DirecTV testing 'receiver-less' Home Media Center

Satellite TV provider DirecTV recently started testing its Home Media Center, a client/server-based technology that allows users to experience a server-generated user interface on various consumer electronics devices, without the need for set-top boxes on each device.

DirecTV said it plans to begin rolling out the "RVU" technology to customers this year; its current test includes 150 homes.

The RVU specification uses UPnP and DLNA technologies to enable a gateway device such as an advanced set-top box to work with non-proprietary client devices such as connected TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes.

"The DirecTV Home Media Center is going to simplify the way our customers watch television throughout their homes and give them access, not only to their favorite content in HD and DVR functionality on each television, but to a consistent, feature-rich user interface, no matter what room they are in," said Romulo Pontual, executive vice president and CTO for DirecTV.

For more:
- see this release

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