DirecTV Expands Locals, Sees Solid Sub Growth

[Chris Blount]

At CES in Las Vegas, DirecTV announced 18 additional markets that will receive local channels from the satellite TV service sometime this year.

The new cities will join previously announced markets that will be rolled out following the successful launch of the DirecTV 7S spot-beam satellite this quarter. DirecTV said it hopes that by year-end it will have local channels in 130 markets, representing 92 percent of U.S. TV households.

The new market additions are: Boise, Idaho; Burlington, Vt.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Champaign-Springfield, Ill.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Columbia, Mo.; Davenport, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Johnstown-Altoona, Pa., Lincoln, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Springfield, Mass.; Springfield, Mo.; Traverse City, Mich.; and Waco, Texas.

To provide capacity for the new markets, the DirecTV 5 satellite will be moved into a Telesat Canada-controlled orbital location at 72.5 degrees. Customers in these new markets, with the exception of Springfield, Mass., will be required to use a second 18-inch dish to receive locals. The satellite move is contingent on Federal Communications Commission approval and the successful launch of DirecTV 7S.

Also, DirecTV and News Corp. said they plan to launch a series of advanced satellites to create additional capacity for the satellite TV service.

Other big CES news came from DirecTV: The company added 405,000 net new owned-and-operated customers during the fourth quarter, a 39 percent increase over fourth quarter 2002 net additions.

For 2003, DirecTV added 1.187 million net new customers. As of Dec. 31, DirecTV had more than 12.2 million customers, including customers in National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative territories.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[HeavyC]

Damn, Springfield-Champaign Illinois and not Peoria-Bloomington just like Dish Network. So close but so far away. So can anyone tell me if the moving trick works with DirecTv like it does with Dish.

Where I can change my location from one place to another but keep my billing address that same so I can take advantage of locals in another town. Also, what are the chances of getting caught doing that and what would happen if you got caught. I have inlaws in Springfield who have no intention of ever getting a Dish and would be happy to loan me their address.

[Jarrett76]

Old rupert isnt wasting any time is he? Johnstown-Altoona, Pa will probally make it to dTV before DN!

[bills976]

To provide capacity for the new markets, the DirecTV 5 satellite will be moved into a Telesat Canada-controlled orbital location at 72.5 degrees. Customers in these new markets, with the exception of Springfield, Mass., will be required to use a second 18-inch dish to receive locals. The satellite move is contingent on Federal Communications Commission approval and the successful launch of DirecTV 7S.

Hmm... the 72.5 degree orbital location is an interesting choice... for those of you out west, how many of you think you can pull in this location? Granted, the furthest west they go with this group of locals is Texas, but I'm a bit curious to see how difficult it would be considering there are problems for E* at the 61.5 degree slot.

[Unreg]

I wish he would get the first 100 markets up !!!

[cdru]

At CES in Las Vegas, DirecTV announced 18 additional markets that will receive local channels from the satellite TV service sometime this year.

The new cities will join previously announced markets that will be rolled out following the successful launch of the DirecTV 7S spot-beam satellite this quarter. DirecTV said it hopes that by year-end it will have local channels in 130 markets, representing 92 percent of U.S. TV households.

The new market additions are: Boise, Idaho; Burlington, Vt.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Champaign-Springfield, Ill.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Columbia, Mo.; Davenport, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Johnstown-Altoona, Pa., Lincoln, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Springfield, Mass.; Springfield, Mo.; Traverse City, Mich.; and Waco, Texas.
As someone from the Ft. Wayne DMA, this is good news for me. Dish keeps dragging their feet. Is there any idea when some of these will be going up? If its within a couple of months, I can probably wait...a superdish probably wouldn't be installed by then anyways. If it is by years end, never mind. I want my locals, but I really would prefer 2 small dishes as oppose to 1 SD sitting on my roof. Also it would be cheaper for me to get my DVR if I switch... :)

[music_beans]

I wonder how the PQ will do on DirecTV's version of Sioux Falls locals. I like the one that is on DISH.

[dishrich]

Damn, Springfield-Champaign Illinois and not Peoria-Bloomington just like Dish Network. So close but so far away. So can anyone tell me if the moving trick works with DirecTv like it does with Dish.

