DirecTV’s Newest Bird Lifts Off, Will Boost HD Capacity
Latest Satellite Will Expand Delivery Of Local HD Channels To More Than 100 Markets
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 3/20/2008 12:12:00 PM
This week’s launch of DirecTV’s newest bird will enable the video provider to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when it goes into service this fall, according to company officials.
In addition, the new capacity from DirecTV 11 will also permit DirecTV to expand its delivery of local HD channels to more than 100 markets, representing 84% of TV households, the nation’s largest direct-broadcast satellite company.
DirecTV will launch another satellite in 2009 that will enable it to offer consumers up to 200 national HD channels, according to the satellite provider.
DirecTV 11, a Boeing 702 model satellite, lifted off from the Odyssey Launch Platform aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket Wednesday. The launch had originally been set for Monday, but was delayed after some unspecified problems.
“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,” Derek Chang, DirecTV’s executive vice president of content strategy and development, said in a prepared statement.
DirecTV 11 is the tenth owned-and-operated satellite in the company’s fleet. It is expected to begin operations in early September, providing capacity for up to 50 additional national HD channels.
The bird’s spot beam transponders will also begin delivery of local HD channels to new markets, expanding the cities where DirecTV offers local HD broadcast networks to more than 100 by year-end. It now offers subscribers 92 national HD channels and provides local HD broadcast channels in 77 cities, representing about 76% of TV households.
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