That Optus D3 satellite, which should be bringing a whole heap of new HD channels to Foxtel, among other things, is all set to launch in the middle of August. Here’s hoping everything goes smoothly – as good as all those HD sports channels and nature documentaries are, I’m really just waiting for Sci-Fi to go HD…
[Arianespace via @jendudley]
matt
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 3:15 PMcool, might be worth getting then.
Michael
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 3:44 PMSCI-FI digital would be awesome.
Why is it called the Optus D3 Satellite? Am I just getting the brands mixed up here?
Mitchell Sheldrick
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 1:00 AMWell… it’s just Optus’ model numbers for satellites:
This is the rundown on the Optus Satellites:
AUSSAT A1 – Graveyard Orbit
AUSSAT A2 – Graveyard Orbit
AUSSAT A3 – Graveyard Orbit
AUSSAT B1 – Graveyard Orbit
Optus B2 – Destroyed on Launch
Optus B3 – Graveyard Orbit
Optus C1 – Current Foxtel Satellite (Which D3 will be co-located with)
Optus D1 – in Geostationary Orbit
Optus D2 – in Geostationary Orbit
Optus D3 – Launching mid-August
Michael
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 10:08 AMThanks Mitchell
Tony
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12:35 AMHey All,
Just so I understand this, I currently have Foxtel through satellite and can’t access channel 7 or the Free to Air HD channels on my IQ2 box.
Once this is launched can I view all these through the IQ2 box?
Tony
Nick Broughall
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 6:59 AMTheoretically yes – Foxtel has said in the past that the extra bandwidth they get from this satellite will let them retransmit the HD channels (as well as 7 SD) However, until it happens, I wouldn’t be holding my breath – who knows what the FTAs will do?
Mitchell Sheldrick
Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 11:18 PMApparently Foxtel offered to re-transmit FTA HD on Satellite but the networks declined…
also Seven will become available in Melbourne and Brisbane when the satellite is in use and i also assume One SD will as well.
jibbler
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 11:10 AMThe FTA stations have got this country by the balls :( In the UK and New Zealand all FTA and HD channels are broadcast via satellite for payTV subscribers, and have done for years.
See my post http://discuss.itwire.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=15079#p53349 regarding a response from Foxtel regarding the retransmission of FTA 7 and HD. Essentially 7 are holding out, as they’ve done for years (probably because they have their finger in the Tivo pie) and the rest of the channels are probably after more money. Don’t they realise that it’s FREE TV regardless of whether Foxtel broadcast it or not!