DirecTV is owned by DirecTV Group, which is controlled by Liberty Media.

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

General information

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 K_u-band and K_a-band. After the new satellite, DirecTV 11, is fully operational DirecTV will stop supplying Dual, Triple, and 5-LNB dishes to all customers and move to Supplying a 3-LNB Ka/Ku dish known as the Slimline3. This dish will see orbital locations 99, 101, and 103 Degrees West. The Slimline3 will be the new standard install dish(For HD and SD programming), while the 5-LNB Slimline will be used for installs in areas that receive local or international programming form orbital locations 110 or 119. The Slimline3 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, aside from a smaller LNB.

The new DirecTV HD channels require an H20/HR20 or H21/HR21 set top box (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 HR20 and HR21 are HD digital video recorder (DVR) models.

Some of the new STBs support the ATSC standard (for over-the-air broadcasts); however the H21/HR21 does not have an ATSC tuner, but an external tuner is available. In addition, there is HDMI support for HDTVs with an HDMI port. New STBs also support MPEG-4 standard for HD Programming.

DirecTV is expected to offer new equipment in 2008 such as the AM21, an ATSC add-on for the HR21, the HR21-Pro, an HD-DVR for more recording space (100 hours HD, 400 hours SD), a DVR scheduler, and the HDPC-20, a PC type receiver and DVR for computers.

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.DirecTV Group Form 10-K, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, dated 1 March 2007, URL retrieved 26 March 2007 2006 revenues were US$14.76 billion.