[Gary Toma]

The attachment is the DIRECTV FCC filing.

I will leave it to the experts to make sense out of this.


*edit* 4/18/2015: the link to the attachment has been clobbered, so I have removed the bad link.

 

[LameLefty]

They're aiming this (I gather from the narrative) MOSTLY at Mexico and Puerto Rico, with the secondary goal of increasing specialty programming in the targeted areas. Note the wording on page 3:

And fourth, by providing an attractive platform for niche programming in HD format (e.g., international, foreign language, minority-focused), DIRECTV will greatly increase the incentive programmers have to produce HD programming that might be of particular appeal to audiences underserved by existing HD fare.

What kind of line-of-sight problems would there be for a 79W slot from the western US?

 

[veryoldschool]

What kind of line-of-sight problems would there be for a 79W slot from the western US?

Elevation looks a bit low here: 27.8°

 

[evan_s]

If you look later in the document it also shows an uplink from Mexico, so Hispanic content seems like a given.

 

[HoTat2]

While I can't speak for how practical a dish/LNB arrangement would be for DLA and Sky Mexico at 79W. I don't see how 79W really serves DIRECTV USA with its core HD at 99 and 103W without a separate wing dish.

Possibly re-task the 72.5W flexport on an external multiswitch module?

Anyway, going to Ku/FSS with linear polarization over at 79W for future HD programming seems so counter to DIRECTV's current direction, for CONUS programming anyhow, I'm really surprised by this LOA application.

 

[LameLefty]

Anyway, going to Ku/FSS with linear polarization over at 79W for future HD programming seems so counter to DIRECTV's current direction, for CONUS programming anyhow, I'm really surprised by this LOA application.

Yeah, that was my general feeling, too: why? Unless it's primarily for Mexico/Central America, with the CONUS/Puerto Rico stuff just thrown in as a "kind of what-the-hell/why not?" Or alternately, the whole thing is just trade-bait for another provider: get the license, then sell/lease the capacity - a possibility noted in the body of the application, actually.

 

[Davenlr]

Last sentence on page two says they need it to enhance capabilities of their current satellite serving Mexico.

 

[HoTat2]

Last sentence on page two says they need it to enhance capabilities of their current satellite serving Mexico.

And/or it's saying the present use of an FSS/Ku band satellite for the SKY Mexico service will "ease the transition" to the use of an additional one in DIRECTV KU-97W.

From the end of p. 2

... The need for additional capacity is especially acute in Mexico, where the existing use of a Ku-band satellite would ease the transition to the use of an additional Ku-band satellite.

I suppose the "existing" Ku-band satellite (actually "satellites") are Ku-band payloads aboard Intelsat 9 and 16 where Sky Mexico programming is relayed from.

 

[Davenlr]

Dont know for sure. I can think of one perfect use for a KU satellite outside of the normal DirecTv orbital group, and that would be if DirecTv actually thinks 3D HD programming is going to expand and take off above and beyond the current handful of channels, they could dedicate the satellite there now, while there are relatively few 3D customers, and allow them to roll out all new 3D capable installations with a wing dish for that satellite, freeing up valuable HD space on the KA fleet.

Id still bet it is going to just be used for outside the US programming. Their Latin American services seem to be doing very well, financially.

 

[bobnielsen]

Elevation looks a bit low here: 27.8°

Which is better than when Dish only had HD from a satellite at 61.5º. A Sears near here had a dish on the roof which could see it, but I doubt there were many customers who had LOS.

 

[carl6]

What kind of line-of-sight problems would there be for a 79W slot from the western US?

I had a dish aimed at 72.5 for awhile, but it was really low. I seriously doubt the average customer on the west coast would be able to get line of sight.

 

[awblackmon]

Some, but it will be a big enough problem to aim from every customers home where I live. I hope this is for Mexico.

 

[kevinturcotte]

Some, but it will be a big enough problem to aim from every customers home where I live. I hope this is for Mexico.

Plus throwing up a second dish for whoever wants what's on that bird, completely redesigning the SWM modules (And having to come up with something to combine the signal from the 79 LNB and SWM LNB).