What is DIRECTV?

Can I get Internet access from DIRECTV? DIRECTV offers high-speed PC Internet-access to our customers through their sister brand HUGHES. We also offer modem connections that bring Internet content to the TV through some of our Advanced Products.

How does DIRECTV compare with cable? DIRECTV has created a programming service specifically driven to offer customers more choice and value for their entertainment dollar. DIRECTV combines America's favorite network channels, other popular networks not available from many cable services, a pay per view movie service with up to 55 choices of movies and special events a day, local channels in many markets, and an unprecedented sports subscription lineup. No other system offers as many quality program options.

Can I install the DIRECTV System myself or should I hire someone? DIRECTV's customers who use professional installers typically have fewer technical concerns later on, and professional installation is quite affordable. If you're purchasing an oval-shaped satellite dish, that installation is more complicated so you'll definitely want a professional to take care of it.

What if I move?  Does DIRECTV have a Mover's Service?
YES!  With DIRECTV MOVERS CONNECTION
Moving is EASY! Because moving should be as carefree as possible, we offer the DIRECTV MOVERS CONNECTION^TM, which makes it easy to transfer your entire DIRECTV service to a new residence with minimal hassle. Just tell DIRECTV where you're headed, and they'll not only send a replacement satellite dish to your new address, they'll provide complimentary standard professional installation for everything including your receivers. How's that for a helping hand?

Here's what to do:

1) Before your moving date, call DIRECTV's Movers Hotline at 1-866-252-7811. Don't forget to mention the PROMO CODE: CJ1181926

2) Pack up your DIRECTV Receivers, remote control, and owner's manual, and take those with you to your new home. Leave your DIRECTV satellite dish behind.

3) Once you're at your new place, they'll deliver a satellite dish and provide our standard professional installation.

To qualify, all you have to do is commit to one year of any TOTAL CHOICE programming starting at $33.99/mo., and pay a $25 set-up fee. Or click here for more.

Can I install the satellite dish inside my house? In order to receive the signal, the dish must have a direct line of sight to the south through a window. However, many types of window glass degrade the satellite signal. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you install your satellite dish outside in a suitable location.

If I mount my satellite dish outside, will it get stolen? The dish is the least expensive component of the system and is basically useless without the set-top receiver. Also keep in mind that the dish is small enough to be placed in an inconspicuous location on your home or property.

Can I use my existing wiring for DIRECTV? If the cable in your house is RG-6 coax cable, you can use it to connect your DIRECTV Receiver to your satellite dish. If your cable is not RG6 coax, you will need to run new cable. It is important that you use RG6 cable due to the frequency of the digital signals it must carry.

Can I paint the satellite dish? It's okay to paint your dish if you don't use lead-based or glossy paint. Glossy paint could damage the Low Noise Block (LNB) converter by increasing the solar reflection. Also, do not paint the LNB itself.

What is the purpose of connecting my receiver to my telephone line? DIRECTV asks customers to connect the receiver to a land-based phone line for billing and pay per view ordering purposes. This connection sends purchase information from the receiver to DIRECTV's computer system. You cannot connect a cellular phone to your receiver; it must be a land-based phone line. With this phone connection, DIRECTV customers are authorized to order pay per view movies and events with their remote control, get popular sports subscriptions like NFL SUNDAY TICKET., and have the programming subscription on their main receiver "mirrored" to other receivers that are connected to the same phone line. Customers who don't have a continuous telephone connection are not authorized to receive certain sports programming, must call DIRECTV to order pay per view, and must pay a separate subscription price for each receiver. To cover the costs of handling phone requests, DIRECTV applies a $5 service charge on phone orders for pay per view movies and events.

