Murdoch may get rid of DirecTV

zalusky · 09-14-2006, 06:26 PM

It sounds like Murdoch doesnt like DirecTV anymore since he cant compete in the broadband business.

I wonder if this means Tivo may eventually come back to the fold.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060914/...p_liberty_dc_1

rminsk · 09-14-2006, 06:45 PM

Very interesting news. Does anyone know anything about Liberty Media?

ebonovic · 09-14-2006, 06:52 PM

Seems like they have pieces of QVC, Encore, Starz, IAC/InterActiveCorp

Wikipeida: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Media

Looks like they have pieces of the Middleware product OpenTV
Small piece of Time Warner...

But they seem to be more of a "middle"/"holding" company then a controling intrests in most of them.

Could be back to more of the way GM "held" DirecTV

mattbooty · 09-14-2006, 07:15 PM

Take this for what its worth because it came from a CSR, but when i was on the phone with tech support last week and they were setting me up to replace my 10-250 I mentioned I NEEDED to have another 10-250 and we got on the subject of how I was unhappy that D* was moving away from Tivo, the CSR kept saying in a very sly way don't be surprised if Tivo and DirecTV reach another agreement within the next 3 years. Could have something to do with this? Could just be a CSR trying to talk more than they actually know. Thought I'd mention it when I saw this.

JimSpence · 09-14-2006, 07:35 PM

I posted my reply on your other thread.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=316464

ebonovic · 09-14-2006, 07:35 PM

Anything is possible with in 3 years time..
Who knows if TiVo will still be an independent company by the end of 2007 let alone by 2009

kbcrowe · 09-14-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbooty

Take this for what its worth because it came from a CSR, but when i was on the phone with tech support last week and they were setting me up to replace my 10-250 I mentioned I NEEDED to have another 10-250 and we got on the subject of how I was unhappy that D* was moving away from Tivo, the CSR kept saying in a very sly way don't be surprised if Tivo and DirecTV reach another agreement within the next 3 years. Could have something to do with this? Could just be a CSR trying to talk more than they actually know. Thought I'd mention it when I saw this.

It's really not worth anything, because a CSR would be the LAST to know of something like this. But it does look like Murdock is dumping this "Turd Bird".

http://www.variety.com/VR1117950090.html

ebonovic · 09-14-2006, 08:18 PM

Must be nice to have that kid of money, to throw a $10 Billion company and "stock" around, like it was a baseball card trade.

dscott72 · 09-14-2006, 08:45 PM

Quietly begins to get my party hats and noise makers available...

generalpatton71 · 09-14-2006, 09:04 PM

Yeah this could be great news. I just don't like any of the moves News Corp has made. I'd love for their to be a tivo option again, and earl Tivo just won a huge lawsuit and I know that you know that. So I'd say their is a very good chance Tivo is still independent in 2009. I'm sure if Tivo gets a pay out the size of the Rim case they will be happy to go it alone for awhile and try to get patent fees from other companies. Now if only I can get my hr10 to call out over vonage for the 6.3 update.

Leila · 09-14-2006, 09:13 PM

Can someone please notify Steve Jobs that DirecTV is for sale? I'm sure Apple can find a good use for DirecTV's assets....

rminsk · 09-14-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leila

Can someone please notify Steve Jobs that DirecTV is for sale? I'm sure Apple can find a good use for DirecTV's assets....

It is not really for sale but for "trade". Murdoch is trying to get rid of NewsCorp second biggest stock holder (the first being him) by giving them DirecTV for there shares. Right now NewsCorp has taken poison pill measures to block a possible hostile take over.

P.S. I did see the smiley. I do not want this thread to turn into an Apple taking over DirecTV thread.

generalpatton71 · 09-14-2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rminsk

It is not really for sale but for "trade". Murdoch is trying to get rid of NewsCorp second biggest stock holder (the first being him) by giving them DirecTV for there shares. Right now NewsCorp has taken poison pill measures to block a possible hostile take over.

P.S. I did see the smiley. I do not want this thread to turn into an Apple taking over DirecTV thread.

You right on the money. I'm sure you read the variety article about Murdoch being scared of a possible take over. I think this is a VERY VERY good thing!!!

drew2k · 09-14-2006, 11:08 PM

Shouldn't this thread be merged with this eerily similar thread in the DirecTV Forum ?

BTW: I look forward to the day we can kiss Rupert goodbye and can only hope if he lets DirecTV go that the new primary shareholder ~~likes~~ loves TiVo!

generalpatton71 · 09-14-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

Shouldn't this thread be merged with this eerily similar thread in the DirecTV Forum ?

BTW: I look forward to the day we can kiss Rupert goodbye and can only hope if he lets DirecTV go that the new primary shareholder ~~likes~~ loves TiVo!

Nope because were discussing the how this could affect HD j/j.

PJO1966 · 09-14-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

Shouldn't this thread be merged with this eerily similar thread in the DirecTV Forum ?

Or maybe merge with the one I started in General Chit-Chat?

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=316510

ebonovic · 09-14-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by generalpatton71

earl Tivo just won a huge lawsuit and I know that you know that. So I'd say their is a very good chance Tivo is still independent in 2009.

Yes, the case against Dish...
But last I checked, Dish wasn't done fighting it yet....

And $75 Million may sound like a lot to you and me.... but out there on the level there are playing.... It is big... but it is not "big".

