DirecTV Satellite
Launch Sets The Stage For Delivery Of Up To 150 National HD
Channels
(20 March 2008) A powerful, new
DirecTV satellite, launched successfully today from the Pacific Ocean-based Sea
Launch platform, will further boost DirecTV's HD capacity, enabling the
industry's HD leader to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when the
satellite goes into service this fall.
With the additional
capacity, DirecTV will also expand its delivery of local HD channels to more
than 100 markets, representing 84 percent of U.S. TV households.
DirecTV
will launch another satellite in 2009 that will enable the nation's leading
satellite TV service to offer consumers up to 200 national HD
channels.
DirecTV 11, a Boeing 702 model satellite, lifted off from the
Odyssey Launch Platform aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket at 3:48 p.m. PDT
from the equatorial Pacific launch site at 154 degrees West
longitude.
After one hour and 55 seconds in flight, the rocket left the
spacecraft in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 1,323 miles
(2,130 km) above the Indian Ocean. The satellite's ultimate geostationary orbit
position will be at 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the earth. Controllers at
the ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa have made contact with the
satellite and confirmed that all systems are functioning properly.
"Our
new DirecTV 11 satellite will soon join its sister satellite in orbit to form
the most robust HD delivery system in the multichannel video industry and will
be instrumental in maintaining DirecTV's position as the undisputed leader in
HD for years to come," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content
Strategy and Development, DirecTV, Inc.
"The strength of our HD offer is
not only about the quality and quantity of our national HD channels," he added.
"We are continuing to enhance the DirecTV HD platform by broadcasting our
exclusive, interactive sports packages like NCAA MEGA MARCH MADNESS, NASCAR
HOTPASS and NFL SUNDAY TICKET all in HD and adding more HD content to our
DirecTV On Demand VOD platform that will formally launch in the coming
weeks."
DirecTV 11, the tenth owned and operated satellite in the
DirecTV fleet, will be manoeuvred into a circular orbit at 99.2 degrees West
longitude and when tests are completed, it is expected to begin operations in
early September, providing capacity for up to 50 additional national HD
channels.
The DirecTV 11 satellite's powerful spot beam transponders
will also begin delivery of local HD channels to new markets across the U.S.,
expanding the number of markets where DirecTV offers local HD broadcast
networks to more than 100 by the end of 2008. DirecTV now offers its customers
an industry-leading 92 national HD channels and provides local HD broadcast
channels in 77 cities, representing approximately 76 percent of U.S. TV
households.
About DirecTV, Inc.
DirecTV, Inc., the nation's
leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television
experience available to more than 16.8 million customers in the United States
and is leading the HD revolution with 92 national HD channels - more quality HD
channels than any other television provider. Each day, DirecTV subscribers
enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive
programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable
for seven years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR
and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages
available anywhere.
(source: DirecTV Inc)
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