If I have more than one receiver, do I pay a full monthly subscription for each receiver? No. DIRECTV allows you to connect more than one television in a single household to our services. If your receivers are connected to the same phone line, DIRECTV can 'mirror' your subscription. In other words, the programming you request for the primary access card in your receiver is copied for all of the access cards in the other receivers and you are authorized to receive this same level or programming on these televisions. Instead of charging you a separate monthly subscription for each receiver, they simply charge a $4.99 monthly service fee for each additional receiver. When they 'mirror' your subscription to additional receivers, they do verify that all your receivers are continuously connected to the same phone line. If they find that a receiver with 'mirrored' service is not connected to the phone line, they will discontinue service to that receiver and you will need to call them to re-establish that service.

Will the telephone connection interfere with regular telephone usage? No. This connection does not interfere with your phone. A modem inside your receiver makes a toll-free call to our computer system in the middle of the night. If the modem senses that you are using the phone, it will try again later. The modem's call lasts just a few seconds.

My receiver is not near a telephone jack, and it is not convenient for me to install a line near it. What should I do? DIRECTV carries a device known as a wireless phone jack, which allows you to connect your receiver to a nearby phone line without wires.

Can DIRECTV be connected to more than one television set in my house? Buying separate DIRECTV Receivers for the various television sets in your home gives you the flexibility of watching different DIRECTV programs on different television sets. To do this, you'll need to have a dual-LNB DIRECTV System. The dual-LNB DIRECTV System (sometimes called a "delux system" or a "multi-room system") allows you to use additional receivers so the members of your household can watch different channels or pay per view programs in different rooms at the same time. The second-room receivers are sold separately at stores across the country. If all your DIRECTV Receivers are connected to the same land-based phone line, then DIRECTV can "mirror" your subscription package for a nominal fee for each additional DIRECTV outlet.

Why does the DIRECTV System require an access card? How does it work? The access card, which comes with each system, acts as a "license plate" for your system. It provides security and encryption information and allows you to control the use of your system. The access card also allows DIRECTV to capture billing information that is specific to your account. The card contains a microprocessor that enables the card to act as an auxiliary processor for your satellite receiver.

Can you explain the Locks & Limits (parental controls) feature DIRECTV offers? The Locks & Limits feature built into the equipment lets you restrict access to movies based on the motion picture rating system, pay per view spending limits, and block the viewing of entire channels. This is a great feature for parents who wish to control what their children watch on DIRECTV.

I have two receivers. Can I order a pay per view movie on one receiver and watch it on both TVs in my house? No. Each pay per view order is specific to the receiver on which it is ordered. When you place a pay per view order, the receiver on which you placed the order begins displaying the signal, "authorizes you for the purchase" and stores the record of your purchase on the access card in the receiver.

If I own one receiver that is hooked up to more than one TV, can I watch the same pay per view program on each TV without an additional charge? Yes. All TVs that are hooked up to a common receiver will receive the same satellite signal.

Certain channels display a message at the bottom of the screen that tells me to call Customer Service at different extension numbers. What do those numbers mean? DIRECTV uses extension numbers on our on-screen messages to better help direct your call when you contact us. For your reference, you can check out their On-Screen Message guide that explains what each message and extension means.

Why doesn't DIRECTV present every channel I want to see? Programming commitments are driven by customer preference. They are designed to balance the interests of adults, children, and the whole family. They regularly poll customers to determine their interests.

Does DIRECTV offer channels on an a la carte basis? DIRECTV typically bundles its programming together into different subscription-based packages so they can offer our customers better prices. It costs more for them to offer channels separately. However, they do offer select channels on an a la carte basis. Visit our programming section for more information.

Does DIRECTV offer music channels? Yes! Through an alliance with Music Choice, DIRECTV offers up to 31 different audio-only channels that range from choices like Soft Rock, Jazz and Country to Hit List, Easy Listening and many more. Visit DIRECTV's Music Choice page for more information about this service.

What channels will DIRECTV be offering in the future? It is a DIRECTV policy not to disclose information about any pending or potential programming offers. However, they do speak with a wide array of programming providers and constantly evaluate services based on the level of customer interest. Customer feedback is very important to DIRECTV and, in the past, this feedback has led to the addition of new programs and channels.

