Today at the 2012 International CES, href=”http://www.directv.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”DirecTV”>DIRECTV and href=”http://www.samsung.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Samsung Group”>Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. unveiled their plans to offer DIRECTV’s more than 19.7 million customers the ability to watch live broadcast and stored content from a compatible DIRECTV DVR on Samsung’s 2012 line of Smart TVs without the need for additional set-top boxes. This newly enabled feature will also provide the same seamless user experience and replicate the full User Interface (UI) of a DIRECTV DVR set top box. Installers and homeowners alike will benefit from the ability to mount the TV without having to worry about locating an additional set top box.
This year, Samsung will embed the RVU protocol in its entire line of Smart TVs and underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver to consumers high-quality, visually enhanced and connected entertainment experiences in their home. Based on industry standards such as DLNA and UPnP, RVU allows a set-top box server to provide a complete, multi-room viewing experience that includes DVR services across all the connected TVs in the home through a single set-top box.
“Many homes today have more than one TV to cater to the different needs of everyone in the family. By working with a leading provider like DIRECTV, we’re able to offer consumers enhanced convenience in access so they can enjoy the content they desire from any room in the home, any time they choose,” said Stephen Goldstein, vice president of Samsung Electronics America.
“The CES demonstration of the RVU-enabled Samsung Smart TV is exciting news for the industry and consumers who want a consistent, superior user experience throughout the home,” said Romulo Pontual, CTO of DIRECTV. “Making DIRECTV features and content available on Samsung TVs through the RVU server allows consumers to enjoy our innovative service without the need for additional set-top boxes. We are pleased to see our successful partnership with Samsung expand to include support for RVU in its 2012 Smart TV model range.”
Capable of supporting multiple connected televisions simultaneously, DIRECTV’s HR34 Home Media Center HD-DVR enables the set-top box UI and features to be displayed directly on Samsung Smart TVs. DIRECTV customers can enjoy the full DIRECTV experience, including DVR services, live pause abilities on all screens in the home, 200 hours worth of shared storage, picture-in-picture capabilities and the ability to record up to five shows at once. Samsung’s RVU-compatible Smart TVs will be available in spring 2012.
The Samsung RVU-compatible production TV will be on display at Booth #12004 in the Central Hall at the 2012 International CES, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), January 10-13, 2012.
DirecTV’s HR34 sounds like it has some good features on it, but a closer look shows you how limited it is. In order to use the receiver-less function, you have to purchase a Smart TV for each room that you don’t want a receiver in. That doesn’t make any sense. DISH announced the Hopper and Joey Whole-Home DVR recently and it makes more sense. I’ve been playing with a tester that we have here at DISH where I work, and I already have a list of features that I’m looking forward to. The one I’m most excited about is PrimeTime Anytime. The Hopper can be recording up to 6 shows at once with this feature. There is the main Hopper receiver, and there are a few smaller HD Joey receivers that can be hidden easily, making the area look clean. DirecTV has a good idea with their receiver-less TVs, but I don’t think it would apply to most people who just want to watch TV.