If you travel a lot, or even have a long commute, you'll know just how important it is to receive weather alerts that are updated by the minute. If this type of broadcasting is important to you, you need DIRECTV. Now if you subscribe to DIRECTV’s interactive programming, you get up to speed weather information from The Weather Channel® (TWC). New features, like severe weather alerts, weather information that is specific to your zip code, and a “Local on Demand” service, are sure to keep you informed through the DIRECTV ACTIVE™ portal that is just recently designed.

The Executive Vice President of Distribution and Business Affairs and General Counsel for the Weather Channel, Becky Powhatan, said, “Working with partners to provide up to the minute localized weather content through new technologies has been a hallmark of The Weather Channel.” She added, “DIRECTV and its cutting edge applications are a natural fit for TWC, and DIRECTV viewers will reap the benefit, gaining access to the relevant weather information-including severe weather alerts-on TWC during 'Local on the 8s,' 'Local On Demand,' or through the DIRECTV ACTIVE portal.”

The “ Local on the 8s” application let's you view zip code specific weather options, six times each hour, at ten minute segments, for example, at 1:08, 1:18, etc. You can also save five zip codes as favorites, while still watching live TWC programming. This programming is all on top of other amazing features, like Alert Ticker, and DIRECTV ACTIVE™.

Executive Vice President of DIRECTV Entertainment, Eric Shanks, said, “DIRECTV has made a commitment to our customers to help them be better prepared for a weather emergency.” He added, “Providing this new alert product plus the ability to pull up a variety of local on demand weather information from The Weather Channel are ways we hope to deliver on that commitment.” Now you can experience it for yourself, when you choose DIRECTV.

For the avid sports fan, there is nothing more annoying than blackouts in sports programming, keeping you from watching your favorite local games. Now DirecTV offers GameSearch™, which will automatically direct you to a channel that is broadcasting the same game, whenever a blackout happens. GameSearch uses technology similar to search engines, so the GameSearch program recognizes when a blackout occurs on a tuned-in channel, and then instantly searches DirecTV for a similar program.

Blackouts are unfortunate occurrences that happen when conflicting right holders battle within a select market, resulting in the event not being televised. These right holders can be teams, stations, or sports leagues, who all have an interest in the way the game is broadcasted. However, this can be extremely frustrating to the viewer, when they can do nothing about it. The Game Search program will give you the option to change channels if an alternative broadcast is found, but it will alert you if no games are found that match your criteria. If you set the DVR to record a game, then GameSearch will automatically switch to an available channel when a blackout occurs.

Because the problem cannot be solved on their end, DirecTV is offering a different kind of solution. Though the blackout will persist, you can now immediately see what other channels are offering the same sports programming. The Executive Vice President of DirecTV Entertainment, Eric Shanks, said “Blackouts have always been the bane of sports fans and while we can't make them go away, we can be the first to make it easier for fans, who have been left in the dark, to find their game if it's being broadcast on another channel.” He added, “Like our HD and interactive services, GameSearch is another DirecTV technological innovation developed in response to what our customers want and what will provide them with the ultimate viewing experience.” GameSearch is an amazing technology that is available now, free of charge, to DirecTV customers.

With the future direction of our nation hanging on the outcome, the presidential debates are now more important than ever. DirecTV will offer an interactive programming option that is sure to keep you up to date and knowledgeable on the proceedings. Revolutionizing the way we watch the election reportage is the Election Mix Channel, which will allow the viewer to watch eight network feeds at the same time. This will also boast a real-time election blog that keeps you abreast of announcements and the political breakdown of each channel.

The simplified version of this is: You can watch eight different channels covering the election proceedings, all on one screen. You can highlight one of the channels to hear the audio, and if you select a channel, you can then watch that one full screen. The blog keeps you current with exit polling, counted votes, and projections on each channel. Four of the leading news channels will be displayed in your feed, namely, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and Comedy Central or BBC America (interchanging when doing live reportage), and four major broadcast networks. At the bottom, so you are even more connected, is a blog with news, quotes, contests, and results from analysts and even the candidates.

This technology stems from the same engineering as in DirecTV’s sports programming. It is available in high definition and standard broadcasting, so you can get the most out of the experience. Beginning at 7 o’clock p.m. EST on November 4th, until 6 o’clock a.m. EST, the Election Mix Channel will be available until the end after the election for the president has taken place.

Now you can get all the news you want in one convenient location. The Election Mix Channel means minimal hassle for you, with full coverage and updated information on the political election.