In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers more than 130 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for nine years running.

ENGADGET: blogger-avatar

In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers access to 160 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for nine years running.

ENGADGET: n3D presents History Channel's The Universe in 3D on July 30

But on February 1st, he started a new job as CEO of Revolution Analytics, the company supporting, spreading, and enhancing R, the open-source statistics and predictive analytics programming language.

FORBES: Revolution in the Big Data and Business Landscape

DirecTV and EchoStar are making another stab at the FCC, but if that fails the satellite guys can only hope for passage of a Senate bill cosponsored by John Ensign (R-Nev.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would require cablers to sell all programming regardless of how it is transmitted.

FORBES: Playing Hardball