The planned June 20 launch of DirecTV’s DirecTV-10 satellite will be delayed to July, according to a May 31 report out of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, where the spacecraft is due to be placed into orbit by a Proton rocket operated by International Launch Services.

According to the Kazakhstan Today newspaper, “foreign producers of the satellite asked to reschedule the date because of its preparation and transportation to Baikonur."

The Ka-band spacecraft is designed to provide high-definition television services throughout the United States, and DirecTV-11 is expected to be launched in early 2008. Both spacecraft as well as a ground spare are based on the Boeing 702 platform.

DirecTV did not immediately respond to calls.