VUDU vs Satellite

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Here's an example of what Directv is currently offering up. Note they also have separate placards for SD and HD offerings of the same movie.

I didn't compare everyone to VUDU but the most notable is that they offer Gone Baby Gone in HD DD5.1 and VUDU only offers Widescreen in STEREO.

Guess which one I ordered for $4.99?

Title Rating Genre
28 Weeks Later R Sci-Fi Playing Soon
28 Weeks Later (HD) R Sci-Fi Playing Soon
3:10 To Yuma R Action
3:10 To Yuma (HD) R Action Playing Soon
30 Days of Night R Horror Coming Soon
30 Days of Night (HD) R Horror Coming Soon
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days NR Drama Playing Soon
Across The Universe PG-13 Drama
Across the Universe (HD) PG-13 Drama
Alvin And The Chipmunks PG Comedy Coming Soon
Alvin And The Chipmunks (HD) PG Comedy Coming Soon
Amazing Grace PG Drama Playing Soon
Amazing Grace (HD) PG Drama Playing Soon
American Gangster R Drama
American Gangster (HD) R Drama
A Mighty Heart R Drama Playing Soon
A Mighty Heart (HD) R Drama Playing Soon
Anamorph R Thriller Coming Soon
Angel-A R Comedy Playing Soon
Arctic Tale G Family Playing Soon
Arctic Tale (HD) G Family Playing Soon
Atonement R Drama Coming Soon
Atonement (HD) R Drama Coming Soon
August Rush PG Family
August Rush (HD) PG Drama
Awake R Thriller
Awake (HD) R Drama
Balls of Fury PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Balls of Fury (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Becoming Jane PG Drama
Becoming Jane (HD) PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
Bee Movie PG Comedy Coming Soon
Bee Movie (HD) PG Comedy Coming Soon
Beowulf R Action Coming Soon
Beowulf (HD) PG-13 Action Coming Soon
Blonde Ambition PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Bratz: The Movie PG Comedy Playing Soon
Bratz: The Movie (HD) PG Comedy Playing Soon
Captivity R Horror Playing Soon
Captivity (HD) R Horror Playing Soon
Daddy Day Camp PG-13 Comedy
Daddy Day Camp (HD) PG Comedy
Dan In Real Life PG Comedy Coming Soon
Dan In Real Life (HD) PG-13 Comedy Coming Soon
Dragon Wars PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Eastern Promises R Drama Playing Soon
Eastern Promises (HD) R Drama Playing Soon
El Cantante R Drama Playing Soon
Elizabeth: The Golden Age PG-13 Drama
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (HD) PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
Evan Almighty PG Comedy Playing Soon
Evan Almighty (HD) PG Comedy Playing Soon
Feel The Noise PG-13 Drama
Flight of the Red Ballon NR Drama
Gone Baby Gone R Drama
Gone Baby Gone (HD) R Drama
Good Luck Chuck (Unrated) NR Comedy
Good Luck Chuck (Unrated) (HD) NR Comedy Playing Soon
Goya's Ghosts R Drama Playing Soon
Hairspray PG Comedy Playing Soon
Hairspray (HD) PG Comedy Playing Soon
Halloween (Unrated) (HD) NR Horror Playing Soon
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Hitman (Uncut) R Action Coming Soon
Hitman (Uncut) (HD) NR Action Coming Soon
Hot Rod PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Hot Rod (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
How to Rob a Bank NR Thriller Playing Soon
I Am Legend PG-13 Drama Coming Soon
I Am Legend (HD) PG-13 Drama Coming Soon
I Know Who Killed Me R Thriller Playing Soon
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Interview R Drama Playing Soon
In The Land Of Women PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
In The Valley of Elah R Drama
In The Valley of Elah (HD) R Drama
Into the Wild R Drama
Into the Wild (HD) R Drama
La Vie En Rose PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
License to Wed PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
LIve Free or Die Hard PG-13 Action Playing Soon
LIve Free or Die Hard (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Live Free or Die Hard (Uncut) (HD) NR Action Playing Soon
Love Songs NR Comedy
Martian Child PG Drama
Martian Child (HD) PG Drama Playing Soon
Meet the Robinsons G Family Playing Soon
Meet The Robinsons (HD) G Family Playing Soon
Michael Clayton R Drama
Michael Clayton (HD) R Drama Playing Soon
Mister Lonely NR Drama Coming Soon
Moliere PG-13 Comedy
Mr. Bean's Holiday G Comedy Playing Soon
Mr. Bean's Holiday (HD) G Comedy Playing Soon
Mr. Brooks R Thriller Playing Soon
Mr. Brooks (HD) R Thriller Playing Soon
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium G Family
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (HD) G Family
Mr.Woodcock PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Mr. Woodcock (HD) PG-13 Comedy
My Best Friend PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
My Best Friend (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