How do I order pay per view movies and special events? You can order with your remote control or by calling DIRECTV customer service at 1-800-531-5000. To defer the costs of handling phone requests, they apply a $5 service charge to phone orders for pay per view events and movies.

What is a letterbox movie? The shape of a theater screen is wider than the shape of a TV screen. So, when movies appear on TV, the left and right sides of the image are usually cut off and you miss about 30 percent of the film's original picture. The letterbox format, preferred by many film buffs, displays movies on a television screen as originally intended by the films' directors. That's why you see black bars at the top and bottom of the screen when you watch a letterbox movie on your television. The TV screen has been adapted to accommodate the film's entire picture. In order to fit the whole picture on the screen, the image has to be reduced. There is no extra charge for letterbox movies on DIRECT TICKET Pay Per View service.

Why do pay per view movies come out later than home videos? What are the advantages of ordering pay per view movies? Movie studios release films to the video rental market before making them available to pay per view services. However, the period between the home video release and pay per view release now can be as little as 30 days. And DIRECTV is not just another pay per view provider! DIRECT TICKET Pay Per View service offers a great selection of the latest movies well in advance of premium cable and broadcast television networks -- as many as 55 different movie and event choices a day. That's dozens more than you can see on cable or any other satellite service. Also, DIRECT TICKET Pay Per View lets you preview the first five minutes of non-adult movies so you can make an informed "rental" decision.

Can weather interfere with my reception? Television reception on the system is highly reliable year-round and nationwide. During heavy rain or snowfall, however, some DIRECTV customers may experience a temporary loss of picture quality. This phenomenon also can occur if the dish or low noise block converter (LNB) accumulates too much wet snow. When snow accumulates on the dish, the service is not lost but the strength of the signal can be weakened by the snow's water content. This "signal fall-off" occurs when water content is at its highest. During colder winter months, when snow is drier, dishes usually do not experience such problems, even if there is substantial snow buildup.

So what can you do? Wait for the bad weather to pass and your signal should return to normal. If the signal doesn't return, re-set your receiver by turning it off, unplugging it for at least 15 seconds, then plugging it back in. If snow has built up on the dish or LNB, wait for it to melt. Or, if you can safely get to your dish, lightly brush it off with a broom. If this is not practical, you may consider installing an accessory designed to prevent snow buildup. DIRECTV has conducted tests of several different products, including dish covers, spray-on coatings, LNB covers, and heated dishes, which work very well and are quite reliable.

I've heard of Dolby AC-3 Audio. What is that? Dolby AC-3, more commonly known as Dolby Digital, is the latest generation of surround-sound encoding from Dolby Laboratories. While Dolby Pro Logic was an analog encoding scheme, Dolby Digital uses digital encoding to produce five discrete full-range channels of surround information plus a bandwidth-limited subwoofer channel. DIRECTV currently broadcasts many pay per view movies and other events with Dolby Digital formatted audio for those customers who have a special Dolby Digital audio receiver.

Is the DIRECTV broadcast compatible with various surround-sound technologies? The DIRECTV System is compatible with Dolby Pro Logic Surround-Sound and Dolby Digital. To get true surround-sound, you will need a Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Digital surround sound processing unit. Basically, you will be able to experience surround-sound with DIRECTV programming if your home theater system has surround-sound capability.

Does DIRECTV offer local network channels? Yes, a law passed by the U.S. Congress allows DIRECTV to offer local television channels to selected areas. Eligible customers can order their local channel package for $5.99 a month. Please visit our local channel page to find out if you qualify for local networks. In some markets, you will need to have a DIRECTV Multi-Satellite System.

