Direct TV's current satellites won't last another 10 or 20 years. They are constantly replacing them with newer technology. I don't think things are as dire as

Direct TV's current satellites won't last another 10 or 20 years. They are constantly replacing them with newer technology. I don't think things are as dire as you suggest, but worst-case DTV simply won't replace the satellites as they wear out. Orbital slots are valuable, but I don't think those are actually owned by DTV. If they're not using a slot, then someone else is free to ask the FCC for it. Which means that it behooves DTV to find something else to do with the slot. E.g. Internet.