My Kid Could Paint That PG-13 Documentary Playing Soon
Nancy Drew: Drew's Clues PG Family
Nancy Drew: Drew's Clues PG Family
No Country For Old Men R Drama Coming Soon
No Country For Old Men (HD) R Drama Coming Soon
No Reservations PG-13 Romance Playing Soon
No Reservations (HD) PG Romance Playing Soon
Ocean's Thirteen PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Ocean's Thirteen (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Once R Drama Playing Soon
One Missed Call PG-13 Horror Coming Soon
One Missed Call (HD) PG-13 Horror Coming Soon
Paprika R Sci-Fi Playing Soon
Paranoid Park R Drama Playing Soon
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Ratatouille G Family Playing Soon
Ratatouille (HD) G Family Playing Soon
Rendition R Drama
Rendition (HD) R Drama
Rescue Dawn PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Rescue Dawn (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Resident Evil: Extinction R Action
Resident Evil: Extinction (HD) R Action Playing Soon
Romance and Cigarettes R Drama
Rush Hour 3 PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Rush Hour 3 (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Saw IV R Horror
Saw IV (HD) R Horror Playing Soon
September Dawn R Drama Playing Soon
Shoot 'Em Up R Action Playing Soon
Shoot 'Em Up (HD) R Action Playing Soon
Shrek The Third G Family Playing Soon
Shrek The Third (HD) PG-13 Family Playing Soon
Sleuth R Mystery Playing Soon
Slipstream R Comedy Playing Soon
Spider-Man 3 PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Spider-Man 3 (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Stardust PG-13 Action
Stardust (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Superbad R Comedy Playing Soon
Superbad (HD) R Comedy Playing Soon
Sydney White PG-13 Comedy
The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford R Drama Playing Soon
The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (HD) R Drama
The Bourne Ultimatum PG-13 Action Playing Soon
The Bourne Ultimatum (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
The Brave One R Drama Playing Soon
The Brave One (HD) R Drama Playing Soon
The Brothers Solomon R Comedy Playing Soon
The Comebacks PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
The Comebacks (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
The Comebacks (Uncut) PG-13 Comedy
The Comebacks (Uncut) (HD) PG-13 Comedy
The Darjeeling Limited R Comedy Playing Soon
The Darjeeling Limited (HD) R Comedy
The Duchess of Langeais NR Drama Playing Soon
The Game Plan PG Comedy
The Game Plan (HD) PG Comedy
The Heartbreak Kid R Comedy Playing Soon
The Heartbreak Kid (HD) R Comedy Playing Soon
The Invasion PG-13 Sci-Fi
The Invasion (HD) PG-13 Sci-Fi Playing Soon
The Jane Austin Book Club PG-13 Drama
The Killing of John Lennon NR Drama Playing Soon
The Kingdom R Action Playing Soon
The Kingdom (HD) R Action Playing Soon
The Last Legion PG-13 Action Playing Soon
The Last Legion (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
The Mist R Horror Coming Soon
The Mist (HD) R Horror Coming Soon
The Namesake PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
The Namesake (HD) PG-13 Drama Playing Soon
The Nanny Diaries PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
The Nanny Diaries (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
The Nines PG-13 Drama
The Reaping R Horror Playing Soon
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause G Comedy Playing Soon
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (HD) G Comedy Playing Soon
The Simpsons Movie PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
The Simpsons Movie (HD) PG-13 Comedy
Things We Lost In The Fire R Drama
Things We Lost In The Fire (HD) R Drama Playing Soon
Three Can Play That Game R Comedy
Transformers PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Transformers (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? PG-13 Comedy
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? (HD) PG-13 Comedy
Underdog PG Action
Underdog (HD) PG-13 Action Playing Soon
Vitus PG Drama Playing Soon
Waitress PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Waitress (HD) PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
War R Action Playing Soon
War (HD) R Action Playing Soon
We Own The Night R Drama
We Own The Night (HD) R Drama
Who's Your Caddy? PG-13 Comedy Playing Soon
Who's Your Caddy? (HD) PG-13 Comedy Coming Soon

[redwein]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I notice a lot of them say "Playing Soon" or "Coming Soon" What do they mean by that?

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I notice a lot of them say "Playing Soon" or "Coming Soon" What do they mean by that?

