The story
History
Hughes Electronics
In 1953, Howard Hughes created the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), to which he transferred full ownership of Hughes Aircraft. Following Hughes' death in 1976, HHMI was incorporated in 1977, and litigation ensued to determine whether it would be allowed to maintain its interest in Hughes Aircraft. In 1984, the court appointed a new board for HHMI, which proceeded to sell off Hughes Aircraft to General Motors on December 20, 1985, for an estimated $5.1 billion. General Motors then merged Hughes Aircraft with its subsidiary Delco Electronics to create Hughes Electronics Corporation.
USSB
Stanley E. Hubbard founded United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB) and was a leading proponent for the development of direct-broadcast satellite service in the United States. HHMI and other companies believed in the early 1990s that technology would soon make digital satellite television affordable.
In the 1990s, Hubbard teamed up with Thomson Consumer Electronics and Hughes Electronics to come up with a practical digital satellite service capable of 175 channels; Hughes Electronics created DirecTV as a separate division and secured an agreement with USSB to build and launch the first high-power direct-broadcast satellite system.
Direct satellite broadcasters were mandated in 1992 to set aside 4% of its channel space for noncommercial educational and informational programming. DirecTV selected C-SPAN, EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network from its current channel lineup, plus additional proposals from other programmers. DirecTV selected an additional six channels for the mandate: Clara+Vision, Inspirational Life, NASA TV, PBS YOU, StarNet and WorldLink TV.
The USSB and DirecTV programming services were launched on June 17, 1994. (The service had been test-marketed in a limited number of areas preceding the national launch.)
DirecTV
DirecTV soon began to expand after its initial launch; in December 1998, DirecTV acquired USSB for $1.3 billion, and combined the two satellite services. In 1999, DirecTV acquired PrimeStar, a competitor in the satellite television industry, for $1.83 billion, dramatically increasing its share of the satellite television market in the US.
On January 31, 2004, Hughes announced its intent to focus solely on its satellite television operations and divest its other interests, renaming itself The DirecTV Group, Inc. on March 16, 2004, and changing its ticker symbol from "HS" to "DTV". In April of that year, it sold its controlling interest in PanAmSat to a private consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $3.53 billion. On April 22, 2005, DirecTV spun off Hughes Network Systems into a separate entity and sold 50% of the new entity to SkyTerra, acquiring $157.4 million in the transaction. DirecTV later sold its remaining 50% share in Hughes Network Systems to SkyTerra for $100 million.
On November 1, 2005, DirecTV made its foray with its first original series, CD US, on Freeview. In December 2005, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission imposed a $5.3 million penalty on DirecTV for its violations of federal telemarketing regulations. It was the largest civil penalty the FTC had ever announced in a case enforcing any consumer protection law.
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In September 2008, consumers filed a class action lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court to stop DirecTV's practice of charging early cancellation penalties to subscribers. A motion for a preliminary injunction was filed to block the company from automatically removing the fees from customers' bank accounts or charging their credit card accounts without their prior knowledge and written consent. In 2009, the Washington Attorney General's office filed a civil complaint against DirecTV, finding that the company allegedly engaged in numerous repeated violations of the state's Consumer Protection Act. Violations included: unclear rebate terms and conditions, unfair advertisement, and automatically extending customer contracts.
On February 9, 2010, DirecTV dropped Sirius XM Radio and replaced the channel lineup with Sonic Tap audio stations. On April 1, 2011, DirecTV announced it would be renaming its three Fox Sports Networks channels as Root Sports.
The case brought by Washington state was settled in December 2010, with DirecTV agreeing to pay over $1 million. DirecTV subsequently settled a similar suit with the other 49 states and the District of Columbia for $13.25 million.
In July 2012, DirecTV had a major contract dispute with Viacom, leading to channels such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central to be taken off the air temporarily. In their place, a message appeared on screen reading as follows: "Viacom, the owner of this channel, forced DirecTV to suspend it despite our many requests to keep it on. We are working to bring it back as soon as possible without an unfair increase to your bill. Disruptions like this are brief. Go to DirecTVPromise.com for the latest info." DirecTV executive Derek Chang said to the media "We have been very willing to get a deal done, but Viacom is pushing DirecTV customers to pay more than a 30 percent increase, which equates to an extra $1 billion..." He then said that he couldn't accept Viacom's "extravagant financial demands." Denise Denson, Viacom's Executive Vice President of Content Distribution and Marketing, responded by mentioning how DirecTV refused to speak with Viacom past 11 am. Tuesday, saying that DirecTV's last offer to the company was "lower than anyone else pays us in the industry." The channels were only down for a few days, as contract negotiations were quickly settled after the channels were removed.