Where I can change my location from one place to another but keep my billing address that same so I can take advantage of locals in another town. Also, what are the chances of getting caught doing that and what would happen if you got caught. I have inlaws in Springfield who have no intention of ever getting a Dish and would be happy to loan me their address.

As someone in Springfield w/Chicago locals w/D*, it works GREAT!!!
BUT, if you're going to the trouble of "moving", WHY would you want OUR lousy locals. :eek2: :nono: :confused:
You would have no problem with getting Chicago locals on their spotbeam.
I've never heard of anyone getting "caught" moving to get their locals, unless you are dumb enough to call the provider directly & ask them to send a tech out for service - if you use a local dealer, you wouldn't have any problems.

[tivosnoopy]

The new cities will join previously announced markets that will be rolled out following the successful launch of the DirecTV 7S spot-beam satellite this quarter. DirecTV said it hopes that by year-end it will have local channels in 130 markets, representing 92 percent of U.S. TV households.
The new market additions are: ... and Waco, Texas. To provide capacity for the new markets, the DirecTV 5 satellite will be moved into a Telesat Canada-controlled orbital location at 72.5 degrees. Customers in these new markets, with the exception of Springfield, Mass., will be required to use a second 18-inch dish to receive locals. http://www.skyreport.com (http://www.skyreport.com/) (Used with permission)This is great news (posted in Jan). Does anyone have an update on when those locals will be added?

[tivosnoopy]

Hmm... the 72.5 degree orbital location is an interesting choice... for those of you out west, how many of you think you can pull in this location? Granted, the furthest west they go with this group of locals is Texas, but I'm a bit curious to see how difficult it would be considering there are problems for E* at the 61.5 degree slot.It's doubtfull this has anything to do with it but President George W Bush has his permenant home in Crawford, TX (a hop skip and a jump from Waco, TX). Personally, I live in Waco, TX so I would love it if we were first on the list of folks to get it. Nothing yet though.

[AztecRol]

This is great news (posted in Jan). Does anyone have an update on when those locals will be added?The satallite is at the launch pad here in SoCal. There is a thread about it
over on the tivocommunity forums. Here is that thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=164407&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

Here are the pics of the satallite in SoCal.
http://sea-launch.com/mission_directv-7s/payload_rollout/payload_rollout.html

It is scheduled for launch sometime in May.
Here is the page for the schedule:
http://sea-launch.com/current_launch.htm

Enjoy the pics!!!

[Jacob S]

Charleston, WV not mentioned? Some DirecTv customers have been telling me that it was supposed to go up in April when the new satellite gets launched. Seen some DirecTv customers already switch to Dish Network.

[SamC]

JacobS - you are combining 2 stories. First, I will show the good sense that DirecTV lacks and preface this with "if everything goes according to plan".

DirecTV 7S sat will launch to the 119 location in May (the April date, based on a February launch, was just one of a dozen missed deadlines on this bungled project).

DirecTV will then offer locals in about 50 markets, now it says by July 1, at the 119 location, which will require the oval dish, now needed here only for the Spanish package or HD

Then it will move the current DirecTV 5 sat from 119 to 72.5 where it will carry the locals in the smaller markets listed in this story. These locals will require a second dish and, it is assumed, a special box.

If you live in the so-called Charleston market (or any other market promised in April) you should call DirecTV today. This will acomplish two things. First, the CSR will register your unhappiness and give you multiple months of free locals, and second they will schedule you for a swap out of the standard round dish for the oval one, now. Methinks that once/if 7S is actually launched, getting an install for an existing customer will be problematic.

[tivosnoopy]

The new market additions are: Boise, Idaho; Burlington, Vt.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Champaign-Springfield, Ill.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Columbia, Mo.; Davenport, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Johnstown-Altoona, Pa., Lincoln, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Springfield, Mass.; Springfield, Mo.; Traverse City, Mich.; and Waco, Texas.The locals listed here also appear in the complete list on the DTV website here (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/LocalChannelsAction.do) but in TWO groups. I live in Waco, TX so this is bad news for me. Can someone shed some light on this subject?

