Once upon a time DirecTV 1-R used to beam satellite pay-TV signals to North America. Now replaced the craft has been rented by Russia’s satellite TV broadcaster Tricolor TV.

Tricolor will use the old satellite (which launched in October 1999) to continue its transmissions. DirecTV 1-R has been leased to Russian Satellite Communications Co.,(RSCC)  and is being moved to 56 degrees East as a stop-gap service to replace RSCC’s Bonum-1 satellite and because a planned replacement satellite (Express-AT1) has been delayed for launch. AT1 is not likely to launch until the end of next year. Bonum-1 will work alongside DirecTV 1-R until the launch of AT1.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite