SOURCE: TVPredisctions.com, Thursday October 26, 2006
‘DIRECTV today added local High-Definition TV channels in Madison, Wisconsin, Portland, Maine and Reno, Nevada.
They now offer local HD broadcasts in 45 cities, representing nearly 63 percent of U.S. TV households.
DIRECTV plans to launch local HD in 22 more markets by year's end.
Customers who subscribe to a programming package that includes local channels will receive the local HD signals at no extra charge.
To get the local signals, DIRECTV owners need a H20 HD receiver or a HR20 DIRECTV Plus HD DVR and satellite dish.’
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
New channel added to the DIRECTV channel lineup – Retirement Living
SOURCE: Los Angeles Newspaper – LosAngeles.bizjournals.com (Tuesday October 24, 2006)
‘Two months after making its debut, Retirement Living TV is going national.
The new cable operation, a vision of John Erickson, the chairman and CEO of Maryland-based Erickson Retirement Communities, signed a deal to be on DIRECTV, one of the nation's leading satellite television services.
Starting Nov. 6, Retirement Living TV will air in the District and around the country on DirecTV from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Since September, Retirement Living TV has provided four hours daily of new programming on CN8 The Comcast Channel, which serves more than 9 million homes in 12 states, stretching from Maine to Virginia.
The new deal with DirecTV (NYSE: DTV), based in El Segundo, will add about 15 million households nationwide to Retirement Living TV's reach and double the daily programming.
The new cable operation produces programming for an audience that has traditionally been overlooked and underserved by mainstream TV -- people over 55. Retirement Living TV's current shows focus on health, finance, politics and society. New shows will explore cooking, travel and fitness.
Since its debut, "the response has been overwhelmingly positive," says Patrick Baldwin, director of strategy for Retirement Living TV. "Our Nielsen ratings are far exceeding expectations, and we've been flooded with requests to expand our distribution into other regions. That's part of the reason we chose DirecTV -- they immediately open access to Retirement Living TV programming to anyone in the country."
Currently there are 67 million Americans over 55, and that number will reach 116 million by 2035. Despite this large population segment, folks 55 and up are routinely ignored by traditional TV networks that typically cater to younger viewers, says Mel Tansill, senior director of public affairs for Catonsville, Md.-based Erickson Retirement Communities, which develops and manages retirement communities nationwide.
DirecTV, for example, has more than 250 channels of digital programming, Tansill says, and up until now none of the channels catered to older viewers.
"Retirement Living TV is aggressively changing the face of television in the United States and filling a void in the process," Tansill says.’
Thursday, October 19, 2006
DIRECTV Winning the HD War
SOURCE – SkyREPORT.com (Thursday October 19, 2006)
‘With American viewers' appetite for high-definition programming on a steadily picking up pace, and HDTV prices gradually coming down to earth, it's time for the service providers to give those HD-strapped customers something to watch. And although the high-definition race is more a marathon than a sprint, industry analysts see some providers - like DIRECTV - clearly out in front of the pack.
According to Kaufman Bros. analyst Todd Mitchell, DIRECTV’s plan to dominate the HD landscape is finally coming together. With the company launching 25 high-definition markets during the last quarter of 2006, DIRECTV will bring its total to 67 regions with HD. Through those 67 markets, Mitchell said, the nation's leading satellite provider will be able to reach nearly three out of every four (74 percent) television viewing households in America.
Plus, DIRECTV’s new HR20 HD DVR - which has received high praise from industry press and early adopters - is now available in all markets for $299 ($200 after a $99 rebate).
"Last week (Liberty Media's) John Malone told investors he was still negotiating to acquire News Corp.'s interest in DIRECTV and that he believes AT&T's DSL-based IPTV will not be able to compete with HD offerings from satellite and cable," Mitchell said.’
‘With American viewers' appetite for high-definition programming on a steadily picking up pace, and HDTV prices gradually coming down to earth, it's time for the service providers to give those HD-strapped customers something to watch. And although the high-definition race is more a marathon than a sprint, industry analysts see some providers - like DIRECTV - clearly out in front of the pack.
According to Kaufman Bros. analyst Todd Mitchell, DIRECTV’s plan to dominate the HD landscape is finally coming together. With the company launching 25 high-definition markets during the last quarter of 2006, DIRECTV will bring its total to 67 regions with HD. Through those 67 markets, Mitchell said, the nation's leading satellite provider will be able to reach nearly three out of every four (74 percent) television viewing households in America.
Plus, DIRECTV’s new HR20 HD DVR - which has received high praise from industry press and early adopters - is now available in all markets for $299 ($200 after a $99 rebate).
"Last week (Liberty Media's) John Malone told investors he was still negotiating to acquire News Corp.'s interest in DIRECTV and that he believes AT&T's DSL-based IPTV will not be able to compete with HD offerings from satellite and cable," Mitchell said.’
