Do you know of DISH / Echostar's plans for new satellite launches? I know DirecTV has one planned over the next couple of years. But, I am surprised that DISH / Echo don't. Instead, they seem to be leasing from Telesat and Ciel. I don't understand why they would not launch their own birds!
Thoughts?
DirecTV is also leasing satellite
slots from others, as is Dish. I think Dish leasing some satellites (the birds) reflects Dish's long term plans of not needing them in the coming years (although the lease is for the full 15 years) and may represent a savings in costs, but these leased satellites are built to Dish requirements/specs for
primarily Dish's needs, so it is really more of financial legerdemain that provides Dish with pretty much the same satellite had they owned it. The failed launch of AMC 14 is but one good example: although built and owned by AMC, it really was built customized for Dish. Keep in mind that Dish Network owns some satellites while Echostar owns the rest. Charlie is the spreadsheet king, and he is always finding ways to be more efficient. There is NOTHING wrong with leasing these satellites as they are built to suit Dish's needs.
Although Ciel 2 at 129 is a Canadian satellite leased by Dish, the bird has several spot beams that were designed for US coverage as per Dish's needs. The Canadian Govt. wouldn't allow a US sat at it's location (the Canadian Govt. is very protective of Canadian assets and "culture" to the point of being rudely anti-USA), while Mexico has allowed a US sat to be used at its slots. So, leasing a bird at a DBS Canadian slot was the ONLY solution and the Canadian govt. stipulated that the 129 slot MUST be returned for Canadian use for the people of Canada at a later date.
The Ciel 2 at 129 works out well as DBS power allowances has advantages, financial and technical, one being that the Canadian 129 slot is only 10 degrees from a Dish owned slot and satellite allowing for an elegant reflector solution of 3 LNBF's looking at 110, 119, and 129 for the Western Arc. It doesn't get much better than that, and it was a coup for Dish Network to secure the Canadian slot on Canada's terms. Leasing, payments over time can often be the better financial strategy for many households, as well. It isn't always best to spend all the dough, reducing liquidity just so one can "buy", especially if the long-range plan is NOT to need them, and this is DirecTV's plan, IMHO, as well, regarding the slots they lease.
Dish does in fact have satellites planed for launch. One is supposed to be this year, failed AMC 14's replacement at 61.5. I believe another launch to follow for the primary 119 position. and another the following year, 2012. I believe Dish stated in a quarterly conference back in 2009 that there were to
average one satellite launch per year for the next 5 years, from 2009. Oh, yeah, they have one bird ready for launch and more on order. Don't worry about a thing. Dish will be fine. But the AMC 14 failure was a setback and is primarily why we don't have RSN's 24/7, IMHO, and the root of current challenges in the Eastern Arc. AMC 14 was an extremely sophisticated (steerable spots) and capable satellite with TONS of
efficient capacity. Alas, it was lost. But things will improve for the EA not too long from now.
to SatelliteGuys.
) and forgot about the new sat already there at 61.5. My memory failed me on AMC 14 as I recall that it had spots according to press reports, but sometimes the press gets it wrong or I get it wrong from my memory, but I believe you. Echo XVI will go to 61.5 to augment (at least I got that right) as you said. Also, I later realized that the new bird at 119 is already there, so that was a goof, too.
