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- Directv History -
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Directv at a Glance
Current stock quote: DTV $33.88 (+0.46)
Headquarters: El Segundo, California
Date of launch: Summer 1994
Satellites in service: 9
Available satellite channels:500+
Estimated subscribers:17 Million+
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Directv Inc. is currently the United States leading digital
satellite service provider, delivering more than 500 channels of
digital entertainment and informational programming to
approximately 17 million homes and businesses in the United
States.
Early History
Directv was born from the ashes of several failed DBS ventures in the United states during the late 1980's. It was originally modelled after successful European platforms that had been in operation for several years. The advancement of digital technology and in particular digital compression in the early 1990's led to Directv's inception and successful roll out. Digital compression made it possible for the first time for several digital television channels to be squeezed onto a single satellite transponder. Previous to this, only one channel could be carried per each transponder, which meant a maximum channel barrier of 24-32 channels per satellite. Clearly this was not a feasible option for a service that was to compete head on with long established cable vision companies.
Birth of North American DBS
In December, 1993, a long realized dream came to realization with the successful launch of the United States first DBS class commercial satellite. This satellite, would be known as DBS-1 was located at Directv's allocated orbital slot of 101 degrees W.L. This satellite was a high powered commercial satellite carrying a payload of 16 circularly polarized DBS Ku band transponders, each broadcasting at 120 watts per transponder. The summer of 1994 brought the introduction of the digital Directv system, the first of its kind, an all digital, direct to home satellite service, delivering crystal clear digital channels on a small 18" satellite dish and set top receiver. The Direct system was actually comprised of 2 distinct satellite services, Directv, which delivered most of the cable vision favorite channels and network feeds, and also USSB (United States Satellite Broadcasting Co.), which delivered premium services such as premium movie channels (HBO, Showtime) as well as pay per view sporting events, such as boxing and wrestling.
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First generation Directv / USSB RCA DSS digital satellite system with 18" satellite dish and receiver.
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The Directv/USSB partnership came in 1991, as Directv's parent company, Hughes Electronics was attempting to raise financing for the Directv venture. USSB, which had previously been part of a failed DBS project in the 1980's, saw an opportunity to finally capitalize on their dream of launching a successful DBS service to the American marketplace. USSB agreed to purchase 5 transponders aboard the future DBS-1 satellite, which they would use to broadcast their premium movie and pay per view offerings. The equipment would initially be provided exclusively via Thompson Electronics RCA brand name, marketed as the Directv "DSS" (Digital Satellite System). The rights would later be licensed out to other electronics suppliers, such as Sony and Toshiba after RCA has sold 1 million systems or after 18 months of availability, whichever came first, as per their agreement with Directv. Sony became the second supplier in the summer of 1995, as the one millionth RCA DSS system rolled off the assembly line. Sony brought significant advances to the DSS, including faster processors, more features and a sleeker design. Ths competition also brought the price of the DSS system down as well.
The new Directv system quickly became one of the hottest selling consumer electronics products of the year in 1994. At the time, the complete 8 bit RCA DSS system was selling for $699, not including installation. RCA also released an advanced DSS system, offering more features, universal remote control and re-inforced satellite dish for $899. Mid-1994 brought another significant milestone as the second Directv satellite, DBS-2 launched and began operations in September of 1994. This offered Directv an additional 16 high powered transponders, which allowed them to expand their programming offerings to nearly 150 channels. This was light years ahead of cablevision systems at the time, which offered an average of 30 analog channels at far less video quality.
Recent History
In 1998, Directv purchased United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB) for 1.3 Billion. This allowed Directv to bring the USSB premium sports and movie channels under Directv's control, which meant that subscribers no longer needed to have seperate accounts. This allowed a customer and revenue growth. A year later in 1999, Directv purchased the TCI Primestar venture for $1.8 Billion and converted their 2.2 million subscribers. This allowed for an instant revenue surge to more than 6 million customers. In late 2003, Directv sold controlling interest of Hughes Electronics and Directv to News Corp.
