A powerful, new DIRECTV satellite was launched successfully yesterday from the Pacific Ocean-based Sea Launch platform, and will further boost DIRECTV’s HD capacity, enabling it to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when the satellite goes into service this autumn. With the additional capacity, DIRECTV will also expand its delivery of local HD channels to more than 100 markets, representing 84 percent of US TV households. DIRECTV will launch another satellite in 2009 that will enable it to offer consumers up to 200 national HD channels.
DIRECTV 11, the tenth owned and operated satellite in the DIRECTV fleet, will be maneuvered into a circular orbit at 99.2 degrees West longitude and 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 US, 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 92 national HD channels and provides local HD broadcast channels in 77 cities, representing approximately 76 percent of US TV households.
(Source: DIRECTV)
