The high-capacity spacecraft is based on the SSL 1300 platform, T14 is a 20-kilowatt class Ka-band and reverse-band digital broadcast satellite that will be used to deliver Ultra HD and other new consumer services for DirecTV.

DirecTV delivers hundreds of channels of digital programming to more than 31 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America with small-diameter dish antennas.

[6] Michael White, chairman, president and CEO of DirecTV, was skeptical of the prospects for 4K in the past but was determined to stay on the bleeding edge of broadcast technologies.

DBS is expected to provide ample room for delivering 4K programs and other advanced services to customers.

Customers who have DirecTV's Genie HD DVR are able to watch 4K programming on supporting 2014 Samsung UHD TVs.