DirecTV is a satellite television provider that delivers digital television services, including HD and Ultra-HD channels, directly to homes. Functioning as a telecommunications operator, DirecTV uses satellites in geostationary orbit to broadcast content to its subscribers. The company relies on launch providers like Arianespace to deploy its satellites, such as the DIRECTV-14 satellite which was built by Space Systems/Loral. DirecTV partners with companies such as Boeing Space Systems for its satellite platforms.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The s100N and s130N will be dual Ka-band for the US and Ku-band for the Mediterranean and will be TV receive-only antenna systems that support DIRECTV and DishNET reception.
DIRECTV will provide TV channel distribution for JetBlue’s A220 aircraft via Viasat’s Ka-band antenna.
A single Viasat high-capacity Ka-band satellite antenna will power both in-flight connectivity and TV channel distribution provided by DIRECTV for JetBlue A220 aircraft.
David Pattillo spent more than 20 years at DIRECTV where he was Director of the Space & Communications Group.
DirecTV originally planned to leave Spaceway-1 at 300 km above the geostationary arc but later increased the planned altitude to 500 km, possibly to consume or vent more fuel.
DirecTV told the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that the company needs to decommission Spaceway-1 by 2020-02-25 to avoid the risk of an explosion.
DirecTV’s Spaceway-1 satellite began relocating from the geostationary arc on 2020-01-29.
DirecTV filed with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that using the battery becomes unavoidable when Spaceway-1 starts experiencing eclipses in geostationary orbit in late February, creating a risk of catastrophic battery failure if the satellite is not relocated and decommissioned by then.
Spaceway-1 was originally used by DirecTV to broadcast television channels and was later dedicated to providing backup capacity over Alaska.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved DirecTV’s 2020-01-19 request to relocate Spaceway-1 into a graveyard orbit above GEO and deferred a decision on allowing the operator to forgo expelling the satellite’s remaining onboard fuel before permanent shutdown.
AT&T acquired DirecTV in 2015.
DirecTV is relocating Spaceway-1 to a disposal orbit 300 km above the geosynchronous arc while the satellite can still operate using power directly generated by its solar panels and bypassing the battery.
DirecTV’s satellites are currently flown by Intelsat, which operates around 50 geostationary communications satellites.
Hughes Network Systems, which was spun off from DirecTV in 2005, owns Spaceway-3 and uses it to provide internet connectivity to customers in North America.
DirecTV determined that the risk of a catastrophic battery failure makes it urgent that Spaceway-1 be fully de-orbited and decommissioned prior to the 2020-02-25 start of eclipse season.
DirecTV’s current priority for Spaceway-1 is to decommission the satellite prior to 2020-02-25 to limit the risk of an accidental explosion.
DirecTV shut off Spaceway-1’s Ka-band payload and is operating the satellite using power generated directly from its solar panels.
AT&T bought DirecTV three years before its 2018-11-29 announcement about ending satellite purchases.
JetBlue’s in‑flight entertainment offerings include 36 channels of free DIRECTV on Embraer 190 and Airbus A320 aircraft.