DirecTV to launch an on-demand service via IPTV

Traditionally a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) TV service, DirectTV's HD on Demand uses the Internet to deliver content. The service, which has been in beta since Summer, is expected to launch in the second quarter of this year.

DirectTV has confirmed to BetaNews that this morning's Wall Street Journal article stating its beta period is about to end, is correct, though the official announcement has not yet been made. One will come as the launch date approaches. The company already has over 1,000 downloadable files, including both episodic and stand-alone content.

Select markets in the US have been testing the video-on-demand service for several months. It has thus far only been available on the DirectTV Plus HD DVR receivers models HR20 and HR21, and requires a connection of 750 Kbps or higher to function.

The Support Forum lists normal complaints, with no single complaint overwhelming any others. However, high definition files have been remarked upon for the length of time they require to download.