And Baby makes 3?

[HDTVFanAtic]

If Ciel is launching a 3rd Canadian DBS service - and has a license to put a bird at 129W - simple math tells us that E* and Ciel can't both be operating DBS services from there

"In 2004, Ciel was warded an orbital position at 129 degrees West by Industry Canada and has since commissioned Alcatel Alenia Space to build Ciel-2, a Spacebus 4000 C4, the largest Spacebus class satellite ever built. The Ciel-2 satellite is scheduled to launch in late 2008 with a life expectancy of at least 15 years. With Ciel's initial investment and with awards from the current initiative, the company will be positioned to contribute significantly to a more innovative and competitive industry for Canada."

http://www.cielsatellite.ca/satellites.html

Ciel-2 Specifications
Spacecraft Spacebus 4000 C4
Orbital location 129 deg. W.L.
Launch date/vehicle Late 2008
Design life 16 years
Payload Ku Band (BSS)
Coverage Canadian and Continental United States
Transponders 100 to 200-watt TWTA
Redundancy 11-for-8


http://www.cielsatellite.ca/services.html

Ciel provides broadcasting services via satellite to television and radio networks throughout North America, using the BSS Ku-band frequencies at the ideal orbital location of 129°WL.

As the new Canadian satellite operator, Ciel strives to be the organization against which all others will be measured by:

conducting our business with integrity
building honest, long-term relationships
delivering the highest levels of customer service
We are accepting expressions of interest for BSS (DBS) capacity on our Ciel-2 satellite, to be located at 129oWL late in 2008.

For specifications, or terms and conditions, please contact David Lewis.

info@cielsatellite.ca
tel (613) 599-4400
fax (613) 599-4455

 

[Derwin0]

If Ciel is launching a 3rd Canadian DBS service - and has a license to put a bird at 129W - simple math tells us that E* and Ciel can't both be operating DBS services from there

Dish will be leasing no more than half (16 out of 32) of Ciel's transponders.

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

Dish will be leasing no more than half (16 out of 32) of Ciel's transponders.

As they are currently using 22 or so transponders on 129W already, that means atleast 6 need new homes - and E* doesn't have a place to move those to - forget about expanding their content

 

[digiblur]

Dish will be leasing no more than half (16 out of 32) of Ciel's transponders.

And we'll see the dreaded 129W signal strength threads more and more and more until "Late 2008". It's not going to get better until that bird is retired....

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

And we'll see the dreaded 129W signal strength threads more and more and more until "Late 2008". It's not going to get better until that bird is retired....

I don't disagree....but the point is - a bad transponder is somewhat (arguably) better than no transponder - which is what they will have in 2008.

 

[digiblur]

I don't disagree....but the point is - a bad transponder is somewhat (arguably) better than no transponder - which is what they will have in 2008.

Everyone will be 8PSK by then right?

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

Everyone will be 8PSK by then right?

Very wishful thinking....they are what, 12 months into the ViP MPEG4 transition and not that far into it with roughly 1 Million HD Customers - but you think they will change out over 10 million SD Customers to 8PSK in the next 18-22 months?

 

[digiblur]

Very wishful thinking....they are what, 12 months into the ViP MPEG4 transition and not that far into it with roughly 1 Million HD Customers - but you think they will change out over 10 million SD Customers to 8PSK in the next 18-22 months?

Nope... I was just being smart.

 

[navychop]

I think my 721 will be useful another 3 years, at least.