Turning Toward Streaming, DirecTV App Integrated Into Vizio Smart TVs

These days, all of the big names in the television business are trying to complete their transition to streaming. At the same time, some streaming companies are trying to bring back the good old days with bundles and linear channels. 

The satellite TV business might have an even more questionable future than cable. To have a future DirecTV is shifting its focus to streaming and offering its customers a choice of smaller bundles tailored to their interests (Hint: there’s a lot of interest in sports). For the consumer, these smaller bundles promise a somewhat lower pricetag than the old big bundle or the increasingly pricey collection of must-have streaming services. Seems only fair.

To make access to its streaming product more convenient for consumers, DirecTV has entered the app environment and starting today (Monday) the DirecTV app will be available directly on smart TVs from Vizio, which is owned by Walmart.

Getting integrated into smart TV sets is a new distribution mandate, just like in the old days when getting cable carriage was life or death for programmers. It also means quicker obsolescence for those rooftop satellite dishes.

The integration comes with football season underway and with the NBA set to tip off in a few weeks. For sports fan a “Your TV” carousel in the app puts favorite teams, score updates, live statistics, recent channels watched and personalized recommendations front and center. 

“Consumers want control over when, where, and how they watch,” said Vikash Sharma, head of product at DirecTV. “We’re continuing to deliver more choice and flexibility by making DirecTV available on more devices. With DirecTV on Vizio Smart TVs, viewers can quickly and directly access live channels and on-demand favorites—all within a premium app experience.” 

DirecTV says its streaming app gives viewers access to live sports and news, plus a library of more than 100,000 on-demand shows and movies. 

Consumers with an urge to focus on smaller bundles can choose from Genre Packs, with channels featuring sports, or movies or family programming or lifestyle entertainment.

There is also MyFree, a collection of ad supported channels that can be access at no charge (or free).

Vizio, as you may recall, also offers it own collection of free programming under the Watch Free+ banner.

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Comscore made a deal to provide TV media data to Tenetic, a new company that delivers real-time insights to advertising buyers and sellers. 

Tenetic was formed earlier this year by industry veterans Tod Johnson, Bill Livek and Chirs Wilson. It uses artificial intelligence to make information from sources including 15 million online shopping occasions per month, info on 3,500 brands and 80 million mobile devices into something useful for people planning and executing campaigns.

The Comscore viewing data will be a part of an always-on platform Tenetic is planning that will offer a view into purchase intent, brand sentiment, media consumption and shopping activity.

“With this integration, the industry can take advantage of the opportunities before them to move at the speed of the market,” says Tenetic CEO Chris Wilson, a former Comscore executive. “Our partnership with Comscore will provide the market not only with comprehensive TV media and viewership data but also ‘in the moment’ consumer insights to make planning and selling more efficient, effective and produce better returns.”

Comscore points out that it is the only MRC-accredited national and local TV service, including for ‘households with’ age and gender demos.

“This partnership with Tenetic is a powerful demonstration of how local linear television insights can unlock new value when paired with real-time qualitative data,” said Steve Bagdasarian, Chief Commercial Officer, Comscore. “As the only provider both locally and nationally accredited, including for households with age and gender demos, Comscore is best placed to drive smarter insights for buyers and sellers.”