[dswallow]

The locals listed here also appear in the complete list on the DTV website here (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/LocalChannelsAction.do) but in TWO groups. I live in Waco, TX so this is bad news for me. Can someone shed some light on this subject?
The plans for the group including Waco are to use DirecTV 5 at the 72.5 degree position. DirecTV is awaiting FCC approval (it's a Canadian-owned DBS slot). DirecTV 5 will be replace by DirecTV 7S (launching in a few hours), so it's also dependent on that going right.

DirecTV hasn't said if if this will require a new multiswitch or if they'll find a way to combine it with the 119 degree signal like they do with the 110 degree satellite, though it will certainly require a second dish.

[tivosnoopy]

The plans for the group including Waco are to use DirecTV 5 at the 72.5 degree position. DirecTV is awaiting FCC approval (it's a Canadian-owned DBS slot). DirecTV 5 will be replace by DirecTV 7S (launching in a few hours), so it's also dependent on that going right.

DirecTV hasn't said if if this will require a new multiswitch or if they'll find a way to combine it with the 119 degree signal like they do with the 110 degree satellite, though it will certainly require a second dish.Forgive my ignorance. So are you saying that Waco still needs approval? What are the chances that at the end of the day tommorro, Waco will be included in the new local markets?

[SamC]

So are you saying that Waco still needs approval? What are the chances that at the end of the day tommorro, Waco will be included in the new local markets?

If you believe DirecTV, none. First, there won't be locals, "the day after tommorrow". The current promise is June 30. Assuming the launch goes OK, it will take the company that long to get the thing up and running.

Just go to the locals page on the DirecTV web site. You will see 4 lists. The first two are currently available. The third is the cities to be added by today's launch of 7S. The fourth, including Waco, is the cites to be added by moving 5 to a new location after the launch of 7S.

If you live on in a market on the thrid list, locals are dependent on the successful launch of 7S. If you live in the fourth, it is dependent on that, plus US and Canadian government approval of a move of 5 to 72.5, it successful move, and new equipment that can "see" that location.

[tivosnoopy]

...If you live in the fourth, it is dependent on that, plus US and Canadian government approval of a move of 5 to 72.5, it successful move, and new equipment that can "see" that location.OK it's starting to make more sense. So this launch won't get locals except for those in list 3 (which WILL have them tommorro?). Those in list 4 such as Waco, won't get them till after the Canadian government approves a move. So what is the speculative waiting time for that move? Is the "move" you speak of what has the speculative date of June 30? I assume the number 5 refers to 5degrees and the same with 72.5? Is there any site for tracking the progress of this move?

[SamC]

No, the 5 number is just a serial number, DirecTV 5 is DirecTV's 5th sat. 7S is its 7th.

Currently the 5 sat is at 119. For our purposes lets just say its "smaller" than 7S. It currently carries some locals and other programming.

When/if 7S is launched it goes to 119. It takes over the stuff currently on 5, plus all of the locals on the "third list". This will take, with no complications, until June 30. NOBODY new will be getting locals "the day after tomorrow".

Then, with all of the work 5 is doing at 119 changed to 7S, 5 will be "turned off" and moved, pending government approval, to 72.5, where it will turn on again and carry locals to the "fourth list". This process will NOT START until 7S is launched, working, and doing the work that 5 is currently doing at 119.

[tivosnoopy]

Thank you Sam for all the detailed information. Sorry about my confusion. I really appreciate your comments above.This process will NOT START until 7S is launched, working, and doing the work that 5 is currently doing at 119.Will there be any site where one can check this progress?

[Fredfa]

All this June 30th information is interesting.
But here is what DirecTV is saying on its website:

..."The satellite will enable DIRECTV to expand its local channel programming to an additional 42 markets and transmit local channels to 19 existing local-into-local markets, freeing up capacity on other DIRECTV satellites for delivery of more local channels and other new services. DIRECTV plans to offer local channels in a minimum of 130 markets -- representing 92 percent of U.S. TV households -- by year end.

