Travel Technology - DirecTV plans to offer All Hi-Def Channels...

DirecTV Channels $1 Billion Hi-Def Plan
Thursday September 9 6:13 PM ET


In an early move to corner the high-definition television market in the United States, DirecTV said Wednesday that it will spend more than $1 billion to launch four satellites with the capacity to offer every home in America more than 1,500 local and 150 national HD channels.

Construction of the first two satellites -- dubbed Spaceway 1 and Spaceway 2 -- has been under way for a few years. They will be launched early next year, with programming being offered to consumers by midyear. The two Boeing-built satellites can carry 500 local HD channels and cost DirecTV about $250 million apiece to build, launch and insure. A third Spaceway satellite also will be built as a ground spare.

The construction of two additional Boeing satellites costing about $300 million apiece also is under way, with launch scheduled for early 2007. Those satellites, called DirecTV10 and DirecTV11, have the capacity for more than 1,000 additional local HD channels as well as the national channels. A ground spare also will be built.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20040909/109477879000.html

This is pretty exciting, they should leap ahead of everyone else in HD coverage when these go live. Now I really want that HD Tivo....

Apart from having satelites that can handle the new HD signals, dont the originating stations and their canned products have to also have the new & improved bandwith cameras & material? Am I correct in assuming that most stations already have the capacity to generate the new higher resolution content?

After May of 2006, the analog dignal has to be gone, and digital has to be transmitted. Maybe not HD (not sure on that) but it's a step in the right direction.

There isn't any way DirecTV will give all the local stations, not they give you what, three or four in each market.

After May of 2006, the analog dignal has to be gone, and digital has to be transmitted. Maybe not HD (not sure on that) but it's a step in the right direction.

There isn't any way DirecTV will give all the local stations, not they give you what, three or four in each market.

Interesting, I didnt know about the rule. Has Europe and the other major TV markets also followed suit?

http://www.atsc.org/faq/faq_general.html

Interesting, I didnt know about the rule. Has Europe and the other major TV markets also followed suit?

From http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/dtv/#FAQ

12. How long will it take for the conversion to DTV? What is the schedule for conversion to DTV?

The FCC established an accelerated schedule for the introduction of DTV. Pursuant to this schedule, most Americans will have some access to DTV by 1999 and everyone in this country will have DTV access by the year 2002. At the same time, analog service will also continue until 2006. After the end of this transition period, broadcasters will broadcast only DTV.

More specifically, affiliates of the top four networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC) in the top ten markets must be on the air with a digital signal by May 1, 1999. In markets 11 through 30, the same network affiliates must be on the air by Nov. 1, 1999. All other commercial stations must be constructed by May 1, 2002. Several TV stations in the top ten markets voluntarily have committed to begin digital television service by Nov. 1, 1998.



13. What happens if digital television is not widely available by the end of the transition period?

The transition period to DTV is currently scheduled to end on December 31, 2006. This transition period is subject to periodic progress reviews by the FCC to make sure DTV service is widely available. In addition, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, passed last fall by the Congress, includes provisions that would extend the continuation of analog service beyond the year 2006 deadline if DTV is implemented more slowly than expected. Specific conditions which would extend the transition period include the failure of one or more of the largest TV stations in a market to begin broadcasting digital TV signals through no fault of their own, or fewer than 85% of the TV households in a market are able to receive digital TV signals off the air either with a digital TV set or with an analog set equipped with a converter box or by subscription to a cable-type service that carries the DTV stations in the market.

The FCC is already making noises about backing off on that analogue switchoff mandate as hi-def hasn't had the takeup they thought it would. FINALLY though, HD is gaining momentum with set prices falling like bricks and many cable companies and all the major satellite providers offering HD content. DirecTV's announcement isn't THAT big of a deal though as even with the locals they will still offer less HD content than Voom... they do have an opportunity here to leapfrog Voom in picture quality if they use that new satellite capacity judiciously and stop overcompressing the hell out of everything.

I believe the FCC will soon back off the projected analog conversion as it is written with big BIG loopholes and the broadcaster/FCC is a historically cozy relationship.

Also most tv programming is in non-hd format and broadcasting in hd will certainly not improve it.

Lastly there is little programming on tv worth watching in hdtv so will save my money and continue watching on my 6 mo old wega 32 in set.

MisterNice

Over the next year, you are going to see more programming available in HD. All of the major TV networks are requiring thier suppliers to deliver product (TV shows) in HD, plus a lot of football this season will be in HD (at least on FOX).

Very good point, I've been pretty shocked with the new season starting how many shows are saying available in HD. Makes me rethink getting a set now.

I believe the FCC will soon back off the projected analog conversion as it is written with big BIG loopholes and the broadcaster/FCC is a historically cozy relationship.

Perhaps less likely than you think. The FCC wants broadcasters go go to digital (not necessarily HD) to free up the bandwidth currently devoted to analog.

For example, see
Seattle Times Article (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002030608_digitaltv09.html)

Apart from having satelites that can handle the new HD signals, dont the originating stations and their canned products have to also have the new & improved bandwith cameras & material?

Most channels are not broadcast stations, but are cable/DBS-specific. Since most of these are not broadcasting live, broadcasting in HD might not be that hard if the bandwidth were available. For example, the native resolution for movies is pretty high.