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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 strikes retransmission agreement with Comcast
As our eagle-eyed tipster Doug so eloquently put it, we too aren't sure how this one got overlooked. In the midst of LIN TV hammering out deals with DirecTV, Charter, SuddenLink and DISH Network, this particular deal managed to slip through the cracks. Nevertheless, the media company has indeed entered into an agreement with Comcast to keep locals in 15 markets on the air. For specifics on which markets we're referring to, check out the second paragraph in the read link.[Thanks, Doug]
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]
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 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 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.
AT&T adds The CW / MyNetworkTV to U-verse in Connecticut
Unfortunately for folks hoping to see U-verse spreading to another area, that's not the case today -- however, subscribers in select parts of Connecticut are being gifted with a couple of new HD channels sure to bring a smile to their faces. As of today, AT&T is adding WCTX HD (MyNetworkTV), WNET HD (PBS) and WTXX HD (The CW) to the U-verse lineup in the New Haven and Hartford areas. Additionally, WPIX HD (CW-NYC) and WWOR HD (MyNetworkTV-NYC) are said to be hitting other areas of Fairfield County. Oh, and for those considering the switch, picking up the nearly 50 HD channels on U-verse still costs just $10 a month.Read - AT&T U-verse TV Expands Local HD Channel Lineup in New Haven, HartfordRead - AT&T U-verse TV Expands Local HD Channel Lineup in Fairfield County
Topeka, Kansas' CBS affiliate about to be dropped by Cox
As enthralled as we are to see new HD channels arrive in varying parts of the world, it's equally depressing to hear when any vanish. Nevertheless, we're looking at yet another classic battle between station and carrier in Topeka, Kansas, as the region's CBS affiliate (WIBW-TV) is threatening to remove its analog and digital HD signals from Cox unless it ponies up in a hurry. Needless to say, WIBW feels that it's not being compensated fairly from Cox for its retransmission of signals, and unless the two parties strike a deal before midnight on Friday, citizens in the area will have to bust out the antenna (or switch to satellite) to catch the looming March Madness. So, what exactly is WIBW asking for? A penny a day for each Cox subscriber.
DirecTV beams HD locals to Omaha, Nebraska
Just a week after DirecTV enabled subscribers in Cedar Rapids / Waterloo, IA, Wichita, KS and Louisville, KY to celebrate by gifting them with HD locals, the satellite provider is now showing its love for Omaha, Nebraska. Effective immediately, customers in the The Cornhusker State can now check out KETV / ABC, KMTV / CBS, KPTM / FOX, WOWT / NBC and KXVO / The CW in beautiful high-definition. For those keeping count, the addition of Omaha brings the grand total of cities that DTV is blanketing with HD locals to 77, and just as soon as this whole D11 launch is completed, we fully expect that number to increase substantially.
DirecTV continues to gift towns with HD locals
It's no secret that DirecTV has been adding HD locals at a pleasantly quick rate of late, but apparently, it's not even close to being finished. According to a user in Louisville, Kentucky, DTV has just recently flipped the switch on locals in high-definition, and direct word from yet another subscriber in the Cedar Rapids / Waterloo, Iowa area confirms that he too is receiving CBS, NBC and FOX in HD (though ABC is strangely absent). Furthermore, we're hearing rumblings that customers in Wichita / Hutchinson, Kansas, Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri should join the HD local camp any day now (like today), while those parked in Omaha and Lincoln / Hastings, Nebraska can expect 'em on February 13th and early May, respectively. If we just rung your bell, hit us up in comments below to confirm or deny, would ya?[Thanks, Bryan and Rod]
DirecTV launches MPEG4 locals in Butte-Bozeman, Montana
Under a month after DirecTV announced that it would be migrating West Coast locals to MPEG4, the satellite provider is rolling out locals for the first time (in SD only for now, it seems) in Butte-Bozeman, Montana. Aside from giving residents of the area and visitors of beautiful Big Sky Resort a taste of KWYB / ABC, KBZK / CBS, The CW, KBTZ / FOX/ MNT, KTVM / NBC and KUSM / PBS, DirecTV also makes sure to point out that reception of said stations requires "MPEG4 equipment and a 5LNB satellite dish." So, the countdown to HD locals begins now, eh?
SuddenLink adds FOX HD to Longview, Texas lineup just in time
NFL fans calling Lufkin, Nacogdoches or a surrounding locale home may be thrilled to know that SuddenLink and the Longview, Texas FOX affiliate (KFXK) have finally decided to put their differences aside and shake hands. Merely days before Super Bowl XLII kicks off from nearby Arizona, the station has apparently landed an agreement with SuddenLink (cash very likely involved, by the way) that will enable the cable company's subscribers to finally receive FOX in HD on channel 705. Better still, these very customers will also be able to tune into Fox Sports Network HD on channel 750 if they decide to plunk down $7.95 per month for the SuddenLink HD Plus package. According to Gene Regan, director of corporate communications at SuddenLink, the firm still plans on juicing up its lineup with additional high-def options in the near future, but unfortunately for Austin-area folks, there's still no end in sight to the drama keeping NBC HD off of your EPG.
