DirecTV Announces Portible Receiver/TV Combo

Posted Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Going where no other television service provider has gone before, DirecTV, the nation's leading digital satellite television service, is introducing the world's first fully-integrated, portable satellite and TV system – DirecTV Sat-Go (Satellite-To-Go). This new product, created by DirecTV and Rick Rosner, producer of TV's legendary "CHiPs", was unveiled today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Scheduled to launch in spring 2007, DirecTV Sat-Go will come in an easy-to-carry, briefcase-like design that includes a 17-inch LCD monitor with integrated DirecTV Receiver, flat antenna and replaceable/rechargeable laptop-style battery. Once the DirecTV Sat-Go unit is opened, its quick and simple setup makes it easy for customers to find line-of-sight with DirecTV satellites and receive DirecTV programming within minutes (provided the user is within range of the DirecTV signal).

DirecTV Sat-Go is specifically designed to be compact and highly portable for a variety of outdoor and indoor settings, including camping and hiking trips, RVing, tailgating, college dormitories, hospital rooms, hotels/motels, emergency response, and in-home as a second TV set.

"DirecTV Sat-Go will revolutionize the way people stay connected to news and information no matter where they are in the United States," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DirecTV Entertainment. "Not only is this product a die-hard sports fan's dream and an absolute essential for the ultimate tailgate party, but it will also provide an important value for emergency services who need to stay connected to up-to-the-minute news and information while they are stationed remotely."

DirectTV Sat-Go was conceived by television producer and first DirecTV West Coast customer, Rick Rosner. Rosner, who was trying to find an alternative to bringing his DIRECTV Dish and Receiver with him while traveling to different location shoots across the country (although IMBD claims Rosner hasn't produced or written a movie or TV show since "CHiPs '99" in 1999), teamed up with DirecTV engineer, David Kuether, to develop the DirecTV Sat-Go prototype.

Combining DirecTV's recent hardware track record with Rosner's recent Hollywood success should lead to a product nearly as exciting as the prospect of Al Sharpton running for president again.

"Lugging that equipment with me and trying to set it up in my hotel room was exhausting and I knew there had to be a better way to bring my DirecTV service with me everywhere I went," said Rosner, producer, Rosner Television. "DirecTV Sat-Go is the answer that I, others in the industry, and many travelers have been searching for. It delivers everything my DirecTV System at home gives me – the ultimate in TV viewing – in a portable and affordable travel system. Now I can take DirecTV with me wherever I go and watch television in minutes."

When not being used as a portable/ travel unit, DirecTV Sat-Go can also be utilized as a stand-alone, in-home DirecTV Receiver and television. The LCD TV screen has a built-in DirecTV Receiver, which can be separated from the DIRECTV Sat-Go antenna casing and connected to a customer's existing DirecTV Satellite Dish.

Current DirecTV customers can mirror the authorized DirecTV® programming that they receive at home to their DirecTV Sat-Go receivers for an additional $4.99 per month.