New Technology TV

In the last decade, home viewing entertainment options have grown to include features like the Video on Demand option, which is a digital library offering extra viewing selections like network programming and newly released movies, Pay Per View selections, increased channel lineups, programming in HDTV and most recently, offered through satellite TV providers, the HD 1080p formatting that has been compared to Blu Ray technology for image and sound clarity and detail. Pay TV subscribers no longer have to go stand in line at the movie store or movie theater to get a cinematic experience with the newest movies. They can simply come home and push a button. Families enjoy these additional viewing features because they provide needed entertainment at a fraction of the cost required to rent movies or watch them in theaters, saving valuable time and money that can be used elsewhere in the family budget.

Channel lineups and packages have grown from the 80 channels that were initially available on cable TV programming to over two hundred and seventy-five channels, with programming packages that target specific areas of interest like sports or movies. These packages come in the native English language, offering familiar channels most people have watched and grown accustomed to. Now there is also international programming that offers channels from all over the world, broadcast in languages like Portuguese, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Polish, Brazilian, Vietnamese, South Asian, Russian, Korean, Greek, Cantonese and Filipino. Extensive channel selections offered in native languages go even further to make sure the subscriber has what he or she wants in programming and feature selections.

With such an extensive array of options already available for home entertainment, it is hard to predict where the next big attraction would come from or where it would show up. However, starting in March 2010, Direct TV is making history by being the first in the Pay TV industry to offer the first 3D HDTV channel ever broadcast to the general public. This channel will be exclusively available to Direct TV subscribers, initially, and will offer viewing choices that have never been offered before, due to the fact that customers can now watch 3D imaging in their homes. While the 3D formatting is currently limited to one channel, more are sure to follow if the demand in high enough. Direct TV will also be offering firmware upgrades for current equipment to help avoid costly upgrades to current Direct TV subscribers. Direct TV is also working on a new receiver that can automatically broadcast in 3D HDTV for new subscribers.

While 3D programming is not common, it can be found currently in theaters and video games, for certain movies and specific games.

3D HDTV is a much anticipated and welcome addition to any programming package. More details about 3D HDTV programming will be given at the Consumer Electronic Show for 2010.

Direct TV has taken in-home television viewing to the next level, offering outstanding customer service and products that any family would be happy to have.