HdLocals
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Six more markets get HD locals on DirecTV
Can't say it still feels like summer in some parts of the US, but regardless of semantics, DirecTV is forging ahead with its HD locals rollout. Effective immediately, a half dozen more markets can find at least a couple of the big broadcast stations in HD, with Mobile, Richmond, South Bend, Syracuse, Toledo and Youngstown all getting gifted. For details on which DMA got which stations, head on down to the read link.[Thanks, VANBROTHERS]
DirecTV adds local HD channels in Little Rock, Springfield, MO and Baton Rouge
Check a few more areas off of DirecTV's summer hit list, with the Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Springfield Missouri and Baton Rouge, Louisiana markets all experiencing HD locals starting today. According to the satellite company, that adds up to 85 cities and 78 percent of U.S. households served, with 36 more markets to add before the end of the year. The long list continues to unfurl, we're guessing DirecTV had a pretty awesome "what I did over my summer vacation" story for the rest of the class.Read - Little Rock-Pine BluffRead - SpringfieldRead - Baton Rouge
DirecTV adds HD locals in Chattanooga, Augusta, Johnstown-Altoona
Coming right back is DirecTV, just a few days after activating HD locals in New York and Nebraska comes word that Johnstown-Altoona, PA, Chattanooga, TN and Augusta, GA are the latest in its 44 planned local rollouts this summer/fall. Better hurry DirecTV, the days are already getting shorter. Beyond the read links is the list of newly-added local networks, proceed with caution, or reckless abandon, it's pretty much the same to us either way.Read - Johnstown-Altoona, PaRead - Chattanooga, TennRead - Augusta, Ga
DirecTV launches HD locals in Rochester, NY and Lincoln, NE
No surprises here, but we figured you'd be interested in knowing that DirecTV is indeed keeping its promise of rolling out HD locals in a few new markets this summer. According to an attentive local in Rochester, New York, high-def locals have been fired up in his area, and according to official verbiage from the satcaster, Lincoln, NE can say the same. With 44 DMAs on tap, we suspect this will be the first two in a long, long list that will unfold as the months progress.[Thanks, Jim]
DirecTV announces next 44 markets to get HD locals
Not quite a month after DISH Network unveiled its summer / fall HD locals, DirecTV is continuing to excite by announcing its next 44 markets that will receive HD locals. According to the company, it will be providing local HD broadcasts in 121 cities by the end of 2008, which will reportedly represent 88-percent of US TV households. Just after 30 some-odd new HD channels go live on August 14th, it will begin rolling out HD locals to cities like Augusta, GA, Baton Rouge, LA, Boise, ID, Chattanooga, TN and El Paso, TX. There are 39 more markets to scan through in the read link -- here's to hoping your locale is listed!
DISH Network goes live with HD locals in Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas
We'll admit, DISH Network's latest press release isn't all that thrilling for folks outside of Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas, but it's entirely better to see something like this rather than another funeral invite for its latest satellite. DISH has just lit up HD locals in the aforesaid area, simultaneously putting another check mark on its summer rollout list and giving everyone else hope that they'll be next. Yeehaw!
DISH Network gets official with summer / fall HD locals
Remember those 20-some-odd cities we heard were getting HD locals via DISH Network earlier this year? Yeah, the satcaster has just now gotten around to confirming what we already knew, but it's good to have something to hold 'em to, regardless. As of today, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Memphis, Tennessee can both look forward to seeing their local channels in high-definition, while 22 other markets are on the clock. As for timing, all we know is that these 22 will be launched sometime during summer / fall of 2008, but it looks like you'll be waiting patiently to find out if your market is closer to going live now or later. Tap the read link for the full list of locales.
Poll: Do you tune into OTA programming?
So we've invaded your personal space before by asking how many options you have for HD programming, and we've also wondered about the primary medium of delivery, but this week's question hovers around the tried-and-true antenna. We're simply curious to know how many of you out there still rely on OTA programming for some or all of your HDTV consumption? Are there enough locals to keep you from shelling out to a pay-TV provider every month? Do you supplement your service with OTA offerings? Or do you tune into OTA locals just because they look better than what's delivered via cable? Deposit your vote below.[Image courtesy of HMSTV] %Poll-16082%
LIN TV channels already hitting DirecTV households
Whoa, that was speedy. Just hours after the retransmission agreement between LIN TV and DirecTV was made public, hordes of subscribers are jumping for joy. Why all the leaping, you ask? Because many of the channels in the pact are already airing in gorgeous HD around the country. Flip on your tele and let us know if you're so lucky.[Thanks, Rob]
LIN TV and DirecTV reach retransmission agreement
LIN TV sure does take these retransmission agreements seriously, and while it seems that things aren't going so great between it and Charter, all is well with DirecTV. The recent agreement covers television stations "owned and / or operated by LIN TV in 15 markets," including networks in Albuquerque, Austin, Buffalo, Dayton, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Springfield, Providence, Norfolk, Toledo, Mobile, Hartford-New Haven and Ft. Wayne. Of course, we never really heard that there was any discord between these two parties in particular, but it's good to see all systems are go at least for the foreseeable future.
