How to Use on Demand With Directv Now

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I signed up to DirecTV because they had a really good On Demand service, and I heard that their streaming service had been getting a lot of good content lately.

Installation was quick, and I could start watching channels and using their streaming service with my new AT&T internet minutes after I finished setting the whole thing up.

But I couldn't find the On Demand service.

I checked the manual and found nothing, and browsing through its menus didn't help either.

To get to the bottom of this and watch On Demand, I contacted DirecTV and looked through some user forums to find out more.

I compiled this guide based on the research I did online.

To get On Demand on DIRECTV, append the number 1 to the front end of the channel number you want to watch On Demand content for.

What is DIRECTV On Demand?

DIRECTV On Demand is DIRECTV's VOD service that lets you watch the content that you want, whenever you want.

Most channels have VOD programming on DIRECTV, and the easiest way to access them is to add 1 to the front of the channel number.

The On Demand service is free for anyone with a DIRECTV subscription, so that means if you are on DIRECTV right now, you can use On Demand as well.

You just need to make sure your DVR has HD support and you have access to a good internet connection.

What Can You Watch on DIRECTV On Demand?

DIRECTV On Demand lets you access all On Demand programming from all the channels in your package.

This includes thousands of movies, TV shows, and documentaries.

You can stream what you want to watch or record it so that you can watch it later.

There's also a queue where content that's currently not available goes to but will be downloaded when it becomes available.

With DIRECTV CINEMA, you can also watch the newest movies releasing.

Use your remote, call or text, or order online to watch them with the CINEMA add-on.

Since its an On Demand service, DIRECTV On Demand requires an internet connection to work.

I'd recommend going with the connection DIRECTV On Demand is bundled with.

Is DIRECTV On Demand Free?

DIRECTV On Demand is free for all DIRECTV subscribers.

Even if you have the lowest tier plan, you can access On Demand by appending 1 to the front of most channels.

From there, you can select the content you wish to watch and either download or stream right then and there.

Difference Between On Demand and Pay Per View

Pay-per-view or PPV is the premier choice for sports fans, so paying only when you want to watch a match makes sense.

On the other hand, On Demand charges you a fixed amount every month for the feature regardless of how much you use the service.

DIRECTV On Demand needs no extra charges because it is bundled with your DIRECTV package, but watching PPV on your DIRECTV connection requires paying for each view.

PPV delivers live content and, as a result, is more suitable for sports.

On Demand delivers content such as movies and TV shows to you regardless of a set schedule.

PPV relies on the time schedule, and after the event is over, you can no longer watch it through PPV.

Get a DIRECTV HD DVR

To access On Demand, DIRECTV needs you to have an HD DVR.

If you have one of the Genie models, you are good to go.

If you have an older DVR or the 1st gen Genie (HR34), which does not have WiFi, AT&T will ask you to install a Cinema Connection Kit (CCK).

This kit connects your older DVR to the internet without the need for WiFi.

Of course, you can still ask DIRECTV to upgrade your old DVR to the newest model, but if you are fine with your current hardware, you can get the CCK installed.

DIRECTV has quite a few models of HD DVRs, including a TiVO branded one, but they have unified all their receivers and DVRs into the Genie lineup.

If you request an upgrade, you would be getting one of these.

Connect the DVR to the Internet

The first step to accessing On Demand is to connect your HD DVR to the internet.

To do this:

Press the Menu button on your remote control.
Go to Settings > Network Setup
Choose Connect Now.
Wait for the DVR to check for an internet connection. You can click Set Up Wireless if it finds a connection.
If you have a router with a WPS button, choose Setup and press the WPS button on your router.
1. If you don't have a WPS button, choose Set Up Wireless and select your WiFi network.
Enter the password and hit Continue.

Ensure that You Have an Active DIRECTV Package

All DIRECTV packages include On Demand free of cost, so make sure your package is active.

Pay off any dues from earlier months if you have any.

Its more convenient to get an internet connection from DIRECTV since monitoring data usage will be easier if all data is consumed on the same hardware.

If it is not, contact DIRECTV and let them know that you need it activated.

Browse Through the Options and Select What You Want to Stream

To access the On Demand features, append the number 1 to the front of a channel number.

For example, Comedy Central West is on Channel 249; to access their On Demand content, go to channel number 1249.

The HD DVR will navigate to the On Demand channel, from where you can select the content from the channel that you choose.

From here, you have the option to either watch now or download for later.

Getting On Demand on DIRECTV Now

You can also access all the On Demand content from the channels you have subscribed to from DIRECTV Now.

Go to the home screen of the app and navigate to Movies.

Scroll down to find the network of your choice from which you can find the movies you want to watch.

You can also use the search function to look for content as well.

Make sure the channel you want to watch On Demand content from is included in your package.

How "On Demand" is it?

Streaming performance on DIRECTV On Demand was able to keep up with all of the 1080p content that I watched.

Watching on 4K went mostly without hiccups, and the issues that I had could be chalked up to my internet speed going down.

Overall, DIRECTV performed well in my tests.

Action movies looked good and didn't blur the image when a lot was going on, and the sound was great on my Dolby sound system.

Content also loaded quite quickly; the only place where it struggled a bit was when I tried streaming 4K content.

Final Thoughts

After I got DIRECTV's all-inclusive package, the number of remotes in the house has only increased.

I still had an AV receiver, TV, and the new DVR to control, and it was cluttering up my living room.

A simple solution for this to get a universal remote that has RF blaster support.

After I got one for myself, my TV-watching experience was streamlined to just that single remote.

I could control my TV, DVR, and the receiver with a single remote, which felt liberating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my On Demand not work?

Contact DIRECTV to check if there aren't any outages in the area.

Also, try restarting the receiver as well as your router.

How do I fix DIRECTV on demand?

To fix issues with On Demand, hold the Red reset button on the side of the receiver.

Let the receiver restart and do the process again to reboot it twice.

Where is the power button on my DIRECTV box?

For older models, check for a door that you can open.

Inside is a red button that lets you restart the box.

For newer models, check the back or sides of the box for a red button.

Does DIRECTV have a streaming app?

DIRECTV does have a streaming app called DIRECTV App.

To use the app, you need a Genie HD DVR (HR44 or later) to register the phone on which the app is installed.

How to Use on Demand With Directv Now

Source: https://robotpoweredhome.com/on-demand-directv/

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