PPV glitches worry DirecTV subs

By VARIETY STAFF

Technical glitches that have afflicted satcaster DirecTV's digitally delivered system during the past 10 days prevented a block of subscribers from taping movies purchased from pay-per-view, spurring fears that the service had installed anti-taping technology similar to that encoded into some videos.

However, DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci stressed Tuesday the company has no such tape-blocking system in effect, and that subscribers who were unable to videotape movies were victimized by a signal-blocking device that had been inadvertently activated over the weekend.

"This device is designed to protect certain copyrighted material," Marsocci said. "We corrected the problem that same day."

DirecTV has been struck with at least two other systemwide outages since the month began. But Marsocci assured that none of the glitches surround the implementation of any anti-taping system.

Film studios have reportedly been pressuring pay-per-view outlets like DirecTV to implement technology that would prevent movie duplication off TV, maintaining that the ability to tape movies cuts into PPV buys as well as video sales and rentals.

Video dealers still typically maintain a 60-day or 90-day exclusivity window on films released to video before distribution via PPV.