With the launch of its new Advanced Entertainment Platform (AEP), DirecTV is set to transform the in-room experience for hotel guests by offering a highly customizable and personalized TV service. The AEP allows hotels to tailor the interface with their own brand logos, background colors, streaming services, and on-demand content, creating a clean slate that reflects the unique identity of each property.
At the core of DirecTV’s AEP is Google’s TV software, leveraging Google TV’s robust platform to enhance guest entertainment. Reports suggest that DirecTV and Google are targeting a 2026 release for this hotel-focused streaming solution.
### Google TV and DirecTV Partnership
In a recent document, DirecTV outlined its vision to help hoteliers improve visitor experiences through the AEP. The platform not only offers popular live TV channels, streaming services, and on-demand content powered by Android TV OS, but also provides opportunities for deep customization. Hotels can personalize the home screen with their brand’s logo, colors, images, and a custom welcome message, delivering a more engaging and cohesive guest interface.
Moreover, the AEP’s Partner Program enables hotels to “layer” unique features for their guests. Beyond entertainment, visitors can access practical information such as hotel hours, restaurant and spa schedules, gym times, and even menus for in-house dining — all controllable via the TV remote.
### Enhanced Privacy and Personalization
A key highlight of the collaboration is the guest privacy features embedded in the system. DirecTV plans to allow guests to temporarily link their Google accounts to the AEP running Google TV, enabling a personalized streaming experience during their stay. The platform is designed to automatically clear all personal information daily to ensure the next guest enjoys a fresh start without exposure to prior user data.
### Gemini with Google TV: AI-Powered Experience
Building on these innovations, Google introduced Gemini with Google TV in September, an AI upgrade that enhances user interaction through natural language conversations. First available on select TCL devices, Gemini offers features like entertainment recommendations, season recaps, and content searches that bridge diverse viewing preferences. It also includes educational content for children, such as insights into natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions.
Google plans to expand Gemini with Google TV to more devices throughout the year, including its own Google TV Streamer, the Walmart onn. 4K Pro, and upcoming Hisense U7 and U8 models.
### Looking Ahead
As the TV experience continues to evolve, the DirecTV and Google partnership represents a major step forward in bringing advanced streaming technology to hospitality environments. With a targeted rollout of the AEP in hotels by 2026, guests can look forward to a seamless, personalized, and privacy-conscious entertainment experience during their stays.
Stay tuned for more updates as these cutting-edge platforms begin to reshape how we enjoy TV both at home and on the road.
https://www.androidcentral.com/streaming-tv/google-tv-reportedly-heads-for-hotels-with-directv-and-a-fully-customized-look
