One Up... One Down For Bit
Last night the new DIRECTV 12 satellite launch lit up the sky over Kazakhstan. The picture perfect launch happened at 7:22PM Eastern Time from a Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The DIRECTV 12 satellite was launched using a Proton Breeze M vehicle and will allow DIRECTV to expand its HD offerings by 50% to more than 200 high definition channels. In addition in a press release issued early this morning by DIRECTV the nations #1 satellite provider said that the satellite will also be used to expand movie choices as well.
Early this morning contact was made with the satellite and all systems were confirmed to be functioning correctly.
After testing is complete the satellite will be moved to its home at 102.8 degrees West longitude. It expected that the new satellite will be put in operation early in the second quarter of 2010.
And while the engineers were celebrating early this morning DIRECTV had an issue at it’s 119 degree West longitude orbital location. Customers reported the loss of some locals, internationals, Spanish and XM channels.
DIRECTV was quick to address the issue on its Twitter feed and give status updates as tech fixed the issue. As of this writing the majority of the services have been restored (although Connecticut locals are still offline.) There was no word however of what caused the issue.
3D TV on DIRECTV – No Dish Press Conference at CES
The website HDGuru.COM is reporting that DIRECTV is planning to launch the first 3D HDTV channel in the United States early next year. The website claims that DIRECTV will announce this new channel next week at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Only one issue that I can see, I have been told by DIRECTV that they won’t be at CES this year. I do know that the new DIRECTV receiver with TIVO could be shown but if it is TIVO will be showing it off not DIRECTV. So if anyone knows where and when this new 3D channel will be announced by DIRECTV please let me know as I would love to be there for that one.
Speaking of press conferences I got word yesterday from Dish Network that their CES Press Conference has been canceled. Dish instead intends to do a lot of hands on demos in their booth.
Echostar and the company SlingMedia however will be holding a press event at its booth which sounds interesting. If you have been reading my blog for anytime now you know that I am a avid lover and user of Sling technology so I am looking forward to this event to see whats new from Sling and Echostar.
Reaper commented:
It'll be interesting to see how DIRECTV uses their new bandwidth. They say that this satellite gives them capacity for 100 more HD channels, but how many true national HD channels will they add? They lost my business last year when they added a lot of new HD PPV channels rather than simulcast stations of what I was already paying for, like premium movie channels.
kazakhstan commented:
It think has to do with Kazakhstan's position when it comes to rotation of the earth while the satellite is traveling into the sky.
Ja commented:
...trying to figure out, do all satellites launch from Kazakhstan? DirecTV and Dishnetwork launched from there.
rumple commented:
So glad to hear that Directv is finally getting TIVO back. Can't wait.