Ok, Dan Collins had posted a listing of Ka licenses. DirecTV has 99, 101, and 103. I remember reading that they had given up one, but I thought that was close to 110. Pegasus has 107, so maybe it was 109 that they gave up (can't remember for sure). We know DirecTV-8 is going to 101, as it also has Ku. That leaves 99 and 103 for the two Spaceway satellites (assuming DirecTV-8 has enough capacity to warrant a ka slot on it's own). It's POSSIBLE that DirecTV acquired Pegasus' slots, but I don't think those licenses are owned by the Pegusus division that DirecTV acquired the assetts of. But beyond the slots, I'd be interested to know what Ka satellites are already up there that could be broadcasting soon. That's the first I've heard of this.
NEW HD RUMOR; 24 HD Channels for DirecTV..Bye bye Voom
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My contact is asking around about this because at one time they were thinking about using some KA space before Spaceway launched but didn't know whether they would need to and kinda put it on the back burner. He hasn't heard anything about this in a while but he said its not unlike them to just one day out of the blue say what they are doing so with that said I will wait for what he has to say.
Also he did say that like others said that they didn't want to launch the HD Package in July but because of viewer demand and the chance of customers jumping ship they thought best to just add it earlier and this could be one of those massive changes where they thought we have to do something very soon while giving the HD Package free for a while to try and make up for it.
They knew most customers might not cancel all the services with them but just the HD Package and since they knew that customers would be happy at some point they decided to try and lock them in for basic services for one year while giving them the HD Package free until such time as they would be very happy and still keep the HD Package after the free period.
Also they weren't planning on offering this to existing customers who would cancel the HD package and readd it a few seconds later but even though they have it on their website that only existing DirecTV customers without the HD package could get this deal but the fact remained that they didn't stop customers at that point because they knew that would loose customers if they did. They thought that would be the worst thing they could do was shunt existing customers even though the deal was for new HD package customers but we customers forced them to act and lets just say they didn't like it very much at all.
Also he did say that like others said that they didn't want to launch the HD Package in July but because of viewer demand and the chance of customers jumping ship they thought best to just add it earlier and this could be one of those massive changes where they thought we have to do something very soon while giving the HD Package free for a while to try and make up for it.
They knew most customers might not cancel all the services with them but just the HD Package and since they knew that customers would be happy at some point they decided to try and lock them in for basic services for one year while giving them the HD Package free until such time as they would be very happy and still keep the HD Package after the free period.
Also they weren't planning on offering this to existing customers who would cancel the HD package and readd it a few seconds later but even though they have it on their website that only existing DirecTV customers without the HD package could get this deal but the fact remained that they didn't stop customers at that point because they knew that would loose customers if they did. They thought that would be the worst thing they could do was shunt existing customers even though the deal was for new HD package customers but we customers forced them to act and lets just say they didn't like it very much at all.
To bad D* doersn't like it we are the customers and they are here to serve us not tho other way around. I think they made a wise choice in doing it so like you said they could lock in customers while they got their ducks lined up. I also feel if they don't do something soon it won't matter as people will go back to cable or VOOM for their HD programing.
I don't even remember seeing ANYTHING about the six month deal on their web site. I only saw it in the forums, with DirecTV dealers posting the announcement from DirecTV about the deal. My recollection of the wording of those announcements didn't exclude existing customers, and the general consensus was that existing customers were NOT excluded. I simply went online, dropped the package, and re-added it. Nothing at any point indicated that they didn't WANT to give me that deal, and in fact, it just gave it to me automatically. If they DIDN'T want this to go to existing customers, they should have made that more clear. And they shouldn't have set up their web site so it automatically gave it to existing customers just for dropping the package and adding it back.LonghornXP said:
Darin said:
Four Ka satellites launched without anybody knowing anything on these forums?! I find myself shocked!! Of course, it might help explain DirecTV's plans for the future.
Fact: DirecTV has stated they intend on doing (at least) the Top 30 local markets in HD. I assume SpaceWay comes into play here.
Fact: DirecTV has stated they intend on having all 210 DMA's (SD) locals up by 2006, and no later than 2008.
Fact: More and more HD networks will be appearing in the next few years, and with DirecTV adding another 80 DMAs and SpaceWay satellites not being very efficient for national HD channels, bandwith is going to have to come from somewhere, not to mention that DirecTV will be needing more satellites to get all the (SD) locals up.