Broadcast Technology
The original Directv broadcast center, the first all digital broadcast center of its kind in north America, is located on a 155 acre site in Castle Rock, Colorado and consists of a 55 00 square foot facility. A secondary center was constructed later and is located in Marina del Rey, California. Together, they receive, process, and re-broadcast hundreds of digital channels to their current fleet of 9 satellites, orbiting 22 300 miles above the Earth. As Directv was launched before the MPEG-2 scheme was finalized, Directv programming utilizes a MPEG-1.5 encoding scheme for its standard definition programming and MPEG-4 encoding for its latest high definition local programming.
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U.S. Directv digital satellite system with 18" satellite dish and receiver. Other dish configurations include multi-satellite ellipitical dish as well as DBS/FSS combo dish systems.
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Satellite Technology
Directv utilizes an extensive fleet of 9 satellites, located in geo-stationary orbit 22 300 miles above the Earth. These consist of two seperate classes of satellites;
DBS-Band satellites. The high powered DBS-Band satellites utilize circular polarization and are received using standard Directv 18"-24" circular and ellipitical satellite dishes. The DBS-Band satellites include those delivering core programming at 101°, 110°, and 119°, W.L. as well as high definition and locals delivered via spot beam to select cities and markets from 72.5°. These require a seperate 18" dish for reception.
Ka FSS-Band satellites. These are used to deliver mostly high definition and local programming to the Directv subscribers. FCC regulations require a minimum spacing of nine° between high powered DBS-band satellites, which created a shortage of necessary satellite space to comply with must carry rules as well as expanding high definition offerings. To resolve this, the FCC allocated a new satellite FSS band in the Ka spectrum. Similiar to traditional medium power Ku FSS satellites, Ka FSS-band satellites use linear polarized transponders, however they broadcast at high power, allowing a small receiving satellite dish size. Directv currently use Ka FSS-Band satellites at 99.2° and 102.8° W.L. Programming from these satellites are available only to select cities and markets via spot beam technology and require a special 5 LNBF combo satellite dish and receiver.
Active Satellites
Directv currently has a total of 9 active DBS and FSS class satellites in various orbital locations:
- 72.5° W.L. - Directv 1R (Locals, HDTV)
- 99.2° W.L. - Spaceway 2 (Ka FSS Band - Locals, HDTV)
- 101° W.L. - Directv 8, 4-S, 9-S (Core programming, Locals)
- 102.8° W.L. - Spaceway 1, Directv 10 (Ka FSS Band - Locals, HDTV)
- 110° W.L. - Directv 5 (Core programming, Locals, HDTV)
- 119° W.L. - Directv 7-S (Locals, HDTV)
Retired Satellites
The following Directv satellites have been retired or de-orbited and are no longer in service.
- Directv-2, retired and de-orbited May 2007
- Directv-3, retired October 2002, leased to Telesat Canada as Nimiq-3
- Directv-6, damaged in 1997, retired and de-orbited August 2006
Overall Directv Satellite Coverage Map
Customers in the following local channel markets are eligible to receive their local ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and FOX affiliates. Customers outside of serviced markets are eligible to receive national East or West affiliates, depending on their geographic location.
Locals & High Definition
Directv offers different local programming for different cities and markets. Some markets are offered locals in both standard definition and also high definition. Required equipment will vary dependant on the area.
