|
||
|
DirecTV Targets Local HD Programming in 67 Markets by Year End |
||
|
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 11, 2006/Satnews Daily/ — DirecTV has announced it will offer local HD broadcast networks in 67 markets, representing approximately 74 percent of U.S. TV households, by year end when it rolls out 25 more local HD markets in the fourth quarter.
DirecTV said local news, sports and popular primetime programming from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC will be available in HD to customers who subscribe to its Total Choice programming package that offers local channels. It said there is no additional charge for local HD programming.
The 25 local markets to receive HD programming from DirecTV include: Albuquerque, N.M.; Mobile, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; New Orleans; Des Moines, Iowa; Norfolk, Va.; Flint, Mich.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Ft. Meyers, Fla.; Portland, Me.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Providence, R.I.; Green Bay, Wisc.; Reno, Nev.; Greensboro, N.C.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Greenville, S.C.; Spokane, Wa.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Springfield, Mo.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Toledo, Ohio; Little Rock, Ark.; Tulsa, Okla.; Madison, Wisc.
“With 67 markets receiving local HD channels from DirecTV by year end, we’ve set the stage for our historic capacity expansion in 2007,” said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president of Programming Acquisition of DirecTV. “This will enable us to leapfrog the multichannel video industry in terms of the sheer volume of HD programming available to our customers.”
He said they estimate more than 44 million homes to have HD TV sets next year.
With the launch of two new satellites – DirecTV 10 and DirecTV 11 – in 2007, DirecTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers, the company said.
DirecTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 42 HD local channel markets representing approximately 62 percent of U.S. TV households.
Recent Stories: DirecTV 9S Satellite Fueled for Oct. 12 Launch Intel, DirecTV Poised to Connect PCs and TVs in U.S. |
||
