DirecTV vs. Time Warner Cable: Let the Smackdown Begin

As you can see above, DirecTV is hoping to capitalize on the confusion surrounding Time Warner Cable's takeover of much of the Los Angeles market. The cable company is bracing for irritated customers in the coming weeks, as it shuffles channel lineups to create a uniform service throughout the region (including former Adelphia and Comcast customers).

But DirecTV has its own limitations, such as no video on demand offerings just yet. And because the service carries mostly east coast feeds of national cable networks, primetime on those channels comes on at 5 p.m. here -- too early for us working stiffs -- and if you're flipping around at 11 p.m., you'll find mostly infomercials everywhere you turn (because it's 2 a.m. -- informerical time -- on the east coast). It'll make for an interesting competition.