You're obviously someone who doesn't know diddly squat.
Yes, DIRECT TV can dictate when and how on demand is available. COMCAST, DISH, or numerous other providers have done so. DIRECT TV can do so as well. At the very least, they can announce when the network plans to or if they plan to provide the on demand content. The on-demand content actually have to be uploaded through the DIRECT TV system, so they would have to know. Communicating this to the customers is simply "customer service", a term foreign to you and others on this forum.
shannon01 and litzdog911's idiotic stupidity is phenomenal. Hulu, which DIRECT TV does an incredibly awful job linking to, provide dates and times showings will be available. Hulu has contracts with the networks to provide this content.
So, yes, DIRECT TV can do this. They won't because they get all their money from football nutz and **** on their entertainment customers.