DIRECTV SOLD!
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has closed a deal with General Motors to acquire DirecTV in a $6.6 billion deal. The regulatory process needs to take place, but the overwhelming majority of people say it is a done deal.
Dish Network now has Anchorage, Alaska locals! KIMO (ABC), KTVA (CBS), KTBY (FOX), KAKM (PBS), KYES (UPN), & KDMD (PAX/HSN) are now available! KTUU (NBC) has a retransmission dispute with Dish, and I have no information on when they will become available. The only other station eligible for must-carry that's not available is KYUK (PBS).
DirecTV Orlando / Daytona Beach / Melbourne, Florida locals subscribers now receive WCEU (PBS).
Sky Angel on Dish Network now offers Fe TV, a Spanish televangelical network, on channel 9720. It replaced the recently removed Praise TV.
Dish Network Spokane, Washington subscribers now receive KWSU (PBS).
Dish Network AND DirecTV have signed deals to offer the Royals Sports TV Network. On DirecTV, RSTN can be found on channel 648, which is also Fox Sports Midwest Alternate. RSTN has not yet launched on Dish Network, so I have no further information at this time. RSTN is NOT a 24/7 network, so it will not be on the air all the time.
DirecTV has replaced EWTN Latin America with EWTN, the English version that is available on Dish Network. EWTN is free to all DirecTV subscribers that have a multi-satellite dish that is pointed to 119.
There are several new locals updates! Be sure to check out the Comparison of Locals page to see if one occurred in your city! DirecTV has Huntsville / Decatur, Alabama locals; I've made some minor corrections on a few cities, WINK (CBS) is now available to Dish Network Ft. Myers, Florida locals subscribers; KTEH (PBS) is now available to Dish Network San Francisco, California locals subscribers; many more updates have been made so check it out now!
DirecTV has added two shopping channels. Gem Shopping Network can be found on channel 228 and the Celebrity Shopping Network can be found on 239.
Dish Network has launched three new Korean channels! SBS Television (channel 650), MBN-CNBC (channel 651), and iSkyCom (channel 652) are in free preview until August 7th. Arirang TV (channel 653) is also in free preview until then. I do not know what the programming package will be like or what the price will be, but I'll report it here once I find something out.
DirecTV will launch "here! PPV" on August 29th on channel 170. "here! PPV" is a television service that caters to the gay and lesbian audience. It will offer 2-6 PPV premieres each month for $3.99 per movie.
Dish Network has announced that they will be adding 42 new locals markets by the end of 2003! They include big names like Baltimore, Maryland and small names like Missoula, Montana. Take a look at the complete list HERE!
DirecTV has announced the remaining 39 markets to be added by the end of the year for a total of 100 markets. Since the list is so long, you may CLICK HERE for the complete list and further information.