AfterDawn: News

DirecTV 10 launch is 'giant leap for HD'

DirecTV's missions to dramatically "expand HD programming for millions of DirecTV customers nationwide and establish DirecTV as the industry's HD pace-setter," kicked off yesterday when DirecTV 10 satellite soared into space. After the spacecraft is maneuvered into a circular orbit at 103 degrees West longitude and tests are completed, it is expected to begin operations in early September, delivering the first of up to 100 national HD channels by year-end.

The DirecTV 10 satellite's powerful transponder payload includes spot beam capacity that will enable DirecTV to expand its local HD channel services to up to 75 markets this year. "With the successful launch of our DirecTV 10 satellite, we are, to borrow a phrase, boldly going where no TV service has gone before - a new world of up to 100 HD channels and a viewing experience unmatched in the multichannel video marketplace," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Development and Strategy, DirecTV, Inc.



He added: "We congratulate the Boeing and ILS teams on a flawless launch as we begin the next countdown to September when the first of our new HD channels will be available to our customers." DirecTV has agreements in place to rollout multiple HD channels from top content providers such as Disney, Discovery Communications, A&E Television Networks, HBO, Fox, Turner, NBC Universal, Showtime Networks, Starz and Scripps Networks, among others.

Source:
Press Release

Written by: James Delahunty @ 8 Jul 2007 19:34

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• 11 comments

• MichaelP1

  wonder if there will be a price increase lol

  8.7.2007 22:52 #1

• justme81

  YOU THINK

  8.7.2007 23:24 #2

• Dapsone

  Originally posted by MichaelP1:wonder if there will be a price increase loluhhh.... of course ?

  9.7.2007 04:04 #3

• spydah

  Price increase is a under statement lmao. 100 HD channels. Sounds great be my pockets hurting already.

  9.7.2007 06:28 #4

• Krmnnghia

  Lets see...I pay $20/month for 26(plus a bunch of extra ones if you pay more) HD channels through Dishnetwork. So if Direct TV is going to give out 100 HD channels I don't see them doing it for less than $50 added on to a standard package you will have to purchase. I think what it will actually be is around 50 channels in HD and the rest are factored in as local HD channels and a bunch of crappy repeat stations from different time zones. Smartest thing to do is wait until the Sat HD war gets really competative and get in on a good rate.

  9.7.2007 07:31 #5

• Iguana775

  About time. They've only been telling us about it for almost 2 years now. nothing like dragging it out as long as you can....
  
  it will be interesting to see the costs and how it compares to Dish. I have Dish now but it is really pissing me off with the dropped signals.

  9.7.2007 09:21 #6

• fgamer

  I've got DirecTV and I'm pretty sure they'll raise the prices once again. They just went through 2 price hikes in the past year or so (rediculous). I don't understand why they keep charging more for the HD channel packages...the only thing it is, is a repeat of the same channel but in HD. They have a regular standard HBO then they have HBO in HD..I think if you already subscribe to HBO you should at least get the frickin HD channel for free....but no they charge you a HD package fee..pfft! I think I may switch to Dish in the near future if DirecTV keeps raising these darn prices.

  9.7.2007 10:23 #7

• Xplorer4

  Hmm wonder if this is why my directv has been a bit screwy the past day or so. Maybe some kind of interference? Ah well, I dunno if I would expect a huge increase, after all the government is giving discounts to companies switching over to HD.

  9.7.2007 12:50 #8

• spydah

  burn pockets burn. you know they gonna have issues. with upgrades like this usually takes away from the quality of service.

  9.7.2007 18:57 #9

• allenrl43

  Originally posted by fgamer: I've got DirecTV and I'm pretty sure they'll raise the prices once again. They just went through 2 price hikes in the past year or so (rediculous). I don't understand why they keep charging more for the HD channel packages...the only thing it is, is a repeat of the same channel but in HD. They have a regular standard HBO then they have HBO in HD..I think if you already subscribe to HBO you should at least get the frickin HD channel for free....but no they charge you a HD package fee..pfft! I think I may switch to Dish in the near future if DirecTV keeps raising these darn prices.
  Dish Network charges extra for HD channels even if you already have HBO etc.

  12.7.2007 17:49 #10

• borhan9

  The fact is that if they are going to go with HD of course the prices are going to go up. I just hope it will be worth it.

  16.7.2007 23:07 #11