DIRECTV Requests FCC Authority To Share Spectrum with Telesat Canada

SPACEMART

El Segundo - Jan 12, 2004
DIRECTV has filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authority to move the DIRECTV 5 spacecraft into an orbital slot controlled by Telesat Canada.

The DIRECTV 5 satellite would be moved into the Telesat-controlled orbital location of 72.5 degrees, allowing DIRECTV to expand local-into-local channel service to a minimum of 130 U.S. markets by year-end -- a commitment made to the FCC as a part of the News Corp. transaction completed in December of last year. DIRECTV's goal is to begin the rollout of local-into-local service to these additional markets by early April 2004.

The relocation of this in-orbit satellite will enable services to be made available immediately. DIRECTV 5 would remain at the 72.5 degree orbital position until the launch of Telesat's new DBS satellite. Telesat's new DBS satellite will provide the ability to ensure continuity of service at the 72.5 degree location.

"This is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both DIRECTV and Telesat Canada, with unique and important public interest benefits for consumers in our respective countries," said Mitchell Stern, president and CEO of DIRECTV, Inc. "For DIRECTV specifically, we will be promoting the dual public policy goals of localism and strengthening competition in the pay television marketplace."

The arrangement with regard to DIRECTV 5 is contingent on the successful launch of the DIRECTV 7S satellite later this quarter. DIRECTV 7S will replace DIRECTV 5 at 119 degrees, freeing up the latter satellite for its move to 72.5 degrees, assuming FCC approval is granted for the relocation.

DIRECTV 5 will use the capacity at 72.5 degrees through 2008, which will dramatically enhance its local channel service offerings in the United States. Customers will access local channel service from 72.5 degrees with the addition of a second 18-inch satellite dish at their home or service location. Telesat Canada will assume telemetry, tacking and control (TT&C) of DIRECTV 5 after an interim period.

Upon moving DIRECTV 5 to 72.5 degrees and the successful launch of the DIRECTV 7S spot-beam satellite later this quarter to the 119-degree West Longitude orbital slot, DIRECTV will have sufficient capacity to offer local broadcast channels in a minimum of 130 markets by year-end.

SPACEMART

TiVo Files Patent Infringement Suit Against EchoStar

San Jose - Jan 07, 2004
TiVo Inc. filed a patent infringement suit Monday against EchoStar Communications Corporation in federal district court in Texas alleging the satellite television service provider is violating claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,233,389 issued to TiVo in May 2001, known as the "Time Warp" patent.

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