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Directv Standard Dish Local Markets
Customers in the following markets are able to receive standard definition locals using the standard Directv elliptical dish that receives the 101° 110° and 119° satellites from one dish. These come in 2 configurations, 2 LNBF systems (101°/110°) and 3 LNBF systems (101°/110°/119°). The 3 LNBF system is usually needed only to receive Para Todos programming or local programming delivered from the 119° satellite.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a H-20 MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
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- Anchorage, AK***
- Atlanta, GA (HD)
- Austin, TX (HD)
- Baltimore, MD (HD)
- Birmingham, AL (HD)
- Boston, MA (HD)
- Charlotte, NC (HD)
- Chicago, IL (HD)
- Cincinnati, OH (HD)
- Cleveland, OH (HD)
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH (HD)
- Columbus-Tupelo, MS
- Dallas, TX (HD)
- Daytona, FL (HD)
- Denver, CO (HD)
- Detroit, MI (HD)
- Durham, NC (HD)
- Fairbanks, AK***
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- Ft. Worth, TX (HD)
- Ft Lauderdale, FL (HD)
- Greensboro, NC (HD)
- Greenville, SC (HD)
- Harrisburg, PA (HD)
- Honolulu, HI***
- Houston, TX (HD)
- Indianapolis, IN (HD)
- Juneau, AK***
- Kansas City, MO (HD)
- Los Angeles, CA (HD)
- Mankato, MN
- Mason City, IA
- Memphis, TN (HD)
- Miami, FL (HD)
- Milwaukee, WI (HD)
- Minneapolis, MN (HD)
- Nashville, TN (HD)
- New York, NY (HD)
- Orlando, FL (HD)
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- Palm Beach, FL (HD)
- Philadelphia, PA (HD)
- Phoenix, AZ (HD)
- Pittsburgh, PA (HD)
- Portland, OR (HD)
- Raleigh, NC (HD)
- Rochester-Austin, MN
- Sacramento, CA (HD)
- Salt Lake City, UT (HD)
- San Antonio, TX (HD)
- San Diego, CA (HD)
- Seattle, WA (HD)
- St. Louis, MO (HD)
- St. Paul, MN (HD)
- St. Petersburg, FL (HD)
- Stockton, CA (HD)
- Tacoma, WA (HD)
- Tampa, FL (HD)
- Washington, D.C. (HD)
- Zanesville, OH
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*** 1.2 Meter Dish required for reception in Hawaii and Alaska
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Directv 2 Dish Local Markets
Customers in the following markets require the use of a second 18" satellite dish in order to receive local programming. The core programming is delivered via an ellipitical 2 LNBF dish (101°/110°)The locals for these markets are delivered from the Directv 1-R satellite located at the 72.5° W.L. orbital location.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a H-20 MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
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- Augusta, GA
- Burlington, VT
- Cadillac, MI
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Champaign, IL
- Charleston, SC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Columbia, MO
- Davenport, IA
- Evansville, IN
- Fort Smith, AR
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- Florence, SC
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Greenville,NC
- Jefferson City, MO
- Johnstown, PA
- Lincoln, NE
- Macon, GA
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- New Bern, NC
- Peoria-Bloomington, IL
- Plattsburgh, NY
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- Rock Island-Moline, IL
- Rockford, IL
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Springfield, MO (HD)
- Syracuse, NY
- Toledo, OH (HD)
- Traverse City, MI
- Tri-Cities, TN
- Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX
- Wausau-Rhinelander, WI
- Youngstown, OH
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Directv Multi-Dish Local Markets
Customers in these markets require the use of a 5 LNBF Directv multi-dish system in order to receive local programming. These ellipitical dishes are designed to receive and combine signals from the 101°, 110° and 119° DBS-band satellites as well as the 99.2° and 102.8° Ka FSS-band satellites.
(HD) Certain cities offer locals in high definition and require a H-20 MPEG-4/MPEG-2 receiver for reception.
