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Cable television broadcasting industry

DirecTV's DBS-1 Satellite Struggles with Critical Failure

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

DirecTV's Direct Broadcast Service (DBS)-1 satellite, the first DBS service in the United States, has become the third Hughes Space and Communications (GMH)-built bird to suffer a main spacecraft control processor failure in the past two months. The DBS-1 satellite, used by DirecTV Inc. (GMH) and United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB), automatically switched to its backup processor and continued to provide uninterrupted service to its 3.7 million subscribers after a July 4 failure. However, the latest problem has raised concerns that a manufacturing flaw may be to blame for the recent string of failures of the HS 601-model satellites, which are the best-selling spacecraft models in the world.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DBS-1 satellite, which provides service to 3.7 million subscribers, has suffered a critical failure in its main spacecraft control processor, the third such failure in the past two months in Hughes Space and Communications-built satellites.
  • The satellite has automatically switched to its backup processor, allowing service to continue uninterrupted, but the recent failures have raised concerns about a manufacturing flaw in the HS 601-model satellites.
  • DirecTV officials are searching for a replacement satellite, which could take 12-18 months to build and launch.
  • The failure of the DBS-1's backup processor would result in DirecTV being able to offer only 130 of the 175 channels it currently provides.
  • DirecTV and USSB are working to develop a contingency plan to maximize the use of available channels in the unlikely event of a backup processor failure.
  • Industry observers speculate that the problems with DBS-1 could accelerate the potential launch of a DBS-4, which DirecTV and USSB are contractually obligated to share.

Statistics:

  • The DBS-1 satellite has 16 transponders, 11 of which are operated by DirecTV and 5 by USSB.
  • The satellite uses 120-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers, which provide compact disc-quality audio and are capable of transmitting high-definition television (HDTV) signals.
  • The total number of HS 601-model satellites built by Hughes Space and Communications is 40, of which 36 remain in orbit.
  • Nine HS 601 or HS 601HP satellites are scheduled to launch during the remainder of the year.

Sources:

  • "DirecTV and USSB: New Contingency Plan." Satellite News, May 25, 1995, pp. 1-3.
  • "DirecTV's DBS-1 Satellite Has Critical Failure." Satellite News, July 10, 1995.
  • "Hughes Space and Communications." Hughes Space and Communications website.
  • "DirecTV." DirecTV website.
  • "USSB." United States Satellite Broadcasting website.

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