Why do you charge for local channels and PBS? Aren't they free? DIRECTV charges for subscriptions to broadcast networks for many different reasons. First, they must pay a copyright fee in order to be able to distribute the service. Then, just as with any signal they carry, they incur costs associated with receiving, encoding and transmitting it with their satellite and monitoring the signal quality. Also, they don't distribute local channels via satellite in all areas of the country. Therefore, they charge separately for local channel service so only customers receiving the service have to pay for it.

Can I receive local channels from another part of the country? Under federal law, DIRECTV can provide local channels only within a local TV market. For example, they can provide San Francisco stations in San Francisco and surrounding areas within that TV market. Federal law requires DIRECTV to use local TV markets boundaries established by Nielsen Media Research. Distant broadcast network feeds from New York and Los Angeles are available only to customers who cannot receive an over-the-air signal from a local TV station or to customers who get waivers from their local TV stations.

Why don't you offer local channels in my area? We want to serve the maximum number of DIRECTV customers. But with more than 1,500 local TV stations in the country, we can't carry them all.

Are DIRECTV SPORTS packages affected by sports blackouts? As a provider of the most comprehensive sports programming lineup in the digital home entertainment industry, DIRECTV must pay close attention to sports blackouts and restrictions. As these restrictions are sometimes complicated, we suggest that you refer to our website's sports blackouts page for a detailed explanation.

I believe I am outside of the sports blackout area. Why am I still getting blacked out from games? You may have been blacked out from a game even though you seemed to be outside the blackout area. This can happen if a TV station near the team's home stadium has networked the games to a TV station nearer to you. For example, a person who lives near Houston, more than 150 miles from a San Antonio Spurs station's territory, might be blacked out from a game if the San Antonio television station networked the signal to a station in Houston. Unfortunately, they generally do not control blackouts of sporting events. In their agreements to carry games produced by various leagues and associations, they are subject to clauses that keep DIRECTV from carrying events near where the game is played, aired or broadcast locally. In addition, networks like ESPN and TNT have signed contracts with certain cable TV operators that prevent some events from being distributed by anyone else in their franchise area. In some cases, if a game is blacked out from certain DIRECTV channels, you may be able to see it on another DIRECTV channel, or on one of your local broadcast channels. We suggest that you refer to DIRECTV's website's sports blackouts page for an explanation.

Why is my regional sports network territory different from my cable Regional Sports Network (RSN)? The area of in-market availability for each regional sports network is determined by the companies that provide the RSNs to DIRECTV, such as FOX Sports Direct. The constraints of C-band satellite systems, cable systems and their system differ slightly, which is why RSN territories sometimes differ from one delivery system to the next. Most people get the same Regional Sports Network from DIRECTV as they would from cable. But in some areas of the county, there are differences -- your home RSN from DIRECTV might be different from your home RSN on cable. This is because FOX Sports Net bases RSN service on zip codes for satellite customers, but on county boundaries for cable customers. This difference is necessary because of the technical differences in how the satellite and cable signals are distributed.

Why do I need to have a phone line connected to receive sports programming? In order for DIRECTV to comply with the blackout rules established by each professional sports league, they require that our sports customers to have a continuous land-based phone connection to the DIRECTV Receiver.

Does DIRECTV offer a Spanish-language programming service? Yes. It's called the DIRECTV PARA TODOS service, and it features more than 40 Spanish-language channels, including sports, movies, news, music and educational networks. To get DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming, you need a DIRECTV PARA TODOS System, or any newer receiver marked DIRECTV Multi-Satellite System, which features an 18-by-24-inch, oval-shaped satellite dish and a specially designed set-top box and remote control. Visit our DIRECTV PARA TODOS page for details.

Does DIRECTV offer a Chinese-language programming service? Yes. DIRECTV is proud to offer Phoenix TV, a 24-hour Chinese-language channel. To find out more information about Phoenix TV, visit our Chinese-language programming section.