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- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM (HD)
- Appleton, WI
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Bay City, MI
- Brownsville, TX
- Buffalo, NY (HD)
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- Charleston, WV
- Chico, CA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Des Moines, IA (HD)
- Duluth, MN
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Fargo, ND
- Flint-Saginaw, MI (HD)
- Fort Myers, FL (HD)
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Fresno-Visalia, CA (HD)
- Grand Rapids, MI (HD)
- Green Bay, WI (HD)
- Harlingen, TX
- Hartford, CT (HD)
- Huntsville, AL
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- Huntington, WV
- Jackson, MS
- Jacksonville, FL (HD)
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Klamath Falls, OR
- Knoxville, TN
- Lafayette, LA
- Lansing, MI
- Las Vegas, NV (HD)
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Louisville, KY
- Madison, WI (HD)
- McAllen, TX
- Medford, OR
- Mobile, AL
- Monterey, CA
- New Bedford, MA
- New Haven, CT
- New Orleans, LA (HD)
- Norfolk, VA (HD)
- Oklahoma City, OK (HD)
- Omaha, NE
- Pensacola, FL
- Paducah, KY
- Pine Bluff, AR
- Portland, ME (HD)
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- Providence, RI (HD)
- Reno, NV (HD)
- Richland-Kennewick, WA
- Richmond-Petersburg, VA
- Roanoke, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Salinas, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA (HD)
- Sante Fe, NM
- Schenectady-Troy, NY
- Shreveport, LA
- South Bend-Elkhardt, IN
- Spokane, WA (HD)
- Springfield, MA
- Superior, WI
- Tallahassee, FL
- Thomasville, GA
- Topeka, KS
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK (HD)
- Tyler-Longview, TX
- Weslaco, TX
- Wichita-Hutchinson, KS
- Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Wilmington, NC
- Yakima-Pasco, WA
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08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
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Dancing With the Stars
ABC
8:00 pm ET
Host Tom Bergeron and judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba return as 11 new teams trip (sometimes literally) the light fantastic. Among the stars: astronaut Buzz Aldrin; actresses Pamela Anderson, Shannen Doherty and Niecy Nash; sports reporter Erin Andrews; Olympic gold medal figure skater Evan Lysacek; reality star Kate Gosselin; former TV "Bachelor" Jake Pavelka; and soap actor Aiden Turner ("All My Children").
How I Met Your Mother
CBS
8:00 pm ET
Lily (Alyson Hannigan) is so upset when Ted (Josh Radnor) brings a date to her birthday dinner that she goes to extreme lengths to keep the interloper out of the traditional photo she takes each year of "the gang." Laura Prepon ("That '70s Show") reprises her guest role as Karen, Ted's ex-girlfriend; Anne Dudek ("House," "Mad Men") also guest stars. Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel co-star in the new episode "Say Cheese."
Nurse Jackie
SHO
10:00 pm ET
Edie Falco is back for a second season playing a New York nurse who struggles to balance her demanding job with a family and long-hidden secrets that could cost her both. The season premiere, "Comfort Food," finds Jackie rejecting Eddie (Paul Schulze) and trying to recommit to her family, but a formal complaint lodged against her by Coop (Peter Facinelli), a narcotics shortage and Eddie's overdose threaten to drive her over the edge.
MLB Preseason Baseball
ESPN
1:00 pm ET
There's nothing quite like the crack of the bat against the backdrop of swaying palms to get the blood pumping and reassure the baseball fan that spring -- and the MLB regular season -- is indeed around the corner. Today, ESPN broadcasts the first of eight preseason games, this one from Clearwater, Fla., where Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees get ready for the season against the team they beat in the World Series last fall, Ryan Howard's Philadelphia Phillies.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
MAX
6:45 pm ET
Didn't moviemakers learn anything from "Exorcist: The Beginning"? This prequel to the campy classic is more of the usual: Young people run for their lives. Yay. Jordana Brewster, Diora Baird, Taylor Handley and Matt Bomer star as the potential victims, with R. Lee Ermey as -- what else? -- the sheriff. The man's got to audition for different characters ... .
Chuck
NBC
8:00 pm ET
Sarah and Shaw (Yvonne Strahovski, Brandon Routh) observe Chuck's (Zachary Levi) every move as he takes a final test to see if he is ready to be a spy. The pressure is truly on, since Chuck knows he'll be forced to return to his humdrum former life if he fails in the new episode "Chuck Versus the Final Exam." Adam Baldwin also stars.
