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Dish Network satellite 129 outage knocks out HD channels nationwide - Update: Fixed!
If your Dish Network-connected TV is claiming total signal loss, then at least take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. While the company hasn't revealed exactly what the problem is, Facebook and Twitter posts indicate a "technical issue" with satellite location 129. The really bad news comes when we learned that bird is responsible for carrying many HD channels and HD locals (check the links below for a list of all channels on 129). Switching over to SD channels will let you watch (if that can really be called watching TV) most content in the short term -- DBSTalk posters advise hitting menu and selecting 1 on your remote to pull up the guide if you're having trouble. If you currently hide standard-def channels, press menu, then 8, then 1 and uncheck the "HD only" box to see the working channels for now. We'll keep checking for any updates on the situation, but for now you're on your own in a 480-line wilderness, so good luck. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Dish has a new webpage up to help customers deal with the situation here, while those who can't get through on crowded helplines are advised to check out @dish_answers on Twitter. Update 2: Dish's site linked above indicates it has "identified the issue" and estimates it will be fixed overnight. Update 3 (9/14): According to Dish Network's official Twitter account, things should be up and running again now. Satisfied? P.S. - Another helpful DBSTalk post recommends a guide data update by pressing Menu, then 999 and then the right arrow.
DirecTV will add HD locals from 16 more markets in 2010, starting in June
With a new bird in the air, there was no doubt DirecTV would be back to lighting up HD locals as quickly as possible so we're not surprised to hear 16 markets are already scheduled to be turned on this year. The first ones to go live are Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.; Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho; and Joplin-Pittsburg, Mo in June, with the rest following in the third and fourth quarter. As usual, a newer receiver and Ka/Ku band dish are required to pick up the new signals, check the press release after the break for details on upgrade plans and which other markets are in line.
DISH Network triggers HD locals in seven more markets
It may be a new year, but DISH Network is still dropping HD locals like it's going out of style. The satcaster has just announced that seven more markets can find their local broadcast networks in high-def, so we'll not keep you waiting on the details: Abilene, TX (KTAB CBS Ch. 32 and KRBC NBC Ch. 9); Joplin, MO (KODE ABC Ch. 12 and KSNF NBC Ch. 16); Little Rock, AR (KARK NBC 4); Louisville, KY (WDRB FOX Ch. 41); Springfield, MO (KOLR CBS Ch. 10 and KSFX FOX Ch. 27); Wichita Falls, TX (KFDX NBC Ch. 3 and KJTL FOX Ch. 18); and Wilkes Barre, PA (WYOU CBS Ch. 22 and WBRE NBC Ch. 28). With these additions, DISH now sits just 10 markets away from having HD locals in 100 DMAs. Almost there, DISH!
DirecTV fires up HD locals in Greenville-New Bern, NC
The Greenville-New Bern, North Carolina market is one of the smaller big markets (if that makes any sense) that DirecTV serves, but apparently it's big enough to warrant the inclusion of HD locals. In fact, the move to light up the local stations in high-def comes just months after DISH Network decided to do so here, giving us the impression that it's simply trying to keep up. Whatever the reason, we're sure DirecTV subscribers in the region are ecstatic with the additions.
Elmira-Corning, NY viewers to finally get ABC and CBS in high-def
Just in time for the NFL playoffs and March Madness, TV viewers in the Elmira-Corning, New York area will suddenly have lots more to cheer about when firing up the tube. ABC affiliate WENY-TV, alongside CBS affiliate WENY-DT2, will finally deliver programming to locals in high-definition "within the next week or two." The addition of ABC and CBS in HD to the area has been a long time coming, and it's actually being pushed back a few days as the network waits for a few last minute hardware acquisitions to arrive. HD channel additions are always welcome, but getting broadcast stations in high-def... now that's something special.