~Alan
Me too... that's why I'm asking the question. SpaceFlightNow maintains a very comprehensive list of ALL launches (not just the satellite tv industry), and tracks them from planning to completion. I just can't believe these things would go up without SOMEONE noticing.Alan Gordon said:
Darin said:
Several theories come to mind. One is that this was some sort of "joint venture" with another company and DirecTV was silent on their involvement (kind of an iffy theory). Two is that DirecTV made a deal with another company for four Ka satellites. Three is that Directvrep is mistaken.
Another thing that comes to mind is where will these satellites go?! 101°?!
~Alan
Alan Gordon said:
Is there anyplace on the web where they make this statement? I'm not questioning you, but never heard this before and it sounds quite interesting.
He runs off to find out what DMA # Hartford, CT is....
Stupid question possible, but isn't there a fourth possibility? How about sat space gained by Fox taking the helm?
ToddHealy said:Is there anyplace on the web where they make this statement? I'm not questioning you, but never heard this before and it sounds quite interesting.
He runs off to find out what DMA # Hartford, CT is....
It was said around the time of the Newscorp/DirecTV merger, and I have no idea if this was just something they said to get the merger approved, but I did read it in several places... Skyreport I believe was one of them, and one of the main guys (Eddy perhaps?!) stated it. Don't know what else to tell you other than that's what they said.
~Alan<~~~~~~~~Who would like market #145 to be up next year...
I'd go with option#3. I'm not sure how silent they can be on such a thing... there's a lot of government regulations about things being launched into orbit, things getting licensed for broadcast, etc. And going along with your last question... if they already had all those up there, with Spaceway & DirecTV-8 just around the corner, I wouldn't think DirecTV would be giving up Ka licenses (which I know they just did about a month ago). Cramming seven satellites into three licensed slots seems a bit extreme... seems like they'd put one in one of the slots they gave up just to hold it.
Of course, I'd like to be proven wrong.
Of course, I'd like to be proven wrong.
DaJoker said:
I thought of that, but the only satellites I could think of that FOX might even possibly have would be from Sky, and I doubt they would send up four KA satellites and then send them all the way to America, and of course, they would have to have the FCC's permission, which would probably have made it's way onto these boards by now.
~Alan
How about PanAm Sat? Do they have any assets in the sky?
DirecTV just sold off this company. Mabey some Ka deal was worked out as part of the sale.
Does PanAmSat have any birds that can do Ka and can move to DirecTV spots or use their own spots?
DirecTV just sold off this company. Mabey some Ka deal was worked out as part of the sale.
Does PanAmSat have any birds that can do Ka and can move to DirecTV spots or use their own spots?
I think dishnetwork has some Ka transponders up that they are experimenting with, but I'm not aware of PanAmSat having any. I think PanAmSat has a lot of FSS capacity that is unused, so I wouldn't think they'd invest in a lot in unproven Ka satellites when they've got so much leasable capacity just sitting there. Besides, since PanAmSat is more of a commercial supplier, I wouldn't THINK they'd be as interested in a technology that might be more rain fade sensitive. But that's just conjecture on my part.
To the best of my knowledge, beyond whatever testing Dish may be doing, Ka is still unproven for consumer video use. I can't imagine DirecTV (or PanAmSat) putting up four Ka satellites before first testing it out with just one.
Now, if you take out the part of Directvrep's statement that DirecTV has four Ka satellites already up, you could say that DirecTV has four Ka satellites in the works: two Spaceway satellites that are being built, a third that MAY be built, and DirecTV-8. It may just be confusion between what IS available, and what may become available.
To the best of my knowledge, beyond whatever testing Dish may be doing, Ka is still unproven for consumer video use. I can't imagine DirecTV (or PanAmSat) putting up four Ka satellites before first testing it out with just one.
Now, if you take out the part of Directvrep's statement that DirecTV has four Ka satellites already up, you could say that DirecTV has four Ka satellites in the works: two Spaceway satellites that are being built, a third that MAY be built, and DirecTV-8. It may just be confusion between what IS available, and what may become available.
Ok, just for completeness, here is the info on the Ka licenses DirecTV gave up:
The list of surrended licenses came out on 7-26.
The list of surrended licenses came out on 7-26.
