T12, formerly known as D12, is a Boeing model 702 satellite built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center. It was launched on December 29, 2009 and became operational on May 19, 2010. It is used by

DirecTV DirecTV (trademarked as DIRECTV) is an American multichannel video programming distributor based in El Segundo, California. Originally launched on June 17, 1994, its primary service is a digital satellite service serving the United States. I ...

to provide additional high definition channels and

Video on demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos without a traditional video playback device and the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. In the 20th century, broadcasting in the form of ...

content, as well as

3DTV 3D television (3DTV) is television that conveys depth perception to the viewer by employing techniques such as stereoscopic display, multi-view display, 2D-plus-depth, or any other form of 3D display. Most modern 3D television sets use an acti ...

channels and content. The satellite adopted its current name in 2017.

Technology

This satellite is similar to T10 and T11, but features a 17/24 GHz BSS payload carrying the moniker RB-2A. It is co-located with T10 very near 103.0°W.

Launch data

On November 27, the satellite was shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

desert from the Boeing facility in El Segundo, California.Russia prepares for December launch of DirecTV satellite
/ref> T12 was launched successfully by

International Launch Services International Launch Services, Inc. (ILS) is a joint venture with exclusive rights to the worldwide sale of commercial Angara and Proton rocket launch services. Proton launches take place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan while Angara is l ...

on December 29, 2009 at 6:22 AM Kahzakstan time (00:22 UTC) DIRECTV HD and Movie Choices to Get a Lift With Successful Satellite Launch DIRECTV 12 Boosts Satellite Fleet's Capacity to More Than 200 HD Channels; Begins Operation First Half of Next Year
DirecTV Press Release December 29, 2009 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in

aboard an Enhanced Proton

Breeze-M The Briz-K, Briz-KM and Briz-M (russian: Бриз-К, КM and M meaning ''Breeze-K, KM and M'') are Russian liquid-propellant rocket orbit insertion upper stages manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and used on t ...

rocket. The launch was televised publicly live on DirecTV channel 577, on

C-Band satellite The C band is a designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 Hertz, gigahertz (GHz). However, th ...

, and online at ILS's website.

Testing stage

T12 reached 76° W on February 11, 2010 and began testing 2 days later. After 3 weeks of scheduled testing, RB-2A began being tested. On April 23, T12 was granted a Special Temporary Authority to continue testing at 76° W for 30 more days. Testing was completed in late April.

Drift to final position

On March 31, 2010 DirecTV filed a Special Temporary Authority for permission to drift to its final position at 103° W. It was granted on April 23. It reached its final position on May 11 and began operations on May 13. Boeing handed the satellite over to DirecTV on May 17.

Broadcasting to customers

T12 increased DirecTV's national HD channel capacity to over 200 channels and expanded its availability of local channels in HD. DirecTV has used the new satellite to add more HD channels, expand its pay-per-view movie service "DirecTV Cinema" and on demand titles.DirecTV Using A Window Of Opportunity
Investors.com July 1, 2010 It also carried

channels. DirecTV began adding new HD channels on May 19 and continued June 23 and later in the summer. DirecTV added the first 3D channel to T12,

ESPN 3D ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The co ...

, on June 11, and new channels n3D and a pay-per-view 3D movie channel on July 1. A few more HD channels were added onto it in the fall of 2010, the winter of 2010-11, and the spring and summer of 2011; and more in 2012. The 3DTV channels were removed by 2014 due to consumer disinterest in the format.

References