DirecTV to launch 4 new birds

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Showing its conviction that the future of television is HD, DirecTV announced an expansion of programming capacity with the planned launch of four new next-generation satellites. These satellites will provide the US company with a massive expansion in local and national high-definition channels, as well as capacity for new interactive and enhanced services and standard-definition programming. "We have led the TV industry in choice, quality and service and we are now positioned to lead the industry in bringing new advanced television programming to consumers nationwide," said Chase Carey, President and CEO of the DirecTV. "Only DirecTV, not cable or other competitors, will have the capability to bring hundreds of high-definition channels and other enhancements to consumers across the entire country with the consistency, reliability and quality that they demand and deserve."
The first two of these satellites, Spaceway 1 and Spaceway 2, will launch in 2005 with programming being offered to consumers by the middle of the year. These satellites will have the capacity for more than 500 local HD channels.

The next two satellites, DirecTV 10 and DirecTV 11, will launch in early 2007. These satellites will have the capacity for more than 1,000 additional local HD channels, more than 150 national HD channels, and other new programming offerings. These birds will be among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites ever launched.