Ok, I finally found a recent document that lists all of the Ka band licenses. It's actually the press release for the surrendered licenses I mentioned above, but starting on page four, it lists what licenses are left. I'm still not sure what's becoming of the Pegasus licenses. I don't THINK that's part of the assets DirecTV acquired. They actually submitted their surrender of the other Ka licenses back in April, so I wouldn't think that is something they would have done because they thought they were getting the Pegasus licenses. It would appear that they don't think they need more than three Ka slots, so I find it hard to believe that they have built/are building 7-8 Ka Satellites.
I don't know about everyone else here, but if what that guy "directvrep" or whatever his name is turns out to be true, and that some markets will need another dish to get locals, I will be back to cable in a snap.
The last thing anyone wants is another stupid dish up to get a select few channels, that is just plain nuts. If it turns out that I need a second dish to get locals I will be more than happy to bring my dish to the nearest directv rep and throw it at him and tell him to eat me. I am not running a NASA control room here, I do not want one dish on my porch, let alone 2. If you had any sense "directvrep" you would put in a word to your supervisor that the idea of an additional dish to get locals is totaly unacceptable.
I feel like you do not really know all what is going on with addition of HD service (last i checked you were a resolution specialist or some by the hour worker, not a middle manager). I hope you are not trying to jerk us around here with all this confidential important person talk.
I have yet to be impressed with the direction Directv is going.
The last thing anyone wants is another stupid dish up to get a select few channels, that is just plain nuts. If it turns out that I need a second dish to get locals I will be more than happy to bring my dish to the nearest directv rep and throw it at him and tell him to eat me. I am not running a NASA control room here, I do not want one dish on my porch, let alone 2. If you had any sense "directvrep" you would put in a word to your supervisor that the idea of an additional dish to get locals is totaly unacceptable.
I feel like you do not really know all what is going on with addition of HD service (last i checked you were a resolution specialist or some by the hour worker, not a middle manager). I hope you are not trying to jerk us around here with all this confidential important person talk.
I have yet to be impressed with the direction Directv is going.
I hate to be such an ass; but... (ok I don't hate it so much)
Just to play devils advocate..
Does anyone know if Directvrep is really a DirecTV employee? Is he just making this stuff up? From Reading posts like this:
It seems like it could go either way! He is either an employee just blowing DirecTV smoke on "100% Digital Quality" or he is not an employing trying to look like one.
Employee or not can we trust this information?
Just curious!
Just to play devils advocate..
Does anyone know if Directvrep is really a DirecTV employee? Is he just making this stuff up? From Reading posts like this:
directvrep said:To qualify ourselves as " 100% digital quality picture " and " CD quality sound " we must provide no fewer than 400 lines COMPRESSED, up to 512 lines uncompressed quality picture. D* has dropped below 400 lines 1 time in 10 years :shocked ... that was the 1st year of operation when the sat went completely down. Compression ratio does not cut down on the amount of lines PQ provided. The further data is compressed the more it tends to sque... or merge data causing pixelization. We must also continuously provide nothing less than 128 bt/ 16 ccm audio, which as well has only gone down 1 time. If for some reason the data transfer of PQ from your DTV IRD to your TV is " crappy" then I suggest you contact us, we would be more than glad to t/s or have a replacement IRD sent to you.... at the very least we would be glad to send a service call. ( as a tip, using RCA jacks, or S-vid cables really improve the pic quality )
Feel free to call, we are tole free and open 24/7 for customer service or tech support call 1-800-531-5000 and if you don't want to wait for the menus, chose option 0 then option 4.
Your Friendly DTV Res Spec
white_knight_2010@yahoo.com
It seems like it could go either way! He is either an employee just blowing DirecTV smoke on "100% Digital Quality" or he is not an employing trying to look like one.
Employee or not can we trust this information?
Just curious!
I can honestly say directvrep is a real employee. I can't say how I know that, but I know he is. I'm the one that told him about this forum during the 6 months free HD deal program when it had issues in the beginning.
From what I have heard, on this forum no doubt, is Directv is coming out with it's own "superdish" if you will that will have 5 lnbs on it. This will encompass the new satellite where new locals will go.
From what I have heard, on this forum no doubt, is Directv is coming out with it's own "superdish" if you will that will have 5 lnbs on it. This will encompass the new satellite where new locals will go.
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