Chinese television satellite fails to deploy, millions disappointed

You know how everyone's talking about how China is going to overtake us in jobs, research, and innovation in the next few decades? Well, allow us to insecurely and self-consciously jab at our friends across the Pacific. See, the Chinese government had this fantastic idea that it was going to provide free satellite TV to every household from Urumqui to Beijing. Except there was one small problem -- the Sinosat II satellite, which was launched late last month, didn't deploy its solar panel nor its antenna properly, basically making it unusable. Of course, the SINO Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. is unwilling to confirm the mechanical failure, even though the problem was reported by the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy. The Agence France Presse reports that SSC is still going forward with the Sinosat III launch sometime in the first six months of 2007. Best of luck with that, guys. Really.

[Via Fark, photo courtesy AFP]

[Rocket Punch @ Nov 30th 2006 12:30PM]

Well at least no one died from this space mishap. The only big difference between USA and China is China is not very efficient in concealing their mistakes and covering their tracks. So people do hear about it more often.

In terms of the labor market, you can't really blame them, as it is the US companies that can't afford US labor (Thanks Union!). I mean, seriously, do you honestly think the Xbox360 would still be $399 if its built in USA?

[Grizz @ Nov 29th 2006 1:10PM]

Step one: Profound promise of terrific service
Step two: Proceed with military application under guise of Profound promise
Step three: ????
Step four: Suppression!!!!

[CharlieX @ Nov 29th 2006 1:27PM]

Well at least they didn't forget to correct for miles vs. kilometers and have their multi-million dollar research satellite completely miss the planet.

[Andrew @ Nov 29th 2006 2:02PM]

It didn't miss...

[Keef @ Nov 29th 2006 1:37PM]

Free perverted shows for all!!!!

when it works anyway....

[Richard @ Nov 29th 2006 2:06PM]

Shoudn't the headline read " ... billions disappointed"?

[Dan McNevin @ Nov 29th 2006 2:26PM]

Did the xenophobia also come from Fark? It seems sort of out of place on Engadget.

[badnegro @ Nov 29th 2006 8:52PM]

@Matt B

mahahahahahahahaha! Dude, that was some funny sh|t!

I almost pee'd a little...

[Johan S @ Nov 29th 2006 4:40PM]

Granted, the Chinese govt. does often suppress stuff. This was apparently reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua a week ago.

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/China_Broadcasting_Satellite_SinoSat_2_Fails_Just_10_Days_After_Launch_999.html

And recently:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-11/29/content_5408389.htm

How about checking Google? "Of course"

[Phil @ Nov 29th 2006 5:36PM]

Crying "xenophobia" over a little friendly jabbing seems a bit extreme.

But the Chinese have this idea right, they just need better implementation. Imagine if the United States government sponsored a similar satellite network. They could license the spectrum usage just like they do with other radio technologies and:

1. No more price gouging by cable companies and DirectTV and DishNet.

2. TV (and set top box) manufacturers would have a single standard to build into devices sold in the USA, and this would encourage incredible competition, consumer choice, and job creation while a much larger number of device manufacturers would get in the game.

3. No more bull$hit CableCard or needing receivers/cableboxes in each room, because some enterprising company would make a set-top box that would just boost the signal through the whole house over existing coax, and leave it to the TVs in each room to convert the signal. Media center usage would increase.

4. Pay channels and pay-per-view would still function (and have a much larger market) if the standard was well-made, but we wouldn't have to pay extra to get channels like Animal Planet which are routinely being moved off basic services into premium services despite their advertising revenue models.

5. A single standard for satellite HD broadcast.

6. I'm sure there is more.

[Murc @ Dec 3rd 2006 3:32AM]

Phil...wow, your quite the communist luvr.

Sure is has some upsides to it...but there far more downsides. The first of which is that the government has complete control over you...and your 1.2 billion neighbors. They can completely control the media...if something is bad for there image...they deny it, and dont show it to there people.

I would not like this system in the US...I like/want a small government.
and most cable companies dont gouge...they have to keep there prices as low as possible to compete with other cable (& sat) companies.

long story short...the people of China should be thankfull that they have 6 more months of not being spoonfed from their government.

[BobbyW @ Nov 29th 2006 9:23PM]

How did the Russians manage so much of this stuff that their fellow commies can't get done?