The use of D*

[tward_biteme1]

Just something that has been bothering me, and I have never seen anyone ask why before....

Why do people use D* to refer to DirecTV?

I understand the use of E* for EchoSTAR, but D* for DirecTV... it just bothers me!

:?: :?:

 

[video62]

It's a tradition within DBS discussion forums.

Once upon a time all of the DBS companies (except for DirecTV/USSB) had the word "star" in the last part of their name - Echostar, Alphastar and Primestar, so people used to abbreviate them E*, A* and P* in the discussion forums to save room and keystrokes. To be fair, DirecTV got labeled D*. I guess we could call Voom "V*" too.

As you know, A* and P* are no more, so we only have D* and E* left (and now we have V*).

A consise chart with dates of various companies launching and dying can be found here (edit: but this chart appears to no longer be maintained - it only goes up to 2001).

Alphastar started in July 1996 and ceased sometime in 1997.

 

[Roger]

Just something that has been bothering me, and I have never seen anyone ask why before....

Why do people use D* to refer to DirecTV?

I understand the use of E* for EchoSTAR, but D* for DirecTV... it just bothers me!

:?: :?:

E*, P* and A* was easy and it made sence but the DTV users were to damn lazy to spell it out.

 

[AndyMon]

I thought the D in D* stood for Dave? :?

 

[Kenster]

<<I understand the use of E* for EchoSTAR, but D* for DirecTV... it just bothers me! >>

Wow! If that's all you've got to keep you up nights, you're living a blessed life! Wish I had your lack of real worries! <G>

 

[tward_biteme1]

Didn't say it kept me up at night!! Just always bugged me when reading the satellite forums!!

 

[JEFFDUBE]

You are serious?? E is OK, but D is not?

 

[Terry Thompson]

I wondered why they call DirecTv, D* as well. Mainly because there is no star in DirecTv's name.
Yes i can see
P* for primestar
A* for Alphastar
E* for Echostar

But not D* for DirecTv unless they change thier name to DirecTvstar.

 

[AndyMon]

: : : : : :headbang: :aargh:

 

[markh]

Because the other abbreviation, DTV, means Digital TV. It's just an easy shorthand that can't be mistaken for anything else. If you type as slowly as I do then every push of a key counts.