Posted on 05/15/2007 8:10:00 AM PDT by abb
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Satellite television provider DirecTV Group Inc. may test delivering high-speed Internet service through power lines in a major U.S. city in the next year, its chief executive said on Monday.
DirecTV and others are talking to companies that specialize in providing broadband through the electrical grid, Chief Executive Chase Carey said at the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York.
"We're not the only ones talking to them," Carey said, in response to a question on whether DirecTV would consider a test in a major city. "I think you'll see some meaningful tests in this arena."
DirecTV would like to test delivering Internet access on power lines in a "top 50 city where you're covering at least half the city."
While DirecTV and fellow satellite TV operator EchoStar Communications Corp. have managed to keep increasing their subscriber base in the face of stiff competition from cable operators, Wall Street analysts have long questioned what broadband strategy the satellite operators will employ to counter competitive pressures.
"We think it would be a good thing to have a third, a fourth or a fifth entrant in broadband and if we can be helpful in pushing that forward and if there's an opportunity for us to intelligently invest in doing so, we would," said Carey.
Controlling ownership of DirecTV will change hands to media mogul John Malone's Liberty Media Holding Corp. from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. before the end of the year. Liberty Media is also a founding shareholder in broadband-over-powerline company, Current Group.
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(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Ping
Give me more. I can certainly do without the commercials, and the skyrocketing price.
By the end of the decade, they will be giving out dvds with the ticket of the movie you are at the theatre to see.
Broadband over powerlines (BPL) isn’t the answer. It’s run into trouble everywhere it’s been tried. It’s a very unsecure mode and creates massive interference to communications services.
Hmmmmmmmmmm. ROTFL
Manassas City is providing Broadband through power lines to it’s residents (I live just outside the city).
Actually, will they hand you a download code for your handheld video PDA so you can stream it on your way home from the theater over a wireless high speed connection?
Trashless! With super low overhead distribution costs. Beautiful!!!!
If this works out, ComCast and other cable providers will fade away faster than the Dinosaur Fishwraps and dying ABCNNBCBS nets.
The beginning of a whole new era in wiretapping, and the end of AM radio.
Welcome aboard DirecTV. Good luck.
Hey, check this out:
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/03/02/biz_biz1acin.html
I’ve seen it work in Cincy, and it’s SWEEEEEEEET!
I lick my chops because high-speed is not available to me in the sticks of Ohio unless I go satellite. Hardware. Lots of hardware.
PoE and now EoP.
Moloch has been trying to buy the Wall Street Journal as well........
I’ve known Rupert owned DirecTV for a long time. It’s one of the reasons, along with NFL Sunday ticket, I’m so stuck on their service. What I didn’t know was that control of DirecTV is passing from Rupert in a few months. That sux.
About an hour ago, I got a call from what turned out to be someone trying to sell me either internet or satellite service. I’m not sure which because his Paki accent was so heavy, I could only make out about one word in five. His manner was also instrusive and demanding. I hung up on him.
Gotta be the worst sales call I ever got. This guy’s future is really bleak in what he’s doing. LOL
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