[TRiddle]

Yes, easily achievable. I use Dish Network instead of DirecTV, but nothing should change that I'm aware of. Dish Network to Hauppauge Colossus to Yamaha AVR to living room TV (with some other things going on within the HTPC such as NextPVR and Kodi). I'd recommend you to use component for the video capture to take advantage of the "analog loophole" though. As far as my setup goes, premium channels will not work via HDMI capture (HBO, Showtime, etc.), but analog capture via component works just fine, and has for me for years. Capture the audio via optical of course.