert Murdoch has said the group's satellite platform Directv might spend up to $1 billion to enter the high-speed Internet business.

Speaking at a Citigroup investors conference, Murdoch said Directv and News Corp. were exploring possible partnerships to offer the satellite platform's subscribers high-speed Internet access as part of a bundled package.

"You'll be hearing from us within two months on a very clear plan for what will happen, and it's not as expensive as you might think," Murdoch has been quoted in a Bloomberg report as saying.

Speaking about the plans to deliver content online and on other platforms, Murdoch said, "Big companies like ours, big industries with fixed business models, have to change. And we're preparing ourselves for that."

In the US, Cable giants Comcast and Time Warner Cable already offer their service with high-speed Internet access. News Corp. ramped up its internet business in 2005 with several acquisitions, including that of the social network portal MySpace.com.

http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/jan/jan122.htmI am not sure that Murdoch is really planning what I said I thought he was planning a couple of months ago, but I was waving my arms about the large number of ISP Broadband purchases he was making and I thought that some of it was Murdoch hedging his bet that Broadband OnDemand video delivery was going to ultimately take over the world. And that DirecTV could never compete in that marketplace, because they don't and never will have the bandwidth to compete.

Only time will tell.

[kevostl]

DirecTv use to be in the DSL business - I had Directvinternet when I first got DSL about 4 years ago. Was nice.

[lee espinoza]

DirecTv use to be in the DSL business - I had Directvinternet when I first got DSL about 4 years ago. Was nice.
How was the speed?

[Jon J]

DirecTVDSL started life as Telocity which went TU and DirecTV took over.

It didn't match their current business model and they simply shut it down leaving customers (myself included) scrambling for alternatives. It was basic 1500/256 service for $49.95 + tax.

[doconeill]

DirecTVDSL started life as Telocity which went TU and DirecTV took over.

It didn't match their current business model and they simply shut it down leaving customers (myself included) scrambling for alternatives. It was basic 1500/256 service for $49.95 + tax.

You got that high a speed? All I could get was the lowest speed that compared to Verizon's local offering - 640/90 or something like that. It did get improved to 768/128 when Verizon updated the line cards in the CO.

I didn't think Telocity went TU - I thought DirecTV simply bought them. Then when they decided to drop the business, they did at least work with Verizon to switch over somewhat seamlessly.

With Telocity/DTVI, at least I got a static IP - not so with Verizon (at least not without paying something like $100). And Verizon blocks inbound port 80 - no web servers (at least not at the port).

I did get a few rounds of free speed upgrades, most recently to 3k/768, but now I've switched to FIOS, where the slowest they offer is 5k/2k.

[texas arsenal]

I would love to go with Dtv for high speed internet (not direcway). I use Comcast now, its smoking fast but blazin high.

[rigs49]

What's the diference between DirecWay and Cable High speed internet? :confused:

[ebonovic]

When I had Telocity -> DirecTV it was 756/756

I miss have the 756 upstream... I was able to host my own services then.


DirectWay... Unless you spend some serious money and have a very large dish (not allowed in most residential installations), it is a one way stream, neading a phone line to send requests back up...

[Dkerr24]

What's the diference between DirecWay and Cable High speed internet? :confused:

One sucks and one doesn't... lol... DirecWay is only good for someone who lives in the boonies and is desperate for something faster than dial-up. It has terrible latency meaning you cannnot use it for any internet games. It's only about 768 on the dowload side, meaning its slower than most standard DSL setups.

I really don't see the need for another internet provider... I already have 2 options (cable/DSL) and both are quite good.

[tbeckner]

DirectWay... Unless you spend some serious money and have a very large dish (not allowed in most residential installations), it is a one way stream, needing a phone line to send requests back up...Actually Direcway has upgraded to all two-way dishes and services sometime ago, and they use this wicked looking wide narrow dish, see link below.

DirecWay Home (http://hns.getdway.com/HNS/Rooms/DisplayPages/layoutInitial?Container=com.webridge.entity.Entity[OID[88524CEAAFAC284FB05F5B8D5AD08F52)

SPEED INFO:

With the DIRECWAY Home service plan, you may enjoy download speeds up to 700Kbps, with typical speeds of about 500Kbps to 600Kbps during peak times. Upload speeds, which are capable of reaching 128Kbps, are typically 70Kbps to 80Kbps during peak hours.

