[Satellite TODAY 10-15-09] Telesat’s Nimiq 5 broadcast satellite was placed into commercial service on Oct. 10, the operator announced Oct. 14.
All available capacity on Nimiq 5 is leased to EchoStar for the life of the satellite and will be used to deliver direct-to-home television, including HDTV and other specialty programming. 
Nimiq 5, launched Sept. 18 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) and is equipped with 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders. The spacecraft is in geostationary orbit at the 72.7 degrees West slot.