July 7, 2007 – DIRECTV’s HD expansion took a giant leap forward with the successful launch of the DIRECTV 10 satellite. The Hughes-built satellite has spot beam capacity that will enable DIRECTV to expand its carriage of local HD broadcast channels to up to 75 markets, as well as rolling out new national HD channels for programmers such as HBO, Disney, Discovery Communications, A&E Television Networks, Fox, Turner, NBC Universal, Showtime Networks, Starz, and Scripps Networks

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Visit the SSPI Satellite Industry Timeline to tour the decades of the Satellite Era

The SSPI Satellite Timeline is the first interactive site on the Web to chronicle the rich and diverse history of the commercial satellite industry. Launched in October 2007 – the 50th anniversary of Sputnik – the Timeline is a learning tool for satellite professionals, students, the news media and the innovative companies that make up the industry