With the DIRECWAY Professional plan, connect your home office to the Internet with maximum download speeds of up to 1.0Mbps, with typical speeds about 650Kbps to 750Kbps during peak times. Upload speeds, which are capable of reaching 200Kbps, are typically 100Kbps to 125Kbps during peak hours.

Additional Edit:

The monthly prices are no longer as high as they use to be, and for someone who has no other choice, they are not bad. I did notice that the installation and equipment purchase costs are not for the faint of heart.

DirecWay Pricing (http://hns.getdway.com/HNS/Rooms/DisplayPages/LayoutInitial?Container=com.webridge.entity.Entity%5BOID%5B7 1A9F5B422ABCE4886D9492F66B5B589%5D%5D)

[tbeckner]

One sucks and one doesn't... lol... DirecWay is only good for someone who lives in the boonies and is desperate for something faster than dial-up. It has terrible latency meaning you cannnot use it for any internet games. It's only about 768 on the dowload side, meaning its slower than most standard DSL setups.

I really don't see the need for another internet provider... I already have 2 options (cable/DSL) and both are quite good.I agree, DirecWay is the mainly used by very remote users, who either want something faster than a modem connection or if their phone service sucks or is non-existent, then it maybe their only option. I my case, my base cable has increased over the years since I first installed it in 1998 from 2M/256K to 6M/1.5M, which has been great, and many years ago (2000) they installed FTTC (Fiber To The Curb).

[tivolocity]

I looked into Directway several years ago when my broadband options were basically nonexistent. The issue I had was that it really didn't support VPN. Any future Directv broadband service/bundle would have to resolve that issue.

[rbtravis]

I had Phoenix dsl which was purchased by Directv dsl. They promptly canceled the dsl service and tried to give us dial up. To them its all the same. This is being done by the same brain trust that dropped TiVo in favor of developing their own DVR.

[morgantown]

I'm thinking that they will have a broad spectum of means (i.e., DSL, tradional dial up, and something new with DirectWay) for connectivity. One story on MarketWatch also mentioned Wi-Max. Given the cable companies obviously would not want to help DTV and the phone providers are selling their own brand of TV service something including Wi-Max is not that far of a stretch for relatively highly populated areas.

Give 'em a chance and see what they actually bring to the plate. I really don't see the NDS boxes "requirement" of a phone line sticking if they can bundle your ISP and video (not to mention VoIP). Could be interesting, I'll just wait and see I guess...

[Kanyon71]

I'm thinking that they will have a broad spectum of means (i.e., DSL, tradional dial up, and something new with DirectWay) for connectivity. One story on MarketWatch also mentioned Wi-Max. Given the cable companies obviously would not want to help DTV and the phone providers are selling their own brand of TV service something including Wi-Max is not that far of a stretch for relatively highly populated areas.

Give 'em a chance and see what they actually bring to the plate. I really don't see the NDS boxes "requirement" of a phone line sticking if they can bundle your ISP and video (not to mention VoIP). Could be interesting, I'll just wait and see I guess...

It's actually not an NDS box, it's a Humax built box running a DirecTV built DVR software platform. Also there is no requirement for a phone line on the R15 actually most of the CSR's will tell you that one isn't needed when you activate it. The only real requirement is for PPV (unless you order online) and because it's inthe DiercTV contract for every receiver.

[morgantown]

It's actually not an NDS box, it's a Humax built box running a DirecTV built DVR software platform. Also there is no requirement for a phone line on the R15 actually most of the CSR's will tell you that one isn't needed when you activate it. The only real requirement is for PPV (unless you order online) and because it's inthe DiercTV contract for every receiver.

There is not much of a debate that NDS' finger prints are all over the software in the DTV DVR boxes. Just one big happy corporate family right? I'd say the refer to "DirecTV software" for reasons of liability alone :eek: .

The reason for the phone line "requirement" statement refers to the wildly varying answers we all get from DTV CSR's statements about the boxes, when referring to NFLST, PPV, and a variety of other reasons, and why DTV wants service locations tied (in a perfect world for them at least) to a land line. As you say it is in the contract for every receiver. Let's all hope that could change with new services, etc. going forward.

But, the point of the thread is about what they will be doing as far a broadband. Then I took the next step of mentioning a thought on how it could effect service on a broader range, going forward. :D

[DTV TiVo Dealer]

The DIRECTV Group sold its remaining 50% ownership of Hughes Network Systems and all of its interest in DIRECWAY went with HNS. On 01-03-06 SkyTerra Communications took over the remaining 1/2 ownership of HNS.

