All,
We are having an issue with the TV model mentioned above and a DirecTV receiver. The video clearly has a stuttering/framing/chopping type motion. I do have all the obvious settings in the TV turned off. An AVR is video switching a bluray and apple TV in addition to the satellite and they look great. Locking the DirecTV receiver to 720, 1080 i and p did not change the pic.

Any suggestions? This TV has not been firmware updated and has not spent any time on a network.

How long is the HDMI cable?
Is it a skinny or active cable?

I would do the firmware update before making any conclusions. Sony's firmware updates have been known to fix issues.

In addition to Brent's questions:
What input are you using on the TV? ARC, MHL, etc.
What model AVR? Is the video encoding turned off if it has it?
Have you tried bypassing the AVR?
Is there another DirecTV receiver in the house, have you tried swapping to test?

What DirecTV box? If it is a Genie client, reset the Genie and client. But I have noticed that the image quality in the clients to be pretty sketchy. Especially on larger screens.

This sounds slightly similar to a bizarre problem I'm having with several TVs fed an ATSC modulated signal via the client's OTA antenna system. It's described at [Link: remotecentral.com].

Updates sure seem like a good idea!

It is a ~35ft non-active standard issue cable. The thing I didn't mention is that this is an existing system. It had a 64" Sam plasma that was swapped with the mentioned Sony. The system has 2+ years of normal operation; change it to the Sony, and poof, stuttering/choppy pic. I've tried all the rez options on the HR44 and no change. The AVR is a Pioneer elite that is video switching. I'll look at any video processing it may have tomorrow.