pradike

UPDATED info about new DirecTV HD Satellite Launch

After yesterday's victory in court by DirecTV over DISH that they can keep a new HD satellite they originally ordered in the first place from Loral, an update was posted on the SKYREPORT site regarding the REPORTED plans for the new DirecTV satellite:

*Correction: On DirecTV 7S Launch - Please note, DirecTV 7S, the spot-beam spacecraft being built by Space Systems/Loral for the satellite TV company, is set for launch in first quarter 2004. SkyREPORT reported Wednesday the wrong timeframe for the satellite's launch.

This is an important bit of information, since it reinforces earlier rumors that DirecTV was planning the launch of between 6-20 new HDTV channels in 2004. The new bandwidth from this new satellite would provide the means to deliver this in a timely manner. D*TV also has 2 more satellites planned for 2005.

It is also important to note that Dish was trying to "snatch" this satellite away from DirecTV in the Space Systems/Loral Bankruptcy court proceedings (but failed). This has been viewed by some as a competitive tactic to either delay D*TV's expanded HDTV abilities, or get the additional capacity themselves (neither of which will now happen).

Jeff Keene

Any speculation on what the additional HD channels would be?

pradike

It is pure speculation -

Bravo HD (just a matter of when - already exists)
TBS HD
Fox HD (fall 2004)
TNT HD
WGN HD (rumored for some time)
HGTV HD
CNN HD
MSNBC HD

Those are the ones I heard about more than once.

Robert_J

All this satellite will do is add spot beams for the 40 or so new local markets that were announced earlier this year. It's not that there is a shortage of satellites for HD, there is a shortage of bandwidth. DirecTV has licenses for all 32 transponders at 101, 3 transponders at 110 and 11 transponders at 119. They are all in use right now and there really isn't room for any more HD channels.

-Robert