DirecTV is rolling out a new feature that will give multiple people in the same household the ability to record shows and get personalized content and channel recommendations on an individualized basis.
Starting this month, DirecTV will allow customers to create up to five individual user profiles through DirecTV’s streaming platform. Each user profile will have its own dedicated and unlimited cloud DVR, as well as personalized content and channel recommendations based on their viewing habits.
“The growing fragmentation of content across multiple apps and video services means it is increasingly more difficult for customers, especially with multiple at-home users, to find the shows and games they want,” said Devin Merrill, the Senior Vice President for Product Marketing at DirecTV.
“DirecTV’s user profiles declutters the experience by providing users in the same household who stream DirecTV with a personalized view of the entertainment or sports content they love the most, all in one place, including scores and stats for their favorite teams,” Merrill affirmed.
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User profiles are rolling out to DirecTV’s two online-based products: DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream. The services both allow customers to watch and record live broadcast and cable channels delivered through the web. DirecTV via Internet offers the same channels as the satellite-based service, along with dozens of streaming-only channels, and includes an Internet-connected set-top box, though customers can also use the DirecTV app to watch channels and recorded content.
DirecTV Stream also allows customers to watch and record live TV, but doesn’t require them to lease or purchase any extra equipment. Instead, the service allows customers with Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV (Google TV), Apple TV and some smart TVs to use their existing hardware with DirecTV Stream. The service offers many of the same channels as DirecTV via Internet.
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A person familiar with the rollout said the user profiles will be subject to the same simultaneous stream limitations. On DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream, most customers can watch live TV on an unlimited number of devices when they’re at home (except when they watch Starz, NHL Network or channels owned by Fox, which are always limited to three streams), and on two or three devices when they’re on the go, depending on the type of device.
Purchases made through DirecTV via Internet or DirecTV Stream are available across all user profiles, including premium networks like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and MGM Plus, as well as on-demand movie rentals.
While DirecTV via Satellite customers can watch live TV through the DirecTV app with an account login and password, DirecTV said the user profiles feature is not available for satellite-based customers right now.
DirecTV becomes the latest streaming TV provider to offer different user profiles connected to a single account. Comparable services like Philo, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV also allow a primary account holder to share their service with multiple members of their family or immediate household, though they typically do not offer the same breadth of local channels and regional sports networks that DirecTV is known for.