"We applaud the diligent efforts of the Space Systems/Loral and Sea Launch teams over the past several weeks that culminated today in a spectacular and flawless lift off," said Mitchell Stern, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "There is no understating the importance of the role DIRECTV 7S plays in our plans to turn up the heat on cable in more local channel markets, and our ability to continue to roll out other new services for our customers."

Twenty-nine minutes after liftoff, the rocket left the spacecraft in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 22,300 miles (36,000 km) above the equator. Controllers at the Weilheim, Germany ground station have made contact with the satellite and confirmed that all systems are functioning properly.

During the next two weeks, controllers will maneuver the spacecraft into a circular orbit; deploy the antennas and solar arrays; and test operational functions, communications payload and the propulsion system. DIRECTV expects to begin offering services from DIRECTV 7S at the 119 degree west longitude orbital slot by early June."

[SamC]

Having, perhaps, finally learned the value of a disclaimer, Ch. 999 says "No later than June 30th". Assuming, of course, all is well, which still is a few days from being 100% certain, and the LRF issue is not real.

The next few months should look like this:

- 7S tests out well.
- 7S is moved to 119 and turned on. Locals are uplinked from all over.
- CSRs are authorized to sell these new cities. Probably 3-5 cities added every few days, throughout June. Many customers will need an (already available) free dish swap-out, some long-timers will need a new box as well.
- 5 approved for move to 72.5.
- 5 moved. No website needed to track this. Its just a fairly simple thing that will take a week or so.
- 5 fired up with the "fourth list" locals. ALL customers will need new equipment.

[Fredfa]

I am sure you are more aware of what is happening than Eddie Hartenstein, Sam, but here (courtesy of HDTVFAN0001 over at the AVS Forum) is a summation of what the DirecTV CEO had to say today on the D* financial conference call:

1) D*TV's plans for the next 12-24 months include a migration to HD LOCAL stations (rather than analog), first in the top 30 markets in 2005, then more with the 2006 new sat. D*TV feels that locals in HD will be a big competitive advantage, especially to those with little or no HD locals now via OTA - amd the feeds will be more reliable than OTA.

2) D*TV plans to grow HDTV in 2004 after the new locals on 7S are all turned on. Their 8S (2Q 2005) and 9S (2Q 2006) sats will allow D*TV to expand their HDTV channel offerings to "well beyond what anyone else will have to offer", according to Eddy Hartenstein (CEO).
He also stated that "unlike some other content providers, we will add quality content, not just HD for the sake of saying something is in HD. We will be the HD leader for many years to come." He added that "the timing of HDTV channel offering expansion beginning in July-Nov 2004, along with much more in 2005, ties into the anticipated new content that will become available".

3) FOX HD will be the first new offering, both for national feeds "much like we did CBS", as well as for their 6 weekly NFL Ticket games starting in September. In addition, "other channels will be rolled out between July 1 and the end of the year".

4) The added 460,000 new NET subscribers in 1Q 2004 were well ahead of anyone's projections.

With the successful launch of the new 7S sat today (which allows D* to load up new and existing locals onto it, and open up bandwidth for HD on their other sats), the 2Q 2005 8S, and the 2006 9S sat, Hartenstein stated that "we'll have more bandwidth than anyone can even think of using".

[Mike D-CO5]

[QUOTE=Fredfa]I am sure you are more aware of what is happening than Eddie Hartenstein, Sam, but here (courtesy of HDTVFAN0001 over at the AVS Forum) is a summation of what the DirecTV CEO had to say today on the D* financial conference call:

1) D*TV's plans for the next 12-24 months include a migration to HD LOCAL stations (rather than analog), first in the top 30 markets in 2005, then more with the 2006 new sat. D*TV feels that locals in HD will be a big competitive advantage, especially to those with little or no HD locals now via OTA - amd the feeds will be more reliable than OTA.



So what are we talking about here? A transition of the analog feeds to true digital feeds in the top 30 markets or are we talking about true HD feeds of these channels. I am really curious about that one. And how will that effect finishing the rest of the country's locals?

