DirecTV

DirecTV is digital-quality television. Like its competitors, DirecTV offers high-definition television (HDTV). The programming is uplinked to a satellite then sent directly to the dish at your home. DirecTV has over 225 channels with a choice of programming packages.

DirecTV is the nation's first high-power direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service. It began in 1994. There are now over 18 million customers. The DirecTV System is the fastest selling consumer electronics product ever. The equipment consists of an 18-inch dish, an integrated receiver decoder and a remote control.

DirecTV has two broadcast centers (one in Castle Rock, Colorado, and one in Los Angeles, California) that transmit the programming to the satellites. The company is based in El Segundo, California

The Satellites:

Hughes Electronics HS-601
DirecTV-1 at 109.8�W - Launched on December 17, 1993 (no longer used)
DirecTV-2 at 100.8� W - August 3, 1994 (no longer used)
DirecTV-3 at 91.1�W - June 10, 1995 (no longer used)

Hughes Electronics HS-601HP
DirecTV-1R at 100.8� W - October 10, 1999
DirecTV-4S at 101.2� W - November 27, 2001

Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
DirecTV-5 at 109.8� W - May 7, 2002
DirecTV-6 at 109.8� W - March 8, 1997 (no longer used)
DirecTV-7S at 119.0� W - May 4, 2004
DirecTV-8 at 101.0� W - May 22, 2005
DirecTV-9S at 101.1� W - October 13, 2006

Boeing BSS-702
Galaxy 3C at 95�W - June 15, 2002
SPACEWAY-1 at 102.8� W - April 26, 2005
SPACEWAY-2 at 99.2� W - November 16, 2005
DirecTV-10 at 102.8�W - July 7, 2007
DirecTV-11 at 99.2�W - March 19, 2008
DirecTV-12 at 102.8�W - 2010

The satellites are in a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. No adjustment of the dish is necessary to change programming.

What is DirecTV?