Dish to use all of NIMIQ 5!

[Scott Greczkowski]

Telesat Completes Agreements for Satellite Capacity with Bell TV and EchoStar Corporation

Bell TV Commits to Construction of New Canadian Broadcast Satellite and EchoStar Will Use Entire Available Nimiq 5 Payload

OTTAWA CANADA, September 17, 2009 – Telesat, the world’s fourth largest fixed satellite services operator, announced today that it has completed agreements for new satellite capacity with two of its key customers, Bell TV and EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS).

Bell TV, the leading provider of direct-to-home services in Canada, has agreed to utilize a new Telesat direct broadcast satellite which is planned for construction beginning in the first quarter of 2010. The new satellite will augment Bell TV’s capacity and capabilities at its prime orbital locations of 82 and 91 degrees West. EchoStar, which had previously contracted for half the capacity of Telesat’s new Nimiq 5 satellite, has now committed to use the entire available Nimiq 5 payload for the anticipated 15-year life of the satellite.

“We are very pleased to have entered into arrangements that meet the strategic requirements of Bell TV and EchoStar, two longstanding and important Telesat customers,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “We look forward to the launch of Nimiq 5 scheduled for later today and beginning construction on the new satellite for Bell TV early next year.”

Nimiq 5 is scheduled for launch on a Proton rocket September 18th from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (September 17th in Ottawa) and is intended to operate in geostationary orbit from 72.7 degrees West. EchoStar expects to provide capacity from Nimiq 5, which has 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders, to its customer, DISH Network L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation, for the delivery of direct-to-home television services.

[yaz96]

How many HD channels does the equal???

Even more importantly, how many will Dish offer us??

(How about bringing back GolTV, Dish?)

[HDRoberts]

I thought DirectTV had leased 16 TPs there (from 72.5) through 2011 or so? Is that saying Dish will indeed be able to access all 32 TPs from day 1?

Man, 32 TPs at 61.5, 32 TPs at 72.7, and 24 at 77 = 88 TPs of space. Compare to the EA with 29 at 110, 21 at 119 and 32 at 129 = 82. 6 extra TPs on the EA side, besides being MPEG4.

[rocatman]

I don't think so because if I recall correctly from another post, DirecTV had extended their lease to at least the end of 2010 perhaps longer. Certainly after the DirecTV lease expires, Dish certainly could use all 32 TPs. In regards to EA versus WA, one would expect more TPs dedicated to spotbeams for the EA because of the larger number of DMAs and larger cities in the EA.

[nelson61]

I thought DirectTV had leased 16 TPs there (from 72.5) through 2011 or so? Is that saying Dish will indeed be able to access all 32 TPs from day 1?

Man, 32 TPs at 61.5, 32 TPs at 72.7, and 24 at 77 = 88 TPs of space. Compare to the EA with 29 at 110, 21 at 119 and 32 at 129 = 82. 6 extra TPs on the EA side, besides being MPEG4.

You are correct on dates. Directv contract was extended from end of this year to mid 2011 to give them time for transition to new capacity. But, since that contract extension, Directv 12 filed for launch (late this year). It will be taking over duties of Directv 10 (which had undetailed failure soon after launch which limited its full utilization). Perhaps the firm launch of Directv 12 with its increased capacity will allowed them to finish the handoff from the 72W slot. No need to continue leasing space if it is not needed.

[HDRoberts]

Perhaps the firm launch of Directv 12 with its increased capacity will allowed them to finish the handoff from the 72W slot. No need to continue leasing space if it is not needed.

I would think keeping Dish off 16 TPs of space would be reason enough.

[nelson61]

The pending license refers to the 16 transponder contract but also includes a clause for use of all 32 transponders so they will be able to use 100 percent of Nimiq 5 from the get go without filing new applicaitons.

Today's news release probably was tied to a 50 pecent clause similar to the Ciel 2 launch. The government would not allow over 50 percent of it to be leased out for foreign use until launch date.

[nelson61]

I would think keeping Dish off 16 TPs of space would be reason enough.

Each transponder is probably leasing for something like $200,000 per month (3.2 million per month for the 16) so they probably would like to reduce those costs as soon as possible if they are not needed.

[JosephB]

I would think keeping Dish off 16 TPs of space would be reason enough.

Businesses don't make decisions like 12 year old school girls. The costs of those transponders are probably very significant, as stated above, and it would be much more effective to get out of that lease and use the money elsewhere (or just take it as profit)

[meinename]

How many HD channels does the equal???

Umm, just a observer's guess here:

3-4 per transponder using QPSK 7/8 MPEG2

6-7 per transponder using 8PSK 2/3 MPEG4

Since EA will be going all 8PSK very soon,
I'd say 6-8 HD per transponder times 32 transponders gives 192-256 HD-lite channels.

Double that for SD Channels