| On October 13, 2006 DIRECT TV satellite TV launched a ninth satellite, the DIRECTV 9S, from Europe’s Spaceport in Kouou, French Guinea. Lift-off occurred at 21:56 GMT/UTC. The new high-powered spot-beam satellite will provide backup services and more local standard-definition local channels throughout the US coverage area. Four prior satellites have been launched over the past two years. Currently, DIRECT TV offers standard definition local channels to more than 94% of the nation's TV households.
More satellite launches are planned for next year to further expand the high definition (HD) local channels across the country. DIRECTV10 and DIRECTV11 are scheduled to tentatively launch in 2007 to offer extended national HD coverage.
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