Tallahassee enjoys new DirecTV HD locals alone & lonely
Tallahassee, Florida DirecTV customers, we hope you're enjoying your WCTV/CBS, WTWC/NBC and WTLH/Fox high definition locals, because you're getting them alone. This solo market addition to the DirecTV offerings brings the total to 116 (five left for 121), although we're not sure that will make Panhandle residents feel more included. Unofficially, a commenter reports WTTV in Indianapolis is live now as well, maybe you can form a support group?
DirecTV brings PBS to 10 additional markets
Nearly a year after an agreement was reached between DirecTV and the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS), it appears they didn't want to keep anyone waiting long after the first wave of deployments, with ten new markets chosen for PBS service via satellite. We know you've been missing your NOVA and Ken Burns docs so check after the break for areas and stations. Not listed? More rollouts are due before the end of this year and into the next.
DirecTV brings PBS HD to 14 local markets
DirecTV's taking a break from its usual HD rollout escapades to focus specifically on PBS. Millions of subscribers will now be able to enjoy Public Broadcasting Service content in glistening high-definition, with 14 markets going live today and more planned before the year's end. As of now, customers in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City-Dubuque, Iowa; Chicago; Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island-Moline, Ill.; Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Norfolk-Newport News, Va.; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas have access, and the rest of ya will just have to wait.
DISH Network brings HD locals to eight more markets
Just a day after DISH Network announced that HD locals would be arriving in Louisville, Kentucky, now the satcaster is bringing 'em to eight new markets. Starting today, DISH subscribers in Charleston-Huntington, W.V.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, Pa.; Jacksonville, Fl.; Lexington, Ky.; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Louisville, Ky.; Wichita Falls, Texas and Lawton, Okla. can tune into their locals in high-def for the first time without an OTA antenna. Enjoy, folks!
DISH Network adds HD locals in Louisville, Kentucky
Residents of Louisville, Kentucky have been begging and pleading for HD locals for what seems like ages now, and at long last the yelling and hollering can subside. As of now, residents of the city with DISH Network can receive three of their local broadcast stations in high-def: WHAS-TV (5170), WLKY-TV (5171) and WAVE-TV (5172). As expected, they're being delivered via MPEG-4, so you'll need a receiver compatible with that format in order to tune in.
DirecTV adds HD locals in six more markets
Just six more to go until DirecTV hits the 121 markets promised HD locals by year end, customers in Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; El Paso, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.; Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.; and Rockford, Ill. joined the party today. Which ones are available in each market are your and are best guess, but Kevin let us know that Fort Wayne snapped on CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, and FOX, so here's hoping for the best.[Thanks, Kevin]
Dutch public broadcasters hitting the HD switch in 2009
Now here's a trend we can really get behind. Just weeks after four French national channels decided that the grass was greener (or at least clearer) on the high-def side, a trio of Dutch broadcasters have announced their intentions to follow suit. Beginning in Q2 2009, Nederland 1, 2 and 3 will begin broadcasting in high-definition, and initially 15% of all primetime content will be shot in HD; the rest will "upscaled to HD," which frightens us just a wee bit. We're also told that carriage negotiations are already underway with "all major distributing platforms including cablers UPC and Ziggo," but only time will tell if anyone is willing to sacrifice the bandwidth for the sake of high quality.
DirecTV lights up HD locals in six new markets
DirecTV's a few months behind on finishing up its summer HD locals expansion, but we're pretty sure subscribers in six new markets are willing to forgive the delay now that their favorite broadcast networks are in shining high-def. As of now, customers in Boise, Idaho; Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas; Macon, Georgia; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Traverse City-Cadillac, Michigan; and Fort Smith, Arkansas can tap into HD locals via DirecTV, and the satcaster can now claim that over 86% of US households are within range of 'em.