DIRECTV has been working on developing other broadband options very seriously for the past six months.

-Robert

[Kanyon71]

There is not much of a debate that NDS' finger prints are all over the software in the DTV DVR boxes. Just one big happy corporate family right? I'd say the refer to "DirecTV software" for reasons of liability alone :eek: .

The reason for the phone line "requirement" statement refers to the wildly varying answers we all get from DTV CSR's statements about the boxes, when referring to NFLST, PPV, and a variety of other reasons, and why DTV wants service locations tied (in a perfect world for them at least) to a land line. As you say it is in the contract for every receiver. Let's all hope that could change with new services, etc. going forward.

But, the point of the thread is about what they will be doing as far a broadband. Then I took the next step of mentioning a thought on how it could effect service on a broader range, going forward. :D

Will be interesting to see what they come up with, they have to do something to compete with the cable industry with VOD and Internet content.

As for the NDS part I was just going on what ebonovic said, he stated that DirecTV decided to completely redo the DVR from NDS because they had so many issues that where not getting fixed (if I got this wrong he will correct me i'm sure) :)

[morgantown]

Will be interesting to see what they come up with, they have to do something to compete with the cable industry with VOD and Internet content.

As for the NDS part I was just going on what ebonovic said, he stated that DirecTV decided to completely redo the DVR from NDS because they had so many issues that where not getting fixed (if I got this wrong he will correct me i'm sure) :)

Don't get me wrong about the NDS/DireTV DVR software thing as I too read ebovonic's comment (and I do not doubt him). I'm more interested in how this deal "could" make DTV a better provider over the long haul. A guy can dream, cant he? :up:

Too bad about DirectWay though (Robert). They could have played a part in those remote areas where it will be difficult for DirecTV to penetrate, other than by dial-up. Still too darned expensive for me, with DSL.

I am just curious how it will all pan out. Let's hope for the better cause at least for me, cable is still a bad deal where I happen to live. I'd really hate to have to leave DTV as things stand today. ;)

[face]

My typical DirecWay D/L is between 1000 - 1500bs, consumer plan. I have been VPNing with it for 2 years. It isn't the fastest at VPNing, but it works!

[Kanyon71]

Don't get me wrong about the NDS/DireTV DVR software thing as I too read ebovonic's comment (and I do not doubt him). I'm more interested in how this deal "could" make DTV a better provider over the long haul. A guy can dream, cant he? :up:

Too bad about DirectWay though (Robert). They could have played a part in those remote areas where it will be difficult for DirecTV to penetrate, other than by dial-up. Still too darned expensive for me, with DSL.

I am just curious how it will all pan out. Let's hope for the better cause at least for me, cable is still a bad deal where I happen to live. I'd really hate to have to leave DTV as things stand today. ;)

I think the largest problem with DirecWAY is the horrible install costs. They have the monthly fees down but last I checked the install was still in the neighborhood of $600. NO way I would pay that much money to have it installed unless I had NOTHING else available to me and even then I would haveto think LONG and hard about putting out that sort of money for it.

[ebonovic]

As it has been explained to me... The software we see on the R15 was written InHouse by DirecTV... They took leasons learned from all the DVRs they had access too. but the greater majority of the code was written from scratch.

Granted I have no access to the code base or the source control center, but I believe and the trust the person that provided that information to me.

[Kanyon71]

As it has been explained to me... The software we see on the R15 was written InHouse by DirecTV... They took leasons learned from all the DVRs they had access too. but the greater majority of the code was written from scratch.

Granted I have no access to the code base or the source control center, but I believe and the trust the person that provided that information to me.

Well what are you waiting for? GET ACCESS and get us all those features we want and get the bugs fixed pronto :)

[ebonovic]

Well what are you waiting for? GET ACCESS and get us all those features we want and get the bugs fixed pronto :)


:D Wouldn't that be nice?... That could be so much fun... :)

[mikeinla]

Unless DirecTV can change the laws of physics, Direcway will never be able to match the upper speeds packages of dsl/cable. He's throwing his money away.

Better he buy Earthlink or something like that and resell dsl through Directv.

[Kanyon71]

Unless DirecTV can change the laws of physics, Direcway will never be able to match the upper speeds packages of dsl/cable. He's throwing his money away.

Better he buy Earthlink or something like that and resell dsl through Directv.

Where did it say it was only DirecWAY?