I don't wish ill will on TiVo, not in the least.
But Comcast is already 18 months from announcement and no subscribers yet.
Cox is a while off.

And while TiVo Series 3 is a "hit" to some, it's price and the difficulties with the cable-co's ......

Who knows what is going to happen over the "next" three years.

kturcotte · 09-15-2006, 12:42 AM

Why couldn't Tivo be rich and buy directv themselves? I can dream, can't I? hehe

generalpatton71 · 09-15-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebonovic

Yes, the case against Dish...
But last I checked, Dish wasn't done fighting it yet....

And $75 Million may sound like a lot to you and me.... but out there on the level there are playing.... It is big... but it is not "big".

I don't wish ill will on TiVo, not in the least.
But Comcast is already 18 months from announcement and no subscribers yet.
Cox is a while off.

And while TiVo Series 3 is a "hit" to some, it's price and the difficulties with the cable-co's ......

Who knows what is going to happen over the "next" three years.

The RIM case had a smaller jury pay out compared to tivo. However things drudged on and on then the case ended with a 500 million settlement.

BTW-I believe it's up to 89 million now. I'll bet you a Pepsi or Cards vs Cubs game that the final pay out to Tivo will be over 250 million dollars.

rminsk · 09-15-2006, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

BTW: I look forward to the day we can kiss Rupert goodbye and can only hope if he lets DirecTV go that the new primary shareholder ~~likes~~ loves TiVo!

Why? Look at all the good he has done for DirecTV:
- Got rid of TiVo and replaced with NDS DVRs
- Changed from a ownership model with 3rd party receivers to a leasing model with DirecTV receivers
- Raised prices
- Got rid of Freeview and replaced with horrible music channel
- Added very few national HD channels
- Changed over to the XM music channels

On second thought, you are right... he is evil and has to go.

kturcotte · 09-15-2006, 01:31 AM

It could be worse. What if all our receivers were running Windows? lol

Oknarf · 09-15-2006, 06:04 AM

Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

Rup has done alot of things, in particular the move away from Tivo, that have pissed alot of us off. I'm sure this has affected subscriber growth as DirecTV used to grow through enthusiast/our referals in addition to buying customers with cheap sign up deals. Now they are paying $100 for a referal and I can honestly say I haven't told anyone to switch from cable to DirecTV in years. in fact I've been doing the opposite as cable has had a real advantage as far as HD goes and now their's a Tivo solution to go with it. Game, set, match.

Good job Rup. Maybe someone else can save DirecTV. But then again, they may screw it up even more.

kbcrowe · 09-15-2006, 06:45 AM

I hate to say it couldn't get any worse because that's when it usually does. Remember how everyone was so excited that News Corp. was going to buy D*? Who knows what direction Liberty would take with D*. They could drop the emphasis on HDTV alltogether for all we know.

Still, I have to say any change would be good. I don't see me being a D* customer in couple of years if News Corp. continues on their present course.

Kevin L · 09-15-2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kturcotte

Why couldn't Tivo be rich and buy directv themselves? I can dream, can't I? hehe

Considering the price TiVo charges for its DVR service compared to DirecTV, I hope TiVo never takes over. I have six DVRs that cost me a total of ZERO for DVR service from DirecTV. With TiVo, it would cost $48 plus tax just for the TiVo service.

No thanks.

Kevin L · 09-15-2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kturcotte

It could be worse. What if all our receivers were running Windows? lol

Actually, there are a number of DirecTV subs that would love to go back to a Windows DVR. UltimateTV, to many that had it, was a better DVR than TiVo - cleaner, faster, easier to use. If it wasn't for HDTV, I'd still be using my UTVs.

fjwagner · 09-15-2006, 08:05 AM

In the following article, Murdoch calls Directv a "turd bird". Pretty funny. The rest is the same old stuff.

http://www.variety.com/VR1117950090.html

ebonovic · 09-15-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by generalpatton71

I'll bet you a Pepsi or Cards vs Cubs game that the final pay out to Tivo will be over 250 million dollars.

What are you trying to tourture me? Pepsi isn't so bad... but Cubs game?

dscott72 · 09-15-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbcrowe

I hate to say it couldn't get any worse because that's when it usually does. Remember how everyone was so excited that News Corp. was going to buy D*? Who knows what direction Liberty would take with D*. They could drop the emphasis on HDTV alltogether for all we know.

Still, I have to say any change would be good. I don't see me being a D* customer in couple of years if News Corp. continues on their present course.

I highly doubt they would take any emphasis of HDTV. That would further kill off DirecTv. I hate to say but even the cable system that I work for is carrying just as many HD channels as DirecTv and they seem to be adding them at a better pace than DirecTv is. The only thing from totally getting DirecTv at this point is that I can't stand the Scientific Atlanta DVR's that are provided and I don't want to have to spend tons of $$$$ for stand alone Tivo units.

generalpatton71 · 09-15-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebonovic

What are you trying to tourture me? Pepsi isn't so bad... but Cubs game?

I'm just a huge cards fan and we don't play the White Sox except for inter league play once in a while. On the other hand Cubs and Cards play each other several times a year.

Bananfish · 09-15-2006, 02:10 PM

What's up with that moustache on Chase Carey in the picture in the article linked to on the first post of this thread? What kind of loser is running DirecTV and what made him decide that the "Yosemite Sam look" was in vogue for the CEO/President of a satellite television company?