They have only so many channels dedicated to transmitting the movies from the Sat, so they have to schedule them to play at various times on a kind of rotating basis.

So playing soon means Directv has it to rent, but not currently available on the Sat to record. It's usually comes around on the Sat in less than a week. It's a pain, because you have to keep checking back on the web site. There's no way to tell their system to record the movie for me when it's available. Currently, you can only do it when it's available on the Sat to record. Like NA9D said in a previous post, nothing (excluding me) is 100% perfect.

I'm not really sure what Coming Soon means (I don't think it has anything to do with orgasims). I don't really pay attention to that, because when I go to their site it's only to bottom fish for what's available to rent and record now.

[redwein]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Is that something that they will fix with the new satellites? If not, that would be way more frustrating to me than anything with Vudu. I decide what I want to watch when I sit down to watch it. Having to preplan for it would take the OD out of VOD for me. Then it's just PPV.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Is that something that they will fix with the new satellites? If not, that would be way more frustrating to me than anything with Vudu. I decide what I want to watch when I sit down to watch it. Having to preplan for it would take the OD out of VOD for me. Then it's just PPV.

The movies I listed are what's available to rent and record from Sat on PPV. So you're right, it's only a remote cousin to VOD (perhaps an ancestor?).

You can also get movies from them via VOD which can be rented and recorded immediately via broadband.

There's lots more VOD content available but the current list of HD VOD movies available from Directv are:

3:10 to Yuma
Balls of Fury
Bourne Ultimatum
THe Comebacks
Eastern Promises
Evan Almighty
Good Luck Chuck
The Kindom
Mr Brooks
Ratatouille
Saw IV
The Simpsons Movie
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Marry
Underdog
War

Their current VOD is explicitly stated as "On Demand Beta". Given that they have announced a big rollout of their VOD offering within a few weeks, it remains to be seen what titles they will be offering and exactly how they will deliver it.

Even though it's a pain sometimes getting a movie from Directv I'm still going to wait and get it from whomever offers it in the best format. For me it's a little like going to a movie theatre where they show the latest Star Wars all day every day on their itsy bitsy screen but also offer it once in awhile for matinee showings on the Big Screen. I'm always going to wait for the matinee showing.

Right now VUDU is playing Gone Baby Gone on the itsy bitsy screen and Directv has it on the Big Screen. So that's where I'm going for this particular movie.

The popcorn is exactly the same at both places!


Regards

[redwein]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

For me it's a little like going to a movie theatre where they show the latest Star Wars all day every day on their itsy bitsy screen but also offer it once in awhile for matinee showings on the Big Screen. I'm always going to wait for the matinee showing.

Regards

See that's where we differ. I will see the movie when I want to see it, even in a theater. When I want to see it, I choose the best available venue based on the other factors. That probably explains why the convenience aspect is by far the number 1 concern for me with VOD.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

See that's where we differ. I will see the movie when I want to see it, even in a theater. When I want to see it, I choose the best available venue based on the other factors. That probably explains why the convenience aspect is by far the number 1 concern for me with VOD.

I have absolutely no problem with your consumer decisions. After all, that's why the theatre justifies playing the movie all day every day on the itsy bitsy screen.

I'm just giving my feedback with the strong hint to VUDU that I'm disappointed they don't offer the movie in HD and DD5.1 (when I know it's indeed available that way) so I can rent it from them tonight. I was also trying to point out an explicit example where a title is available now but offered with different video qualities by some other service than that of physical media. So it proves that it's more than just a case of what is being offered by the studio to all digital media content providers. It proves that the source of all the movies are coming from Beserkely.

Come to think of it, I don't know why I just didn't say that from the get go?? I'm just simply going to have to lay off the Hypno-Toad licking for awhile. (at least I'm not Cat Cheezing yet)

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Thank you for doing such a great job PROMOTING DirecTV on the Vudu customer support site.

Could you please also post a list of all the new Vudu content in the last 30 days?

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Thank you for doing such a great job PROMOTING DirecTV on the Vudu customer support site.

Well that certainly was not my intent. Just simply pointing out that the Emperor has no Clothes.

Could you please also post a list of all the new Vudu content in the last 30 days?

I would be happy to, if I could copy and paste the list from from VUDU's web site, like I did from Directv's.

[redwein]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Just simply pointing out that the Emperor has no Clothes.

Interesting, a single movie in stereo instead of 5.1 and a list of PPV movies available on DirecTV shows the emperor having no clothes in what way?

