DirecTV recently launched their ninth satellite, the DIRECTV 9S, with a flawless liftoff from the spaceport in Kouou, French Guinea. Controllers successfully tested the operation of the new high-powered spot-beam satellite, which will provide backup services and local standard-definition local channels throughout the US coverage area — wait a minute,
standard def? Where’s the national high-def customers have been waiting on? Let me rescan the news release for more info: okay, four satellites have been launched in the past two years, lots of local channels offered now, details about how the bird was launched and such, ah here it is; DIRECTV10 and DIRECTV11 will be launched in 2007 to offer that long-awaited HD national coverage. Meanwhile, Echostar’s Dish Network offers over 30 HD channels right now. While few can doubt the mighty wisdom and weight behind DirecTV and their decision to launch a backup SD sat, its customers only have to wait a mere 14 months maximum (assuming no
launch delays or other technical problems) to get more high-definition channels. Here’s to you, DTV subscribers! May your wait be short!
We normally leave this type of news to TVSquad, but we know this is a big favorite of HD fans everywhere. Like so many of our favorite shows, they can’t go on forever — at least not without jumping the shark — and just like Lost, the producers have decided when the story will end. While we haven’t forgave Sci-Fi for making us wait so long to enjoy the HD version of the show, we do respect the producers decision to end the show when they were done telling their story. So, in November the fourth and final season of 22 episodes will begin with a two hour season premier on Sci-Fi, and as usual we will probably have to wait another 6 months to enjoy it in HD on Universal HD.