On March 11, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against DIRECTV for deceptive advertising. The FTC claimed that DIRECTV failed to properly disclose terms of its TV packages, such as contractual obligations and premiums.
On March 1, 2016, AT&T announced plans for several DirecTV-branded over-the-top services, including AT&T TV, DIRECTV Mobile, and DIRECTV Preview to be offered under one platform called DirecTV Now. The platform launched on November 30, 2016, and was directly competing against Sling TV. DirecTV was bought under the same umbrella as HBO, Cinemax, Turner Broadcasting System, Warner Bros., and Telepictures when AT&T bought Time Warner for over $80 billion in 2016.
In January 2022, the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission announced that DirecTV would serve as Presenting Sponsor of The Chairman's Party, a Super Bowl after-party inside SoFi Stadium.
DirecTV completed its national rollout of local PBS member stations in February 2022. Nearly 250 local PBS stations in 198 Nielsen DMAs were added that reach 99% of all U.S. TV homes.
In February 2023, DirecTV presented and sponsored the third annual American Cornhole League (ACL) Pro Shootout Series, where Tyler Lockett represented DirecTV. DirecTV launched a brand campaign, "Overly Direct Spokesperson," starring Brian Cox in April of that year; this was part of its new brand strategy platform, "Entertainment Without Compromise".
DirecTV launched its satellite-free "For the Birds" streaming brand campaign, featuring Henry Winkler and Steve Buscemi, in February 2024. Deion Sanders joined the marketing campaign in August 2024.
MyFree DirecTV, a free streaming service, was launched in November 2024. MyFree DirecTV provides access to the FAST platform as well as an On-Demand library for free with commercials. The service is available on DirecTV Gemini devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV.
DirecTV MySports, a streaming sports bundle, officially launched in January 2025; the new Genre Pack offers 40 live channels and ESPN+ that do not require a satellite TV subscription. It secured rights to channels owned by the former partners in Venu Sports and Comcast's NBCUniversal, plus the broadcast rights to the major US sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB as well as major collegiate conferences. Other national sports channels available through DirecTV MySports include: ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Golf Channel, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, TruTV, and USA Network.
In February 2025, DirecTV launched additional Genre Packs, a live TV streaming subscription where users can select from multiple programming options based on the types of content consumers prefer. As of April 2025, there are four Genre Pack options available: MyEntertainment, MyNews, MySports and MiEspañol. Consumers of any Genre Pack also gain access to 100+ channels available through MyFree DirecTV.
In March 2025, DirecTV announced the launch of MyHome Team including RSNs. MyHome Team is available to MySports customers and features locally available live sports and in-market games from 37 professional franchises in the U.S. including 12 MLB teams, 15 NBA teams and 10 NHL teams.
Ownership
On April 9, 2003, News Corporation, the then-parent company of 20th Century Fox (now known as 20th Century Studios) and Fox Television Studios, agreed to purchase a 34% controlling interest in Hughes, including GM's entire share of the company, for $6.6 billion, subject to SEC approval. The FCC voted 3–2 along party lines on December 19, 2003, to approve the deal subject to conditions, forcing News Corp. to agree to arbitration for all disputes with carriers of its media broadcasters, and to provide content through DirecTV neutrally rather than favoring its own networks.
On December 13, 2007, DirecTV purchased most of the assets of ReplayTV from D&M Holdings.
News Corporation transferred its 38.5% controlling interest in The DirecTV Group, four regional Fox Sports Net stations, and $550 million cash to Liberty Media in exchange for Liberty's 19% interest in News Corp. The deal, valued at $11 billion, was approved by News Corp. shareholders in 2008.