DISH Network brings HD locals to Buffalo, New York
Look out, DISH Network subscribers -- the summertime HD locals rollout is officially on. Precisely a week after we spotted the latest batch of locales on DISH's short list to receive ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in high-def, along comes word that Buffalo, New York has already been tapped. Per usual, there's no word on what markets will be selected next, but you can rest assured that you'll know just as soon as we do.
DISH Network's summer HD locals rollout gets revealed
With April and May almost behind us, there's only one place left to turn our attention to: summer. During a recent DISH Network Retailer Chat, a snapshot was captured showing a list of locales in which the satcaster will hopefully flip on HD locals in the next few months. According to Satellite Guys' Scott Greczkowski, DISH will be turning the new list of cities on "as soon as it has them setup and running," and a number of those listed would have already been live if not for "technical delays." Ready to see if your town made the summertime cut? Head on past the break for the full list.
DISH Network flips on HD locals in Ft. Myers / Naples, Florida
Considering that Ft. Meyers, Florida was scheduled to have its HD locals flipped on via DISH Network back in April, we can imagine that residents are slightly perturbed about the wait. Nevertheless, folks looking for any possible reason to sneak inside and escape the record-setting heat can finally celebrate the addition of high-def locals in Naples and Ft. Myers. There's no word on which channels are being added, so we'll go ahead and assume that FOX, CBS, ABC and NBC stations are all showing now in beautiful high-definition. Let us know if anything changes, though.
DISH Network opens up HD locals in Hartford, CT / Portland, ME
This day last week, DISH Network brought HD locals to Norfolk, Virginia. Today, it's doing the same for Hartford-New Haven, Connecticut and Portland-Auburn, Maine. If you'll recall, neither of these two markets were included on DISH's master list of Spring rollouts, but for whatever reason, it's showing New England some serious love. No mention is made of what channels are being made available, so we'll cautiously assume that the Big Four (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) will be ready for viewing in glorious high-def.
DISH Network gets official with HD locals in Norfolk, VA
Don't look now, but DISH Network is holding tight to its Spring rollout schedule by introducing HD locals to Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News, Virginia here on the first day of May. Curiously enough, DISH isn't announcing any other new locales along with it, but we suspect a slow trickle of these releases will find their way out as the month continues. Competition just got a little stiffer, didn't it Cox?
DISH Network launching HD locals in South Bend, Indiana?
Last we checked, South Bend, Indiana wasn't on DISH Network's master list of cities to receive HD locals in April or May, but sure enough, it seems as if the locale will be joining that exclusive club after all. According to a resident, DISH sent out an email informing him that HD locals "were available in his area," and while he's yet to contact the satcaster to verify, it does match up with some lingering reports from earlier this month that South Bend could be launched soon. So, any other locations finding HD locals from DISH right out of the blue?[Thanks, Josh]Update: Seems DISH may have pulled a trigger too early here. We'll keep listening to see if South Bend really is one of the next in line to get HD locals. Thanks, Jason!
DISH Network makes it official: eight more HD local markets
Just as we had heard, DISH Network has indeed thrown HD locals into the mix for eight more markets. As of today, subscribers in Burlington - Plattsburgh, Vermont, Greensboro - High Point - Winston Salem, North Carolina, Greenville - Spartanburg - Asheville - Anderson, South Carolina, Huntsville - Decatur, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, Knoxville, Tennessee, Mobile - Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), Alabama and Providence - New Bedford, Rhode Island can tune into at least three of the big four national broadcast stations. If your city isn't on this list, yet it's squarely placed on this one, we'd say you're one step closer to joining the in-crowd.
DISH Network ready to launch HD locals in eight more markets?
Call it a hunch, but we're being told that DISH Network is gearing up to launch HD locals in eight new markets within the next 24 to 48 hours. Right around a week after it got busy with its last round of HD local rollouts, we're fully expecting a handful of other cities to get the same treatment. In no specific order, Greensboro, NC, Providence, RI, Burlington, VT, Greenville, SC and Knoxville, TN will all see high-def versions of their nearby ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Meanwhile, Huntsville, AL (CBS, NBC, FOX), Jackson, MS (ABC, CBS, NBC) and Mobile, AL (ABC, CBS, FOX) will be receiving higher-resolution versions of three out of the four major broadcast networks. Keep a close on that EPG, and be sure to let us know when these areas go live.[Thanks, HDJ]
DISH Network brings HD locals to three more cities
While a few Baltimore, MD and Columbia, SC residents were lamenting the fact that May-bound launches such as Richmond, VA occurred before they got their own taste of HD locals, hopefully we can now put aside all that angst. Announced today, Baltimore and Columbia are joining Green Bay, WI in the HD locals parade, and seeing that there is no mention of any networks being left out, we're going to hesitantly assume that the trio of markets all have access to their respective ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Fire up the HD DVR and let us know how it goes, would you?
DISH Network launching HD locals in four more markets
After the onslaught of rapid-fire HD locals launches in March, all has been quiet on the DISH Network front -- until now. Four more markets can gleefully celebrate the homecoming of HD locals via DISH: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tampa, Florida, Cleveland, Ohio and Richmond, Virginia. Each of the aforementioned locales will be receiving their respective local ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX stations save for Milwaukee, which will sadly miss out on CBS. You're all giddy, aren't you? The HD locals go live for these four regions on April 10th at 6:00AM ET -- yeah, tomorrow!
