FullBandwidth
05-28-2003, 04:23 PM
From 26 May 2003 Space News:
DirecTV Setting Plans For Replacement of Satellites
DirecTV, of El Segundo, Calif., which launched its first two satellites in 1993 and 1994, will need to replace them during the next several years, said Eddy Hartenstien, the company's chairman. The company's engineering team has begin preliminary discussions about buying new satellites so they will be ready to place an order in time to launch the new satellites in 2007 or 2008, Hartenstein said in an interview.
DirecTV's next satellite, DirecTV 7s, is due for launch later this year and probably will represent the last time the company expands its fleet despite a capacity crunch that is preventing the firm from carrying as many local TV channels as it would like, Hartenstien said.
This is because DirecTV already is using virtually all the orbital slots and radio spectrum for which it is licenced. He said the company plans instead to use the Spaceway broadband satellites being built by Hughes Electronics to make more local channels available.
Another short article also quotes from that interview, in which Hartenstien says DirecTV and Dish will continue to do well in their competition with cable. However, no mention whatever about HDTV - the obvious area in which cable could pull way ahead, not being bandwidth constrainted like DBS.
So I wouldn't look for HD locals on DirecTV, well, ever?
It will also be interesting to see what Murdoch will do with Spaceway if the DirecTV merger goes through - he has already stated he's not interested in being in the broadband network biz.
DirecTV Setting Plans For Replacement of Satellites
DirecTV, of El Segundo, Calif., which launched its first two satellites in 1993 and 1994, will need to replace them during the next several years, said Eddy Hartenstien, the company's chairman. The company's engineering team has begin preliminary discussions about buying new satellites so they will be ready to place an order in time to launch the new satellites in 2007 or 2008, Hartenstein said in an interview.
DirecTV's next satellite, DirecTV 7s, is due for launch later this year and probably will represent the last time the company expands its fleet despite a capacity crunch that is preventing the firm from carrying as many local TV channels as it would like, Hartenstien said.
This is because DirecTV already is using virtually all the orbital slots and radio spectrum for which it is licenced. He said the company plans instead to use the Spaceway broadband satellites being built by Hughes Electronics to make more local channels available.
Another short article also quotes from that interview, in which Hartenstien says DirecTV and Dish will continue to do well in their competition with cable. However, no mention whatever about HDTV - the obvious area in which cable could pull way ahead, not being bandwidth constrainted like DBS.
So I wouldn't look for HD locals on DirecTV, well, ever?
It will also be interesting to see what Murdoch will do with Spaceway if the DirecTV merger goes through - he has already stated he's not interested in being in the broadband network biz.
