However, DIRECTV spokesman Robert Mercer told TVPredictions.com tonight that the explosion will not impact the satcaster's high-def plans. Mercer said he could not elaborate.
The satcaster is planning two satellite launches this year to expand its high-def lineup. The first one, a ground launch, should not be affected by the explosion. But the second one, from Sea Launch, could be delayed or even cancelled by yesterday's explosion.
Mercer told TVPredictions.com this morning that the company is "evaluating our options." But he said tonight that the company believes its HD plan will not be affected.
____________________________________________
DIRECTV announced this month that it would expand its national HDTV lineup to 100 channels by year's end. To accomplish that, it said it would launch two satellites to store the additional networks.
It's unclear if DIRECTV's ground satellite will have enough capacity to store 100 national HD channels. The satcaster has said the two satellites combined would have enough capacity for 150 national HD networks.
Mercer would not comment whether the first satellite could hold 100 national HD channels.
The Sea Launch Zenith 35L rocket -- the first of the company's six scheduled 2007 launches -- blew up yesterday in a fireball aboard its platform. According to wire services, the booster was igniting its main engine when the rocket suddenly collapsed and was engulfed in flames.
The Sea Launch rocket exploding on its platform.
Sea Launch said there were no injuries in the blast, but the company could not explain why it happened.
"The Sea Launch Zenit
3SL vehicle, carrying the NSS 8 satellite,
experienced an anomaly today during launch
operations. Sea Launch will establish a Failure
Review Oversight Board to determine the root cause
of this anomaly," the company said in a statement.
Sea Launch is a consortium group which includes
Boeing, a Russian company and an Ukrainian rocket
builder.
Sea Launch is also scheduled to launch a rocket this
year for satcaster EchoStar.
Click
TVPredictions.com
to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Phillip Swann
is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He
has been quoted in dozens of publications and
broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside
Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post,
The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The
Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can
be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click
TVPredictions.com
to read more news and features
on TV technology.