DIRECTV’s New GameSearch™ Technology
DIRECTV scores another first in sports broadcasting technology with GameSearch™, a new search-engine based technology that illuminates the problem of local sports game blackouts for frustrated fans. When a DIRECTV receiver is tuned-in to a channel with a blacked-out game, GameSearch™ recognizes the blackout and immediately looks to see if the game is on another channel.
Sports blackouts, a long time source of frustration and confusion for sports fans, occur when a sporting event is not televised in a certain market to protect the teams, the sports leagues, and the stations, who are the rights-holders to the game broadcast. Regardless of the specific sport or league, the end result is always the same - perplexed fans frustrated at the inability to view their desired game broadcast.
GameSearch will automatically recognize when the DIRECTV receiver is tuned-in to a channel with a sports blackout. The search engine will immediately scan the DIRECTV channel lineup to find alternative channels that may be broadcasting the blacked-out game. If a non-blacked out broadcast of the game is found, GameSearch displays an on-screen message giving the viewer the option to tune in to that channel. If a non-blacked out version is not available, an on-screen message will let the viewer know the game is not available. When a game is scheduled to be recorded on a DVR, GameSearch will find the game that is not in black-out and automatically record it.
