locals
Latest
SuddenLink drops Austin, Texas NBC affiliate (KXAN-TV)
For SuddenLink subscribers in the Austin, Texas area, we certainly hope you've got a spare antenna laying around. As of today, KXAN-TV (the Austin NBC affiliate) will no longer be carried on its cable system, and in case you haven't already guessed the reason, here's the long and short of it: cash. Apparently, LIN TV (KXAN's owner) and SuddenLink have not been able to agree on the station's fair market value, and rather than just taking what's offered, it has decided to simply pull away from the operator. It was noted that LIN TV had successfully reached agreements with other cable operators, telephone companies and satellite providers, and its president and GM suggested that SuddenLink subscribers view the channel in SD or HD via "alternative means, such as an antenna or by switching to a satellite service." Of course, it seems that negotiations will continue, but there's no way to know when (or if) the station will reappear on SuddenLink's lineup.
DirecTV adds NBC & CBS HD for Waco customers
Just in case you thought they were focusing only on national HDTV channels, DirecTV recently announced it's adding local channels in Texas. Waco-area customers don't need bunny ears to get KCEN/NBC and KWTX/CBS in 1080i anymore. DirecTV's up to 67 markets with HD locals, provided customers have the right equipment.
NAB scolds cable companies for downconverting HD locals
We've certainly seen the head honchos give the cable companies a piece of their mind before, but this time the carriers are receiving a fairly stiff scolding care of the National Association of Broadcasters. David Rehr made sure to make every moment of his speech segment count, as he ripped cable providers for "downconverting" the signals of local channels in order to boost the bandwidth available to "their own high-definition signals." Mr. Rehr even went so far as to call the process "broadcast discrimination," and we can only presume that certain providers -- such as Time Warner, who has ties to HBO and Comcast, which is strongly linked to Versus / Golf Channel -- are the targets of recent battles. Unsurprisingly, anonymous cable services have reportedly denied the claims of delusion, but how do the actual end-users see it? Let us know folks: is your cable company giving preferential treatment to channels it has vested interest in?[Via HiDefster]
Charter cable customers in St. Louis could lose KMOV HD signal
Apparently, love isn't the only game that requires a bit of give and take, as just months after Charter blessed its St. Louis, Missouri customers with two new sparkling HD channels (TNT-HD and MHD), the firm is now about to remove one. Charter Communications has reportedly hit a wall in discussions with Belo. Corp. (which owns KMOV) in regard to the fees that the station wishes to collect from Charter. Although Charter hasn't had any issues receiving permission from other locals to broadcast their HD signals, KMOV is playing hardball, suggesting that Charter pay up to compensate for the "value gained" by having the HD flavor of their station available to users. Of course, the cable company complains that charging for signals that can be received over the air gratis is absurd, and neither party seems to be budging just yet. St. Louis Charter subscribers could lose the signal "as early as tomorrow" unless any band-aids get applied today, but either way, you'll soon be receiving a letter in the mail explaining why there's a sudden black hole where KMOV used to be if things aren't permanently resolved.
DirecTV rolls out HD local channels to Reno, Portland & Madison
DirecTV has started rolling out a few of the 25 markets it promised to add this year, bringing locals via MPEG-4 satellite to Madison, Reno, and Portland (Maine). You know the drill by now, new satellite and receiver are necessary, the new HR20 will work. Now the total number of markets with locals are up to 45. The stations added in each area are as follows: Madison, Wisconsin WISC/CBS, WMSN/FOX and WMTV/NBC Reno, Nevada KOLO/ABC, KTVN/CBS and KRXI/FOX Portland, Maine WMTW/ABC, WGME/CBS and WCSH/NBC [Corrected swapped stations, thanks Tristan!]
DirecTV adds HD locals in 25 markets
DirecTV continues to roll out MPEG-4 local channels in HD across the country, today announcing 25 markets that will be added during the fourth quarter. This brings the total number of local markets with HD to 67, representing nearly three-quarters of US households. As always, customers will need a new dish and receiver to get the ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox channels. No extra cost for the programming, which is available to all with Total Choice programming including local channels, but it might also be a good time to upgrade to the new HR20 DVR. This rollout seems to have gone pretty smoothly, starting at the end of 2005 with just New York and LA to this, and DirecTV still plans to have capacity for 150 national HD channels in 2007 thanks to two new satellites. The list follows after the break.
DirecTV adds HD locals in Austin, Cincinnati and Las Vegas
Sure bandwidth issues are forcing DirecTV to play musical chairs with its HD channel lineup, that hasn't stopped it from adding local stations in several areas recently. Austin, Cincinnati and Las Vegas are all among the cities to get MPEG-4 local broadcasts. As with the others, to get the new stations you'll need a new dish and receiver. According to the press release, this brings the count of cities with local HD via satellite to 42, covering 62 percent of US households, and contiuing on track to provide 150 national HD stations plus 1,500 local in 2007. The new stations are: Austin, Texas KEYE/CBS, KVUE/ABC and KTBC/FOX Cincinnati, Ohio WKRC/CBS, WCPO/ABC, WXIX/FOX and WLWT/NBC Las Vegas, Nevada KTNV/ABC and KVVU/FOX
DirecTV continues adding HD locals nationwide
DirecTV continues to roll out the MPEG-4 locals, today announcing a slew of cities new to the list, all starting broadcasts today. As always, DirecTV subscribers will need to have the correct new 5 LNB satellite dish & receiver to get the new broadcasts.The areas & stations announced today are: Denver, Colorado: KMGH/ABC, KCNC/CBS, KDVR/FOX, KUSA/NBC Hartford, Connecticut: WFSB/CBS, WVIT/NBC Miami, Florida: WPLG/ABC, WFOR/CBS, WSVN/FOX and WTVJ/NBC West Palm Beach, Florida: WPBF/ABC, WPTV/NBC Baltimore, Maryland: WMAR/ABC, WJZ/CBS, WNFF/FOX, WBAL/NBC Charlotte, North Carolina: WSOC/ABC, WCCB/FOX, WCNC/NBC Raleigh-Duram, North Carolina: WTVD/ABC, WNCN/NBC Cleveland, Ohio: WEWS/ABC, WJW/FOX, WKYC/NBC Olando, FloridaWFTV/ABC, WKMG/CBS, WOFL/FOX, WESH/NBC [Thanks for the tip Andy!][Update: added Orlando stations]
DirecTV adds high definition locals to Fresno and...Fresno
That's it. Just Fresno. Although I'm sure our HD Beat Fresno readership is glad to hear it, previous DirecTV releases have been a bit meatier on the number of added local areas. Still, KFSN/ABC and KGPE/CBS are live today and we're sure many are glad for it. Per the usual, you'll need the new dish and receiver combo to get these MPEG-4 broadcasts.Fresno, today is your day in the sun.
DISH HD locals hit Denver
Since Echostar, the parent company of DISH Network, is based in Englewood, Colorado, we thought that Denver would be the very first city to get high-def locals from DISH. After all, Englewood is just a few miles from Denver; close enough to get locals in high definition for free over-the-air! Hopefully, there wasn't an angry mob in Englewood these past few weeks, and if there was, well they can all settle down and head home now that DISH is providing local high-def in MPEG-4.Sorry Charlie, there's no NBC in HD for Denver yet, but ABC, CBS and FOX are now available.
