DirecTV, Starz SVOD trial gets underway

By Susan Rush
From The September 10, 2002 Edition Of CED Broadband Direct

Not to be outdone by its cable competitors, DBS heavyweight DirecTV has powered up a trial subscription-VOD service for its TiVo customers who subscribe to the Starz Super Pak.

The six-month trial, which was first announced in May, is being offered free of charge to DirecTV Starz Super Pak subscribers who have TiVo service. TiVo is a critical component to the SVOD service because, unlike SVOD offered by MSOs, DBS operators cannot offer true, two-way VOD. Instead, DirecTV will download and cache premium content to receivers with integrated digital video recording technology from TiVo.

DirecTV will download movies week from the monthly Starz Super Pak library, but the company says the downloaded content will not overwrite a customer's previously recorded shows. Once the Starz on Demand movies are recorded, users will have the ability to pause, fast-forward and rewind at their leisure. The first movies to be offered include "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "America's Sweethearts," "Bring It On," "Serendipity," and "The Mummy Returns." Subscribers must opt-in for the trial.

The trial marks the first foray for DBS into the VOD sector.

During the trial, DirecTV says it will explore a variety of technical and marketing issues ranging from software development to on-screen navigation to marketing tactics.