DirecTV claims largest 1080p library, including all new HD VOD on the way
by Richard Lawler 
posted Apr 15th 2009 at 9:44PM
"HD Supremacy" was claimed by DISH Network, but DirecTV is heading down the Comcast path, touting its VOD offerings with the biggest selection of 1080p movies. With "more than 30" movies available it doesn't quite match Blu-ray and falls short of HDX, but DirecTV Plus HD DVR receiver owners can look forward to new flicks like Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler and Quantum of Solace being available in the highest res as soon as they launch on the DirecTV on Demand platform. According to VP Eric Shanks, even customers without 1080p HDTVs are seeing the benefit. A year after we first heard 1080p HD VOD was on the way, are you taking advantage?
Filed under: Satellite, New content
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
UnnDunn @ Apr 15th 2009 10:47PM
Does this mean Comcast will finally have to stop lying with its "More HD Choices" bullcrap?
Erik Stroud @ Apr 15th 2009 11:24PM
Now if only DirecTV would add some channels I want. FUNimation channel would be a nice addition instead of more VOD things. VOD would be nice if it didn't go so slow for me.
lferguson @ Apr 16th 2009 12:08AM
I'm a little confused. My DirecTV box only goes up to 1080i, then down to 720p. What would be the point of having 1080p movies when their HD boxes can't play them.
Chance Stevens
Editor, http://www.tvlampsnbulbs.com
skirge01 @ Apr 16th 2009 1:52AM
You either don't have a compatible receiver (HR20, 21, or 22) or you haven't received the software update yet. While the buttons on the front panel may only go up to 1080i, the software update allows you to select and enable 1080p, assuming you're hooked up via HDMI. My HR21 received the software update several months ago.
The Fuzz 53 @ Apr 16th 2009 11:16AM
I downloaded a test software for my H23 (non-DVR) that enabled 1080p24. When it's in 1080p mode, both the 720p and 1080i lights on the box come on.
Insomniac @ Apr 16th 2009 8:03AM
Is this true 1080p or HD Lite 1440x1080?
The Fuzz 53 @ Apr 16th 2009 9:13AM
It's also 1080p24. If you have an older 1080p60 set (like me) you are SOL.
Barbaric @ Apr 24th 2009 9:18AM
whats the difference and how can you tell? I have a newer 46" Toshiba, not 120Hz though, and it only says that its1080p... no more info. I'm also looking to change from TWC to one of the sat providers, due to the horrible pixilation I get from compressed HD. The picture can be so bad sometimes it isn't even worth watching in HD. Which sat provider is better?
Achilles @ Apr 16th 2009 9:56AM
I'll use it once I can get VOD from the satellite itself and not from the ethernet connection that I do NOT have connected.
quick @ Apr 16th 2009 2:49PM
You can actually do this already. If you go to List, then top movies, then select top movies again (folder) you should see a couple 1080p movies in that list. (mine only shows 2)
Those movies are actually already on your hard drive, they were recorded from satellite source not from the internet. This is how the other HD PPV movies were recorded and saved, so I am assuming the 1080p ones in this folder are the same. To know for sure if you pick one of those 1080p movies in this folder and if it says watch now, that means its already on your hard drive.
This only applies to the HR21, HR22, HR23 HDDVRs (I have an HR22-100).
Ghoti @ Apr 16th 2009 10:03AM
Dish Network has been offering 1080p VOD service since August of 2008.
man_rob @ Apr 16th 2009 2:52PM
It's 1080p, but at no where new Blu-Ray bit-rates. Make no mistake about it, Blu-Ray looks better because of the higher bit-rates, not because it's progressive scan.. It's more a gimmick than anything else.
reallynotnick @ Apr 16th 2009 3:55PM
I agree, throwing more pixels at the problem is not going to solve anything, sure it will probably look better but it's not BD league. Depending on how much compression they use I probably would prefer a 720p version at the same bitrate vs a 1080p version.
Bill @ Apr 16th 2009 6:31PM
and how long will it take for me to download 1 1080p movie? 2 days?