Is DIRECTV programming available in other languages? The DIRECTV System does feature a foreign-language option, so if a program is available in an alternate language, you can use your remote control to select "Alternate Audio" from the on-screen guide menu. Keep in mind that DIRECTV is only a programming distributor; it is up to the program originator to decide whether to provide a program in another language.

I've heard of DIRECTV Latin America. What is that? DIRECTV Latin America, LLC (formerly Galaxy Latin America), is a multinational company that was founded on February 13, 1995, and is owned by Hughes Electronics Corporation and Darlene Investments, LLC, an affiliate of the Cisneros Group of Companies. The company was formed to provide the DIRECTV Service to Latin America and the Caribbean and deliver direct-to-home satellite television entertainment to the region. For more information about the DIRECTV Latin America, please visit their website at www.directvamericas.com.

What is HDTV? High definition television (HDTV) is a new kind of television system that involves improvements in both the production and reception of television broadcast system. The most distinguishing features of HDTV are the aspect ratio and increased lines of resolution. HDTV's aspect ratio is 16:9 (Width:Height) as opposed to 4:3 of the current NTSC system. This will make the home theater atmosphere exactly as it was meant to be. Films will retain their original size and resolution, and the sound can be delivered in "digital-quality" 5 channel digital audio. How is DIRECTV's HDTV offering different from other companies' HDTV service? DIRECTV's is the first satellite TV service whose receiving system is built into HDTV sets, so viewers who purchase this HDTV equipment will have easy access.

What equipment do I need to receive high definition programming on DIRECTV? You can receive DIRECTV high definition programming by using an HDTV set with a built-in DIRECTV System OR by using an HDTV-enabled multi-sat DIRECTV Receiver with any high-definition television set. You can also use the HDTV-enabled set-top box with your analog TV set to receive standard definition programming. An oval DIRECTV Multi-Satellite dish is also needed to capture HDTV and other programming they broadcast at 119 degrees West Longitude (WL) and the programming they broadcast from 101 degrees WL.

Can I keep using the DIRECTV equipment I have now? As high definition increasingly becomes the TV standard, customers will need to invest in new TV monitors to receive it. DIRECTV feels the best approach will be to look for a HDTV set with an integrated DIRECTV Receiver. Or, if you choose a HDTV set without DIRECTV built in, to upgrade to a HDTV compatible set-top box when you purchase a new monitor. However, your current DIRECTV equipment will provide you with quality digital programming for as long as you own the system, when used with either an analog or HDTV set.

Who makes DIRECTV HDTV equipment? They've formed partnerships with several consumer electronics manufacturers. HDTV sets with the DIRECTV Receiver built in, as well as DIRECTV HDTV-compatible set-top boxes, are available from Thomson Consumer Electronics (under the RCA and PROSCAN brands), Hitachi, Toshiba, Zenith, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Samsung and Hughes Network Systems. They're talking to leading consumer electronics manufacturers about integrating the multi-sat DIRECTV System into forthcoming HDTV products.

Why is DIRECTV using a different satellite to broadcast its high-definition programming? Few of their customers have high-definition TV sets today. By delivering their high-definition programming from the 119 degrees WL orbital slot, they reserve capacity at their main orbital location for programming most customers can receive today and they allow room for expansion there. DIRECTV customers who continue to use their analog TVs will still have the widest variety of programming available to them.

What high definition programming is DIRECTV broadcasting? They introduced HBO HDTV in August 1999. The channel airs continuously and delivers blockbuster movies and original programming from Home Box Office on DIRECTV Channel 509. In November 1999 they introduced a second HDTV channel -- 199 -- featuring pay per view movies and events in high definition format. You can also experience HDTV programming from DIRECTV by visiting select retail showrooms across the country that are displaying a demonstration of the service. UPDATE:  DIRECTV now offers additional HD Programming.

In what format is HDTV from DIRECTV broadcast? DIRECTV will accept a wide variety of industry-standard formats and will broadcast in any or all of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and other industry-standard broadcasting formats, essentially remaining format-agnostic.