On May 4, 2009, Liberty announced that it would split off Liberty Entertainment, Inc., and Liberty's 65% interest in Game Show Network, into a separate company to be merged with The DirecTV Group. The merger was completed on November 19, 2009, with The DirecTV Group and Liberty Entertainment becoming subsidiaries of a new company named DirecTV, and PepsiCo executive Michael White as its CEO.
In June 2013, DirecTV purchased Pennsylvania-based LifeShield, a maker of wireless home security systems, with plans to market the systems to its customers.
On May 18, 2014, AT&T announced that it would purchase DirecTV for approximately $67.1 billion. The acquisition was officially approved by the FCC in 2015; it was subject to conditions for four years, requiring AT&T to expand its fiber-optic broadband service to additional customers, public libraries, and schools, and to "refrain from imposing discriminatory usage-based allowances or other discriminatory retail terms and conditions on its broadband internet service".
DirecTV adopted a new logo in December 2015, replacing its previous emblem with that of AT&T. AT&T CFO John Stephens stated that DirecTV's larger subscriber base as a national service gave the service a higher degree of leverage in negotiating carriage deals, thus resulting in lower content costs.
On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin-off DirecTV, including satellite, streaming and U-Verse TV, into a separate entity, selling a 30% stake to TPG Inc., while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal closed on August 2, 2021, with Bill Morrow as CEO. Soon after, DirecTV's "Get Your TV Together" ad campaign launched, which featured Serena Williams and cast members of The Real Housewives alongside NFL players.
On September 30, 2024, AT&T announced that they would sell their remaining 70% stake to TPG Inc. for $7.6 billion, splitting the company off from AT&T for the first time since 2015. The sale was finalized on July 2, 2025, completing AT&T's abolition of its television business (excluding U-verse TV) and leaving TPG Inc. with 100% ownership of DirecTV.
On September 30, 2024, DirecTV also announced plans to acquire rival Dish Network from EchoStar with the intent to support the Dish brand for the foreseeable future; however, DirecTV abandoned the deal due to opposition from EchoStar bondholders.
Access card history
DirecTV transmits programming with encryption to mitigate signal piracy. The receiver (also known as an IRD, or "integrated receiver-decoder") uses ISO/IEC 7816 smart cards which tell the receiver how to decrypt the programming for viewing. In a continuing effort to combat piracy, an access card generation is created approximately every two years, superseding the old set. DirecTV is now using the fifth generation of access cards.
P1, also known as F cards, were used until 1997. F cards have a picture of a satellite and the DSS logo on the front.
P2, also known as H cards, were introduced in 1996 and eventually replaced F cards. H cards look the same as F cards. H cards were in use until 2002.
P3, also known as HU cards, were introduced in 1999 and were used until April 2004. HU cards have a picture of a football player, a basketball, a clapperboard, and a film canister on the front. HU cards originally shipped with receivers with serial numbers above 0001 700 000. These were removed from circulation because piracy plagued the system.
P4 cards were introduced in 2002 and are currently still in use. P4 cards are labeled "Access Card: 4."
D1 cards were introduced in 2004 following compatibility problems with the P4 cards in some receivers. These cards can be identified by the silver edges, and simply bear the word "DirecTV" on the front (no number). Usually found on DirecTV TiVo Series 2 DVRs (DirecTiVos), the D10 and H10 series receivers.
D2/P12 cards were introduced in 2005. D2 cards can be identified by a two-toned blue dot pattern resembling the DirecTV logo in addition to the DirecTV logo and the words "DirecTV Access Card," while the P12 card has a picture of a satellite on the front. The P12 card is the only card that will work with R15, H20, and HR20 series receivers.
O cards are the current "standard issue" card. They can be identified with the words "Now part of the AT&T family."
DirecTV has battled with an active signal piracy underground for many years. One infamous event that temporarily hampered pirates was known as 'Black Sunday', which took place one week before Super Bowl Sunday in 2001. Hackers saw a string of software updates starting in late 2000 which each contained a few innocuous bytes. However, when the innocuous bytes from all those updates were combined, they became code that searched for and destroyed 98% of hacked smart cards and then wrote the text "GAME OVER" to the first 8 bytes of the hacked cards memory. Hacks continued after that event.
From Wikipedia’s article on DirecTV, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.6