DirecTV Channels $1 Billion Hi-Def Plan

[SatelliteGuys Reporter]

They will be launched early next year with programing being offered to consumers by midyear. The two Boeing-built satellites can carry 500 local HD channels and cost DirecTV about 36 250 million apiece to build launch and insure. A third Spaceway satellite also will be built as a ground spare. The construction of two additional Boeing satellites costing about 36 300 million apiece also is under way with launch scheduled for early 2007.

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