DIRECTV Hits One Million

Yesterday DIRECTV put out a press release announcing that over 1 million people have downloaded the DIRECTV Remote Scheduler application for the iPhone. DIRECTV through it’s advertising has really put remote DVR scheduling on the map.

Since initially being introduced for the iPhone the DIRECTV Remote Scheduler software is now available for a number of platforms including the DROID, Palm PIXI and Blackberry. It is surprising to me however that there is no DIRECTV Remote Scheduler application for Windows Mobile based phones.

Through it successful advertising campaign DIRECTV has been able to put its Remote Scheduler program on the map. When you talk about any kind of remote DVR scheduling with anyone they automatically think of DIRECTV.

The DIRECTV Remote Schedule software does just as it says, and it is great at what it does, but I also consider it a dumb program as well. Now let me explain what I mean by dumb, the program is only a one way program and it can only tell your DVR to record. The program has no idea what timers are already set on your DVR and no matter how many programs you set to record tonight at 5PM with the program it will give you a confirmation that the timer is set to record. But with that confirmation it does not mean it will truly record as it knows nothing about any possible timer conflicts for shows already set to record.

DISH Network has had their website for DVR scheduling up for about a year now and at CES released its iPhone DVR Scheduler program. What the DISH program does goes far beyond what the DIRECTV program can do, in that it actually talks with your DVR in a two way conversation. If you have set a number of events to record at the same time you will be alerted of the conflict, and because its in two way communication with the DVR you can resolve those conflicts plus also do other things such as manage recordings on the DVR and you can even use your iPhone as a remote control to control your DVR. The key to this all working however is that the DVR at home must be networked to the Internet. If its not hooked to the Internet then the program can only set one way timers like the DIRECTV program does.

But it is for this one program alone that it is worth hooking up your DISH Network DVR to the internet. Taking steps further if access your DVR through Dish Networks website and you have your DVR hooked up to a Slingbox you can not only control your DVR from remote but you can actually watch television from your DVR via the website!

DISH Network has not really advertised its remote scheduler application like DIRECTV has and thats unfortunate, but I can also understand why they haven’t. Getting consumers to understand what networking their DVR’s is going to take some work. Plus with all the updates to the DISH Network website lately the remote scheduling hasn’t worked as reliable as customers demand.

Congrats to DIRECTV on hitting 1 million with their application, they have truly put remote DVR scheduling on the map!