19
Mar
DIRECTV Passes by Dish Network in Space
DIRECTV dealt another blow to Dish Network today as it successfully placed its latest satellite into orbit. The communications satellite, DIRECTV-11, is in the proper orbit and is operational. This exciting news comes less then a week after Dish Network failed to set its own HD satellite (AMC-14) into the proper orbit. With Dish Network coming up like a lame duck, there is no doubt that DIRECTV will continue it’s dominance in the high definition market.
Today DIRECTV rubbed some salt in their wounds by successfully extending its HD capacity to 150 national channels and an amazing 1,500 local high definition channels. That is more then double what Dish Network has the capacity for.
The DIRECTV-11 satellite that was delivered by Boeing just a couple months ago was set in place by a Sea Launch consortium Zenit rocket from the Pacific ocean at 3:48pm. DIRECTV-11 is in communications with South African ground crews and will be ready to go later this year. This satellite is among the largest Ka-band satellites (and most powerful) ever built. The tandem of DIRECTV-11 and DIRECTV-10 which is already in orbit will no doubt allow the DIRECTV HD programming to remain on top of the competition.
I am sure DIRECTV-11 was nice enough to wave as it rocketed past the AMC-14.