DirecTV bringing HD locals to Waterloo / Cedar Falls, Iowa?
DirecTV has been on somewhat of a tear lately, bringing HD locals to both Knoxville, Tennessee and Tyler-Longview, Texas, and it seems as if Waterloo-area residents may be next in line. According to numerous e-mails with varying DirecTV CSRs, Waterloo / Cedar Rapids, Iowa is all but set to receive its locals in HD via the satellite provider. We've heard both "early February" and "February 8th," so whatever the case ends up being, we're keeping our fingers crossed that FOX, NBC, ABC and CBS finally get the high-def treatment they deserve for those Iowans real soon.[Thanks, Rod]
CTVglobemedia wants payment from cable and satellite providers
We've seen local broadcast stations get all up in arms over payments (or the lack thereof) from cable and satellite providers, and it seems that Canada's CTVglobemedia is doing just that. According to a new complaint filed with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, it's looking for "fair compensation" for carriage of its stations as audiences look for other outlets (read: internet) and advertising revenues sink. The media conglomerate even went so far as to say that it "wasn't right" that "cable companies pay nothing for its signal, yet charge their customers to watch local news and programming." Them's fightin' words there, and to be honest, it's got a fairly good point.
Tyler-Longview, Texas gets DirecTV locals in HD
No sooner than DirecTV launched HD locals in Knoxville, Tennessee, we're finding that Tyler-Longview, Texas is being gifted as well. Granted, only the local ABC (KLTV) and CBS (KYTX) affiliates are included for now, but the satellite provider did state that it hoped to "add additional stations as they become available." This does mean that residents of the area will still be forced to bust out the OTA antenna or cruise over to a friend's house in order to catch Super Bowl XLII in HD, but hey, there's always next year.
DirecTV blesses Knoxville, Tennessee with HD locals
For those shacked up in Knoxville, Tennessee and relying on DirecTV for their tube service, we've excellent news. Starting today, you can catch the Big 4 -- ABC (WATE), CBS (WVLT), FOX (WTNZ) and NBC (WBIR) -- in high-definition without resorting to an OTA antenna. The addition of Knoxville brings the satellite provider's grand total of markets with HD locals up to 72, reportedly "representing more than 74.3-percent of US TV households." 'Tis a shame all that SEC football on CBS is so many months away, but hey, at least you've got March Madness to look forward to, right?
DirecTV migrating West Coast locals to MPEG4 only
Shortly after getting word that Palm Springs, California residents can now look forward to getting their locals via DirecTV (if only in MPEG4 SD, for now), it seems that the satellite provider is urging all West Coast residents to make the switch to MPEG4. According to a note received by DBSTalk's Chris Blount, "customers with HD DNS channels will start to see crawls," which will purportedly encourage them to contact DirecTV in order to arrange for a 5 LNB dish and an MPEG4 HD receiver. Furthermore, we're also told that the new lineup will consist of CBSWHD on channel 391, NBCWHD on 393, ABCWHD on 397 and FOXWHD on 399. For whatever it's worth, the message will supposedly only reach those "in the Western half of the US" for now, but who knows when said alert will make its way east.[Thanks, Earl]
DirecTV blesses Palm Springs, California residents with locals... in SD
Just over a month ago, whispers started swirling that Palm Springs, California residents could expect locals through DirecTV in mid-January. Right on cue, the satellite provider has delivered, as the aforementioned citizens now have access to PBS, ABC (KESQ), CBS (KPSP), NBC (KMIR), FOX (KDFX) and Telemundo (KUNA). Unfortunately, it seems that they're only available in MPEG4 SD (and The CW is sorely absent, too), but here's to hoping that forthcoming D11 satellite launch can provide those residing in the desert with a touch of high-definition.
Monroe, Louisiana Fox affiliate (KARD) goes HD in time for BCS
While Austin-area SuddenLink subscribers are grumbling over the recent loss of their NBC affiliate, folks in the El Dorado, Arkansas / Monroe, Louisiana region are celebrating. As of yesterday, the Fox affiliate KARD has finally flipped the switch on its HD transmitter, which will enable viewers in the area to catch all of the Bowl Championship Series games in splendid high-definition. Notably, the station has even established a dedicated forum for viewers to discuss issues and general HDTV topics -- you know, like who's most likely to take home the National Championship trophy in a few days.Read - KARD goes HDRead - User Forums
