I have direct tv. Can I watch direct tv or previous shows such as "Damages" on iPad?

Yes, but you may need to download some apps to do so like, Netflix or Hulu, while others are iPad-optimized sites that help you find and watch the best TV and movies the Web has to offer. To watch your own colllections you need apps to install apps,too.

If you have HBO they have a free app called HBOGO. Works awesome. And also. Crackle is another great movie/tv show app. I know directive has an app to change channels on your receiver if it's connected to your network. Also if your directive is a dvr you can set it up to record shows.

I think he means Direct TV http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/index.jsp the service, not just TV on his ipad.

There is a DirecTV app but I think its just a remote control rather than a video streaming utility.

They have streaming too, but no go on jail broken. Can some one help? Btw my Cydia is crashing, what can I do?

DirecTv has an app that functions as a remote and if you are a Directv subscriber you can use it to watch live TV on the iPad with Live TV Streaming. The number of channels is somewhat limited and they don't have TV on demand on the iPad. If you subscribe to HBO or Cinemax you can get HBO-GO or Max-Go and they do have TV on demand.

Addendum to above response: Watching Live TV on the iPad also requires that you have a DirecTV HD DVR connected to the same network with internet access that your iPad is connected to.

The On Demand services from HBO and Cinemax are free standing on the iPad as long as you are a subscriber to their respective services.