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
DIRECTV9S Successfully Blasts Off
SOURCE: SkyREPORT.com (Tuesday October 17, 2006)
‘The new DIRECTV9S DBS satellite - built by Space Systems/Loral for the nation's largest satellite TV provider - successfully took flight on a day that traditionally has given people cause to worry. On Friday the 13th, DIRECTV9S utilized an Ariane 5 ECA rocket to carry it into geosynchronous transfer orbit from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
According to DIRECTV, expanding it's fleet of satellites with DIRECTV9S will provide the company extra flexibility to maximize services via multiple frequency bands and the ability to power local service from multiple orbital slots.
"Our work with Space Systems/Loral and the addition of DIRECTV9S will help us ensure that we have a robust and technically advanced satellite fleet to maintain that level of quality," said Phil Goswitz, VP of space and communications for DIRECTV.
The satellite, a version of SS/L's 1300 satellite platform designed for DIRECTV's payload requirements is similar to DIRECTV7S - launched in May 2004 - with the addition of two Ka-band transponders, the companies said.
Weighing approximately 5,530 kg at liftoff, DIRECTV9S will be positioned at 101 degrees West longitude and is fitted with 52 high-power Ku-band transponders and 2 Ka-band transponders. With a design life of 15 years, the satellite will provide direct broadcasts for high-quality local and national digital video service using advanced digital compression technology.’
‘The new DIRECTV9S DBS satellite - built by Space Systems/Loral for the nation's largest satellite TV provider - successfully took flight on a day that traditionally has given people cause to worry. On Friday the 13th, DIRECTV9S utilized an Ariane 5 ECA rocket to carry it into geosynchronous transfer orbit from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
According to DIRECTV, expanding it's fleet of satellites with DIRECTV9S will provide the company extra flexibility to maximize services via multiple frequency bands and the ability to power local service from multiple orbital slots.
"Our work with Space Systems/Loral and the addition of DIRECTV9S will help us ensure that we have a robust and technically advanced satellite fleet to maintain that level of quality," said Phil Goswitz, VP of space and communications for DIRECTV.
The satellite, a version of SS/L's 1300 satellite platform designed for DIRECTV's payload requirements is similar to DIRECTV7S - launched in May 2004 - with the addition of two Ka-band transponders, the companies said.
Weighing approximately 5,530 kg at liftoff, DIRECTV9S will be positioned at 101 degrees West longitude and is fitted with 52 high-power Ku-band transponders and 2 Ka-band transponders. With a design life of 15 years, the satellite will provide direct broadcasts for high-quality local and national digital video service using advanced digital compression technology.’
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
DIRECTV to Deliver Local HD Programming in 67 Markets by Year End
DIRECTV names twenty five more local HD markets, now approximately 74 percent of U.S. television homes will have access to local HD channels from DIRECTVS
SOURCE– DIRECTV, Inc. (October 10, 2006)
SOURCE– DIRECTV, Inc. (October 10, 2006)
Already leading the satellite TV industry in the delivery of local HD programming, DIRECTV will offer local HD broadcast networks in 67 markets, representing approximately 74 percent of U.S. TV households, by year end when it rolls out 25 more local HD markets in the fourth quarter.
Local news, sports and popular primetime programming from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC will be available in HD to customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package that offers local channels. There is no additional charge for local HD programming.
The 25 local markets to receive HD programming from DIRECTV include:
-- Albuquerque, N.M.
-- Buffalo, N.Y.
-- Des Moines, Iowa
-- Flint, Mich.
-- Ft. Meyers, Fla.
-- Grand Rapids, Mich.
-- Green Bay, Wisc.
-- Greensboro, N.C.
-- Greenville, S.C.
-- Harrisburg, Pa.
-- Jacksonville, Fla.
-- Little Rock, Ark.
-- Madison, Wisc.
-- Mobile, Ala.
-- New Orleans
-- Norfolk, Va.
-- Oklahoma City, Okla.
-- Portland, Me.
-- Providence, R.I.
-- Reno, Nev.
-- Santa Barbara, Calif.
-- Spokane, Wa.
-- Springfield, Mo.
-- Toledo, Ohio
-- Tulsa, Okla.
"With 67 markets receiving local HD channels from DIRECTV by year end, we've set the stage for our historic capacity expansion in 2007," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. "This will enable us to leapfrog the multichannel video industry in terms of the sheer volume of HD programming available to our customers. With more than 44 million homes projected to have HD TV sets next year, we expect to be the video provider of choice for those consumers, offering the best lineup of HD programming, including local broadcast networks, sports, special events, and national networks, as well as original and exclusive programming."
With the launch of two new satellites - DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 - in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers. DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 42 HD local channel markets representing approximately 62 percent of U.S. TV households.
Customers can receive local HD channels by obtaining DIRECTV's H20 HD receiver or its new HR20 DIRECTV Plus HD DVR, which has the ability to record up to 50 hours of programming in the new MPEG4 transmission standard. DIRECTV is offering new customers who purchase a DIRECTV HD or HD DVR receiver a $100 mail-in rebate. (Limit one rebate per customer.) Existing customers are eligible for a $99 upgrade to the new H20 receiver and dish, plus $99 for each additional HD receiver.
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