Sea Launch Explosion may delay DirecTV's 100 HD channels
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jan 31st 2007 10:17AM
posted Jan 31st 2007 10:17AM
DirecTV has promised 100 new HD channels in 2007 and in order for them to make that happen they have to launch a few new MPEG4 capable satellites this year; DirecTV10 and DirecTV11. While D10 is supposed to go up via a ground launch D11 is scheduled to be launched by Sea Launch. Sea Launch suffered a set back yesterday that may or may not impact the launch of D11. Of course D10 has alot of HD capacity, they need both for the future of DirecTV. Yesterday during a launch of another satellite (not DirecTV's) the rocked exploded on the launch pad. No one was hurt because no one was on the pad at the time, but we will all have to wait to see if this impacts all that HD goodness we are waiting for.
[Via DBSTalk.com]
Chinese satellite killers aren't even mentioned? Charlie seen leaving the area in a speed boat moments before the explosion? Come on!
Interesting in that their commercials changed about a week ago - they were saying (using the Back to the Future movie as their commercial) over 100HD channels but the newer version has him saying "more" - not tauting the over 100HD which makes me believe they're pulling back on that claim and aren't going to claim that it will happen.
Actually, direct TV is ready to go with the HD goodness with Spaceway 1 and Spaceway 2 (which are already up and been testing the MPEG 4 signal in certain areas) DTV !0 and 11 are essentially replacements for the first 2.
The MPEG4 birds up now are for spot beaming locals and is the reason shy DirecTV has no national MPEG4 HD channels.
These two are for all the new national HD channels they want to add.
This info is from Directv's press conference we covered during CES.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/live-coverage-from-directv-press-conference/
Directv is falling apart. The HD signal is terrible compared to Fios. Not enough HD channells also