Life Unexpected
CW
8:00 pm ET
Lux's (Britt Robertson) social worker meets with Cate and Baze (Shiri Appleby, Kristoffer Polaha) after Bug (Rafi Gavron) and Lux are picked up by the police for violating curfew. In an effort to be supportive, Cate tries to find Bug a job at the radio station but only winds up disappointing Lux again. Austin Basis also stars in the new episode "Family Therapized."
Wild Hogs
FXEAST
8:00 pm ET
File this desperate 2007 comedy under "senior abuse." Several familiar yet aging faces star as motorcycle enthusiasts who share a road trip that yields surprises. John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy play the amateur bikers from Cincinnati who head for the West Coast, facing down their individual crises and running into trouble with a veteran cycle gang leader (Ray Liotta) en route. A certain legend from a classic biker movie has a fairly amusing cameo.
Rules of Engagement
CBS
8:30 pm ET
Jeff and Audrey (Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price) get into a spirited argument when she discovers he does not believe her claim that she saw her grandmother's ghost. Russell (David Spade) tries to persuade Timmy (Adhir Kalyan) not to go through with his arranged marriage. Oliver Hudson and Bianca Kajlich also star in the new episode "Ghost Story."
Gossip Girl
CW
9:00 pm ET
Damien (guest star Kevin Zegers) pressures Jenny (Taylor Momsen) to sleep with him. Lily (Kelly Rutherford) shares her secret with Rufus (Matthew Settle). Chuck (Ed Westwick) has to make a difficult decision about his hotel. Vanessa and Dan (Jessica Szohr, Penn Badgley) explore a new stage in their relationship. Blake Lively also stars in the new episode "The Sixteen Year Old Virgin."
Trauma
NBC
9:00 pm ET
A traumatic event from Rabbit's (Cliff Curtis) past is revealed when he has a breakthrough in therapy. A patient is put at risk when Nancy and Diana and (Anastasia Griffith, guest star Scottie Thompson) have different opinions. Glenn (Taylor Kinney) reaches a milestone, while Tyler and Boone (Kevin Rankin, Derek Luke) weigh their options for the future in the new episode "13."
The Big Bang Theory
CBS
9:31 pm ET
Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and his friends try to come to Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) rescue when the latter's crippling case of stage fright stands between him and a coveted award. Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar also star in the new episode "The Pants Alernative."
CSI: Miami
CBS
10:00 pm ET
There's little joy in the offing when Kyle (guest star Evan Ellingson), Horatio's (David Caruso) son, returns from combat and promptly turns to his father for help in solving a murder in the new episode "Dishonored." Emily Procter, Eddie Cibrian, Adam Rodriguez and Jonathan Togo also star.
Law & Order
NBC
10:00 pm ET
Detectives Lupo and Bernard (Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson) investigate when four police officers are shot, a case that is complicated by the fact that, despite a roomful of witnesses, they have a description of the shooter but little else. After they discover the victims may have known the shooter, their investigation takes them to drug dealers, a jealous husband and a judge who is racked with remorse in the new episode "Four Cops Shot."
Castle
ABC
10:02 pm ET
Things didn't end too well for Dana Delany and Nathan Fillion when they played spouses on "Desperate Housewives," so let's hope things go more smoothly as Delany guest stars in a two-part story (concluding next Monday) as Jordan Shaw, an accomplished and insightful federal investigator who helps Castle and Beckett (Fillion, Stana Katic) track down a killer. Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn also star in the new episode "Tick, Tick, Tick... ."
United States of Tara
SHO
10:30 pm ET
Golden Globe winner Toni Collette stars as a suburban wife and mother who struggles to handle the pressures of everyday suburban life while dealing with multiple personalities that humiliate her family regularly. In tonight's second-season premiere, a shocking event in the Gregsons' neighborhood changes their lives and opens their door on Tara's family secrets.
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