[aaronwt]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I'd say by that list the choice is very easy, VUDU beats the DirecTV offerings easily. And the instant gratification factor is the biggest plus. I want to wacth something when I'm in the mood to watch it, I don't want to wait for it. MAybe that comes from timeshifting my TV watching since 1984, but that is what I'm used to.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Interesting, a single movie in stereo instead of 5.1 and a list of PPV movies available on DirecTV shows the emperor having no clothes in what way?

Yeah you're right. I was just grasping for threads with that one.

But seriously I was only pointing out (in my obviously obscure way) that I don't understand why Directv is able to provide a movie in HD and DD5.1 while VUDU is only able to provide it in SD and stereo. And also trying to convey my disappointment that VUDU doesn't (for whatever reason).

I was just pointing out a concrete example of my point. As I had stated, there are other movies in that list that are also examples, I just didn't go through an exhaustive comparison.

I love my VUDU and would definitely prefer to rent the movies from VUDU, if only they could provide the movie with the same quality. I was just trying to give VUDU feedback on would it would take to get even more of my hard earned money.

For some reason, someone seems to have a bug up their butt about Directv. I'm now seriously thinking about giving him a years subscription to Directv for Christmas!

I've also pointed out differences between VUDU and ATV in other posts, where I have I listed available titles from ATV without being accused of being an ATV salesperson.

Regards

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

But seriously I was only pointing out (in my obviously obscure way) that I don't understand why Directv is able to provide a movie in HD and DD5.1 while VUDU is only able to provide it in SD and stereo. And also trying to convey my disappointment that VUDU doesn't (for whatever reason).

I wish we knew. Why does Vudu have some content in HD that AppleTV doesn't? Why does AppleTV have some HD content that Vudu doesn't? Why does AppleTV have no SD content in DD5.1?

It's a very good question and no one who posts here has the answer. The studios seem to make sure that all the VOD providers have the same terms for viewing (ie: 30 days and 24 hours after starting viewing, rentals 30 days after DVD release, etc.). But they don't seem to provide the same content to all services. Who knows. Maybe DirecTV paid more money for the DD movies.

Here's one for you: When I had Dish Network, they had DD5.1 movies on PPV. But not every showing of those movies were in DD5.1. Why would that be???

Again, an answer that is unknown to the little people.

For some reason, someone seems to have a bug up their butt about Directv. I'm now seriously thinking about giving him a years subscription to Directv for Christmas!

The bug where the sun don't shine is because in this thread, the "praises" of DirecTV have been sung so much. That's why. Why don't I want DirecTV? Because I want to watch movies in a rainstorm! I think DirecTV has gotten overly positive treatment when in reality, I don't think they really matter. In order to get all their wonderful movies, you have to get all their wonderful equipment and subscription to all their wonderful channels. With Vudu I can use it with any internet provider and I can have any TV subscription or lack thereof that I want.

I've also pointed out differences between VUDU and ATV in other posts, where I have I listed available titles from ATV without being accused of being an ATV salesperson.

My take was that you feel DirecTV has a lot of positive things over Vudu. That's what it sounds like...

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Why don't I want DirecTV? Because I want to watch movies in a rainstorm!

That one is just tough for me to relate to. It doesn't sleet nor snow or rain down here in San Diego! I talk to our postman every day and he's a very happy man.

My take was that you feel DirecTV has a lot of positive things over Vudu. That's what it sounds like...

Well I think if you review your own posts about ATV and ReplayTV but substitute my name with them, then I think you would come to the same conclusion.

I think the reason it comes across that way is because I have intimate experience with Directv and Netflix. So it's easy for me use them as points of comparision to try and provide "constructive" criticism of VUDU's offering.

My only goal is to push for things that makes VUDU competitive for my money. I can only speak from my personal perspective and not any other VUDU customer. That's up to the VUDU marketing department to do that.

I think I'm fair in that I also serve praise to VUDU when I think it's deserved.

Best Regards
Bob

(BTW so do you want the 1 year subscription or not?? I've read that spraying RainX on the dish solves the problem to some degree. )

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Well I think if you review your own posts about ATV and ReplayTV but substitute my name with them, then I think you would come to the same conclusion.

Dunno. ReplayTV isn't a competing service and I've been highly critical of the shortcoming of ATV.

But perhaps I'm not being fair. Maybe I'm just tired of little activity in here and am bored with reading about DirecTV. I really don't #%&#$(#@ care!

(BTW so do you want the 1 year subscription or not?? I've read that spraying RainX on the dish solves the problem to some degree. )

Sure. I'll take it! I never refuse free things.

But RainX won't work. The problem isn't rain on the dish. It's the fact that the incoming satellite signal scatters off the rain drops. That's the issue...