DISH Network expands MPEG-4 delivery, adds HD locals in six markets
Just a few short days after DISH Network transitioned 11 of its East Coast markets to MPEG-4, in comes word that it has added 21 more (all classified as "East Coast") to bump the grand total to 52 regions. In somewhat related news, we've also learned that six more DMAs can look forward to HD locals today. In no particular order, we've got Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri; Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; Lincoln and Hastings-Kearney, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk, Illinois; and Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas joining the fray. The half dozen new additions means that DISH now serves up HD locals in 76 markets across the US, and it hopefully also means that the next wave isn't too far behind.Read - DISH Network MPEG-4 expansionRead - DISH Network HD locals expansion
DirecTV drops in HD locals for Colorado Springs-Pueblo, CO / Dayton, OH
DirecTV customers that have been surviving with an SD feed of KOAA (NBC), KKTV (CBS) and KXRM (FOX) in Colorado Springs-Pueblo can finally rejoice. We're here to inform you that you won't have to spend yet another long, lonely winter without 30 Rock in high-def. As of today, the satcaster has delivered those three locals in high-def to the aforesaid DMA, which brings the grand total to 103 cities across the United States. You've still got 18 to go before the year's out to meet that goal of 121 locales this year, DirecTV -- the clock's ticking!Update: Looks like DirecTV delivered all four of the broadcast networks today in Dayton, Ohio. 'Grats!
DirecTV now carrying HD locals in 100 markets
While DISH Network just recently hit market number 70, DirecTV is throwing itself a party after reaching the big 100. With the addition of Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri and Evansville, Indiana, the satcaster can now claim to have HD locals available in a hundred US regions. The milestone means that some 83% of the US can now get DirecTV and their HD locals sans an OTA antenna, and if all goes to plan, it'll hit 121 cities by the year's end. We suppose a round of golf claps is in order.
DISH Network unloads HD locals in a handful of new markets
Of late, it's been DirecTV doing all the dishing of HD locals, but at long last, we've got its biggest, most bitter rival stepping to the plate and doing some damage, too. As it's fall HD locals rollout continues, DISH Network has gone live with 'em in a bevy of new places. We're talking Florence / Myrtle Beach, SC, Fort Myers / Naples, FL, Greenville / New Bern / Washington, NC, Madison, WI and Wilkes Barre / Scranton, PA. As it stands, the satcaster now offers locals in high-def in 70 markets reaching 71% of the US, but really, all that matters is if you're in that 71%, right?
DirecTV not done yet, brings HD locals to Norfolk-Newport News, VA / Charleston, SC
Just when you thought DirecTV was through after announcing HD locals for two more of its market today, in comes a couple of new reports confirming that both the Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina DMAs were gifted as well. For the former, customers can look forward to seeing their local ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS affiliates in high-def, while the latter region gets all of those plus WMMP (MyNetworkTV). Any others you'd like to toss our way while you're at it? We've got a list of HD-starved DMAs just begging over here.Read - Norfolk-Newport News, VA rolloutRead - Charleston, SC rollout
DirecTV uncorks HD locals in Springfield-Holyoke, MA / Savannah, GA
Now that we've officially hit fall here in the US of A, we suppose DirecTV should revamp is HD rollout plans to include this season. Nevertheless, the satcaster is slowly but surely wrapping up its summer plans by bringing HD locals to the Springfield-Holyoke, Massachusetts and Savannah, Georgia DMAs. Both markets can now tune into their local CBS, NBC and ABC affiliates in HD, though FOX was strangely omitted for both. Hope you weren't looking forward to the World Series in high-def or anything...Read - Springfield-Holyoke, MA rolloutRead - Savannah, Georgia
DirecTV adds HD locals in three markets
Summer's over, but DirecTV isn't done with its rollout of local HD channels. Leading off the fall additions are Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL, Burlington, VT-Plattsburgh, NY, and the Myrtle Beach-Florence S.C. areas. With these in, that brings the total of areas with local HD channels on satellite to 94, with 27 more planned for the rest of the year. Peep the read links to find out which channels in which markets.Read - Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill.Read - Burlington Vt.-Plattsburgh N.Y.Read - Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
