DirecTV (trademarked as "DIRECTV") is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service based in El Segundo, California, USA, that transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America except for Mexico.

DirecTV is owned by DirecTV Group, which was controlled by News Corporation. In November 2006, News Corp. has reportedly agreed to transfer its interest in DirecTV Group to John Malone's Liberty Media. In return it will buy back Liberty's shares in News Corp.

In addition to consumers, DirecTV offers service to bars, restaurants, hotels, dorms, and hospitals through their DirecTV for business service. The company also offers mobile service for cars, boats, and RVs (DirecTV Mobile) as well as aircraft (DirecTV Airborne) in cooperation with Connexion by Boeing.


DirecTV typically uses a fixed 18-inch diameter dish antenna to receive its signals. Traditionally an 18×24-inch elliptical was used, however most new installations use an 18x20-inch antenna to receive signals from three geostationary satellite positions simultaneously. These systems are becoming more common as DirecTV attempts to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems. DTV is now installing a dish that has five LNBs for HDTV programming and local channels in selected markets. These systems receive signals from up to 5 separate satellites in both the Ku-band and Ka-band.

The new DirecTV HD requires a new H20/HR21 set top box, or STB. In order to receive the new HD channels (channels added in late September 2007), viewers must have a B-Band converter installed. If the converter is not installed, viewers can only receive older HD channels (channels 70-99).

The new STB's support the ATSC standard (for over-the-air broadcasts) and also include QAM Tuner. In addition, there is HDMI support for HDTVs with a HDMI port. New STB's also support MPEG-4 standard for HD Programming.

As of 31 December 2006, DirecTV had approximately 16 million customers in the U.S., 1.4 million in Latin America through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, 1.3 million through its 74% ownership of Sky Brasil Servicos Ltda., and 1.4 million though its 41% ownership of Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V. of Mexico.[1] 2006 revenues were US$14.76 billion.

In late July 2006, DirecTV added several channels to their online guide that are apparently not available to viewers — these include UK-based Sky Sports One, Sky One and Sky News. The three are channels that are generally available to satellite television viewers in the United Kingdom, though Sky News has been made available in other countries internationally.

In 1981, Stanley Hubbard founded United States Satellite Broadcasting and was a leading proponent for the development of direct broadcast satellite service in the United States. USSB was awarded 5 frequencies at the coveted 101 degree west satellite location by the FCC. Hughes Communications, a unit of GM Hughes Electronics, was also awarded 27 frequencies at the same 101 degree location. After waiting many years, the technology evolved to enable the building of very high power satellites and digital compression(MPEG 2) standards were developed that allowed multiple digital television channels to be sent through each satellite frequency. After Hughes failed to complete a joint venture to launch the first high power digital television service called Sky Cable, the company created DIRECTV and secured an agreement with USSB to build and launch the first high power DBS satellite system. Hughes/DIRECTV then turned to Thomson Consumer Electronics (under the RCA brand) to develop the digital satellite system for the service that would be capable of receiving 175 channels on a small 18-inch dish. These dishes utilized a new generation of smaller, lighter receiver dishes based on military technology introduced by the Global Broadcast System (GBS), which predated DirecTV's viability by almost 10 years. Hughes was awarded the contract to build and launch the new high powered satellites and USSB and DIRECTV agreed that the new satellites would carry the two separate programming services: USSB and DirecTV.
In 1994, the USSB and DirecTV programming services were launched. Digital Equipment Corporation provided the billing services for DIRECTV and Matrix Marketing (part of Cincinnati Bell) provided customer care.
In 1998, DirecTV acquired USSB for $1.3 billion.
In 1999, DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion.
In 2000, DirecTV abandons the Japanese market.
In 2002, DirecTV was the mexican licensed broadcaster for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of Dish Network, fell through.
In 2004, DirecTV abandons the Mexican market, though it maintains 41% ownership of Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V.