[tivosnoopy]

[QUOTE=Fredfa]And how will that effect finishing the rest of the country's locals?I'm curious about that also. It seems to me that they can surpass ZOOM with HD content relatively quickly. It seems more important to be able to say you have locals in 100% of US households making it truely a better alternative than cable for anyone. I sure was hoping my Waco locals would start comming in. I'm have a voice recording of the CSRs promise of a free new dish and I'm ready to re-point, but it looks like this is at least a couple months off. Oh well. I'm still hanging in there for now rather than migrating to Dishnet. Afterall Dishnet PVRs are still a bit behind the dual-tuner TiVo units in function. And my Sony T60 has been out for 3 years! I'm sticking to D* for now but he sure is pissing me off with this locals issue.
Hartenstein (DTV CEO) stated that "we'll have more bandwidth than anyone can even think of using".Oh yeah, Mr. Hartenstein? How about using it then. How much is it to ask for the ability to record my nightly local news (geesh!). Get a clue D*

[tivosnoopy]

I would like to track the progress as the locals get added.

[Jacob S]

HD locals in the top 30 DMA's just to begin with to have more later on seems to be a huge advantage over Dish Network in which only has them in analog.

[SamC]

I would like to track the progress as the locals get added.

Channel 999 has a list of the "deadlines" on which the locals are to be added. 1/4th of the list on each Friday in June. I am certain that posters here will note these as they are added, as will DirecTV press releases. Along with any problems therewith.

The steps prepatory to this are pretty much behind the scenes. I suppose you could get a signal on a particular transponder a few days before hand.

[tivosnoopy]

Channel 999 has a list of the "deadlines" on which the locals are to be added. 1/4th of the list on each Friday in June. I am certain that posters here will note these as they are added, as will DirecTV press releases. Along with any problems therewith.Is channel 999 HD only? My reciever doeosn't get it for some reason.

[starrsrg]

Hmm... the 72.5 degree orbital location is an interesting choice... for those of you out west, how many of you think you can pull in this location? Granted, the furthest west they go with this group of locals is Texas, but I'm a bit curious to see how difficult it would be considering there are problems for E* at the 61.5 degree slot.

Actually Boise Idaho is quite further west (116 longitude) than waco texas. In fact, Boise is about as far west from waco as waco is from 72.5 degrees. Of course since I live in Boise I'm a bit surprised we got stuck in this group. Does anyone have any idea if it is even possible to see the 72.5 degree location from way out west?

I'm really frustrated with the whole thing because I don't understand how it is even possible for them to add support for this new fourth satellite. I already have a 3-lnb oval dish and my receivers all support up to that configuration. I suppose new firmware on the receivers or at worst new receivers would be required. Any information would be appreciated.

[dswallow]

I'm really frustrated with the whole thing because I don't understand how it is even possible for them to add support for this new fourth satellite. I already have a 3-lnb oval dish and my receivers all support up to that configuration. I suppose new firmware on the receivers or at worst new receivers would be required. Any information would be appreciated.
They'll either use a new multiswitch or they'll combine the frequencies from the 72.5° satellite with one or both of the 110°/119° feeds. It'll be interesting to see how flexible their PLUS receivers are with regard to supporting more than 2 multiswitch choices; the hardware can support more, but not all receivers are firmware upgradable, I believe, so they'd have to have been designed with one of those possibilities in mind and function off info in the datastream.

[starrsrg]

They'll either use a new multiswitch or they'll combine the frequencies from the 72.5° satellite with one or both of the 110°/119° feeds. It'll be interesting to see how flexible their PLUS receivers are with regard to supporting more than 2 multiswitch choices; the hardware can support more, but not all receivers are firmware upgradable, I believe, so they'd have to have been designed with one of those possibilities in mind and function off info in the datastream.

The rep I spoke with on the phone assured me they would provide any required hardware upgrades. I told him it would be very difficult to upgrade the receiver built into my HDTV!

I doubt we will get the local channels if it requires a second dish. I also have my doubts if we could actually get a dish pointed far enough east to get the signal. I wonder why they didn't put all new east coast locals on the 72.5 sat and all new west coast locals on the 119...

