AT&T exploring Deal to sell off DIRECTV.

[navychop]

Latency to geo is pretty bad. Those Ka says DTV got for video we're originally intended for Internet.

Space based Internet has a future in LEO and MEO, not GEO.

 

[CSM]

Not sure if they are talking about the two interested parties or if this is new but this article says AT&T may have found a buyer for DTV.

Forget Streaming - Don't Miss Out On AT&T (NYSE:T) | Seeking Alpha

"There's actually news that AT&T might have found a buyer for DirecTV, among other things."

 

[Jimbo]

At some point in the not too distant future this country will be saturated with broad band via fiber, 4G, 5G, 10G, whatever. Even in the most remote podunk place there will be something.

Only problem with that will be At what Price ?

 

[Inclined Orbit]

Latency to geo is pretty bad. Those Ka says DTV got for video we're originally intended for Internet.

Space based Internet has a future in LEO and MEO, not GEO.

Geo should be fine for streaming, I've use ViaSat Exede in the past and it worked great with plenty of speed.

 

[NYDutch]

Geo should be fine for streaming, I've use ViaSat Exede in the past and it worked great with plenty of speed.

How well did ViaSat Exede work for VOIP, gaming, video meetings, and the other widely used applications that require low latency as well as adequate speeds?

 

[CSM]

How often does Satellite Internet go out in bad weather?

 

[Bruce]

How often does Satellite Internet go out in bad weather?

how often does cable ( broadband) go out in bad weather?

 

[SamCdbs]

The satellites won't be...without new satellites how will it be delivered?

They will launch new ones. The economics of satellite TV work, even if almost all customers are rural.

At some point in the not too distant future this country will be saturated with broad band via fiber, 4G, 5G, 10G, whatever. Even in the most remote podunk place there will be something.

Dream on. The economics of the matter teach us that if you do not have high speed internet today, its because no one can make money providing it to you, and thus you NEVER WILL HAVE IT.

And, before someone says it, this includes the unproven, science fiction, pipedreams of this micro-sats providing internet to "everyone".

 

[navychop]

If it costs no more to provide a signal to Podunk Idaho than to Chicago, why wouldn't a satellite Internet provider scheme work?

 

[Bruce]

They will launch new ones. The economics of satellite TV work, even if almost all customers are rural.

You do understand that it takes years to plan, design and build new satellites, by that time DirecTV and Dish ( they have no new satellites planned either) will have lost so many customers and the economics of satellite TV will be so bad, it will be obvious the business is in a death spiral.

Also do not forget about new equipment, boxes, they also have nothing planned and they can take years to develop, especially now since they have no one doing so.

Lastly, even if they do sell all of DirecTV, that will take at least a year ( Government), it is not like change the locks and lets launch a new bird, it will be 2-3 years after a sell to do that, 4 years from now.

I know you have doubts about Star Link, but you better hope it works out, it might be the only hope for rural folks.

 

[charlesrshell]

You do understand that it takes years to plan, design and build new satellites, by that time DirecTV and Dish ( they have no new satellites planned either) will have lost so many customers and the economics of satellite TV will be so bad, it will be obvious the business is in a death spiral.

Also do not forget about new equipment, boxes, they also have nothing planned and they can take years to develop, especially now since they have no one doing so.

Lastly, even if they do sell all of DirecTV, that will take at least a year ( Government), it is not like change the locks and lets launch a new bird, it will be 2-3 years after a sell to do that, 4 years from now.

I know you have doubts about Star Link, but you better hope it works out, it might be the only hope for rural folks.

Bruce with Covid-19 how about DISH 5G service they are working on? Is it going to provide TV and Internet service for the rural folks?

 

[CSM]

You do understand that it takes years to plan, design and build new satellites, by that time DirecTV and Dish ( they have no new satellites planned either) will have lost so many customers and the economics of satellite TV will be so bad, it will be obvious the business is in a death spiral.

Also do not forget about new equipment, boxes, they also have nothing planned and they can take years to develop, especially now since they have no one doing so.

Lastly, even if they do sell all of DirecTV, that will take at least a year ( Government), it is not like change the locks and lets launch a new bird, it will be 2-3 years after a sell to do that, 4 years from now.

I know you have doubts about Star Link, but you better hope it works out, it might be the only hope for rural folks.

The T16 will last a decade. They could design and build a new one during that time. However, would the new owner want to if it doesn't see growth in DTV?

 

[Bruce]

Bruce with Covid-19 how about DISH 5G service they are working on? Is it going to provide TV and Internet service for the rural folks?

They will have the same problem as rural folks do now with cell service, no proximity to towers.

In my subdivision ( moved there a few months ago), while not in a rural area, every house has a acre of property, so not high density, so that means crappy cell service, I get one bar at my house via Verizon.

Back in Michigan, High Density area, solid signal on my cell.

I did get lucky with Broadband at the new house, 1G with Charter.

 

[charlesrshell]

They will have the same problem as rural folks do now with cell service, no proximity to towers.

In my subdivision, while not in a rural area, every house has a acre of property, so not high density, so that means crappy cell service, I get one bar at my house via Verizon.

I did get lucky with Broadband, 1G with Charter.

So will the new Starlink satellites provide better Internet service for rural folks?

 

[Bruce]

The T16 will last a decade. They could design and build a new one during that time. However, would the new owner want to if it doesn't see growth in DTV?

and that is my point, who is going to invest in a company that is losing millions of subs every year, I know it is making a profit right now, but how much time till they are not?

And losing subs is not unique to Sat. Services, it is happening to Cable also, we are in a Transition from Live TV to on-demand streaming, it will take years, but Market ( the money people) forces are pushing towards it even faster.

 

[Bruce]

So will the new Starlink satellites provide better Internet service for rural folks?

All the people testing it are giving it high marks as far as the service goes, the main complaints are about the price.

 

[charlesrshell]

All the people testing it are giving it high marks as far as the service goes, the main complaints are about the price.

Thanks Bruce with Covid-19

 

[Juan]

They will launch new ones. The economics of satellite TV work, even if almost all customers are rural.

Dream on. The economics of the matter teach us that if you do not have high speed internet today, its because no one can make money providing it to you, and thus you NEVER WILL HAVE IT.

And, before someone says it, this includes the unproven, science fiction, pipedreams of this micro-sats providing internet to "everyone".

Well remember..directv is losing 1 million a quarter..not much will be left in 15 years

 

[NYDutch]

They will launch new ones. The economics of satellite TV work, even if almost all customers are rural.

Dream on. The economics of the matter teach us that if you do not have high speed internet today, its because no one can make money providing it to you, and thus you NEVER WILL HAVE IT.

And, before someone says it, this includes the unproven, science fiction, pipedreams of this micro-sats providing internet to "everyone".

Don't tell that "unproven" part to the hundreds of people currently using the Starlink service.

 

[Inclined Orbit]

The T16 will last a decade. They could design and build a new one during that time. However, would the new owner want to if it doesn't see growth in DTV?

I don't know current prices of a DTV equipped satellite but with launch the total has to be close to $1 billion these days and you better set aside a full year for design, mfr and a launch date. Last I heard from DirecTV employees that deal with this, there will be no more satellites built and launched. If ATT says publicly they will deliver all content via broadband and pull the plug on satellites, why would you question it? Do those thinking otherwise know something that ATT doesn't?