[SamC]

Assume that they move the few CONUS English language services to 101 (NASA, BYU, RFD). If a customer was not interested in the Spanish/Chinese packages, or HD (which is to say, the vast majority of customers) why would not it work to simply have 2 dishes, one at 101 and one at 72.5, fed into a multi-switch, thus "fooling" the box into "thinking" that 72.5 is 110/119. "Fooled" used here in the same sense that the boxes are currently "fooled" into recognizing 110/119 as one sat.

[tivosnoopy]

I live in Waco and fully expected to have locals by now. I understand there is a Satellite just sitting there waiting to be moved. How can I follow the progress of that?

[Greg Bimson]

You cannot simply have "fully expected" Waco locals by now. DirecTV has always stated that Waco, along with 23 other markets, will be available on the 72.5 degree slot, once the FCC has given approval to both move the satellite and allow service from 72.5. Neither has been approved.

You'll know when DirecTV has the approval to move and serve from 72.5. It will be all over this forum.

[Un-lucky]

You cannot simply have "fully expected" Waco locals by now. DirecTV has always stated that Waco, along with 23 other markets, will be available on the 72.5 degree slot, once the FCC has given approval to both move the satellite and allow service from 72.5. Neither has been approved.

You'll know when DirecTV has the approval to move and serve from 72.5. It will be all over this forum.Doesn't Canada have to give aproval too?

[Greg Bimson]

Canada already gave approval.

[tivosnoopy]

You cannot simply have "fully expected" Waco locals by now. DirecTV has always stated that Waco, along with 23 other markets, will be available on the 72.5 degree slot, once the FCC has given approval to both move the satellite and allow service from 72.5. Neither has been approved.

You'll know when DirecTV has the approval to move and serve from 72.5. It will be all over this forum.I was wanting to follow the progress. I understand the FCC just fined DTV 87,000 for and re-positioning DTV#3 too early. I just thought there might be some official site for following the daily/weekly/monthly progress on this move.

[Greg Bimson]

tivosnoopy, if you want to follow the progress, these are the remaining steps:

- await approval from FCC to allow service from the 72.5 slot
- await approval from FCC to move DirecTV 5 to the 72.5 slot
- after approvals, move the satellite, and uplink the new markets
- release the list of markets to be served, with the service dates
- put locals in service

There is no way to track the approval process. This is why we are all awaiting information from the FCC.

[tivosnoopy]

Thanks for laying it out Greg. You're awesome!

[Mike123abc]

Once approval is given from the FCC it takes about a week to move the satellite. If they have all the equipment in place on the ground like they did with D-7s they could do like D-7s and turn on 10 or so markets a week. I would assume now that they are done with D-7s they are getting all the equipment in place in each of the 72.5 markets to recieve the local channels, digitize them and send them to the uplink center.

I would assume the first markets would become available to subscribers about 2 weeks after the FCC gives approval. Probably all the markets within 4-6 weeks. It will be interesting to see what the supply of switches/dishes (and training) is in those markets. Will they be better prepared or will it be like Dish was with SuperDish markets taking forever to get the supply of Dishes out. In this case I do not think it will be the dish that is the problem since it will be a standard 18" dish/lnb. It will be the magic switch that somehow ties it into the triple LNB existing dish.

[Jacob S]

So maybe the value (and demand) for the 18" dishes will go up. I know that there have been a lot of these dishes that people have stockpiled or thrown out/junked.

[Greg Bimson]

The FCC today granted approval for DirecTV to move the DirecTV 5 satellite and start service from the 72.5 slot immediately. Steps left to get the next 24 markets up and running:

- move DirecTV 5 satellite
- release the list of markets to be served with tentative service dates
- uplink the new markets
- put locals in service/get equipment for 72.5 markets to new customers

[THancock]

The position of Directv 5 can be tracked at the following site.

http://www.lyngsat.com/tracker/dtv5.html

Tom

[Greg Bimson]

DirecTV's own press release says that the 24 markets that will be placed on the 72.5 degree slot will be started in late September and completed in early October.

The timetable is now done.

This leaves the actual uplinking of signals to DirecTV 5, releasing the local channels for service, and getting the receive equipment out to subscribers, since not a single subscriber should have a dish currently pointing to the 72.5 slot.