Dish Adds New Local Hd Channels

[armymp30]

DISH Network Expands Local High Definition Markets

October 09, 2008: 07:00 AM EST

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the nation’s third largest pay-TV provider and the digital transition leader, today announced the addition of high definition local channels in five markets: Florence - Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Fort Myers - Naples, Fla.; Greenville - New Bern - Washington, N.C.; Madison, Wis.; and Wilkes Barre - Scranton, Pa. DISH Network(R) now offers local channels in 70 markets reaching 71 percent of U.S. TV households.

Consumers can sign up for the best high definition programming and service in the industry with DISH Network’s new TurboHD programming packages, the only all-HD packages on the market, starting at $24.99 per month. TurboHD is available in three separate tiers and includes special "turbo-charged" features and benefits such as DISH Network’s award-winning and industry-leading technology, the highest quality HD available including 1080p resolution where available, and the most-watched HD channels that may be viewed on any TV -- analog, digital or high definition.

Current DISH Network customers looking to add the industry’s best high definition experience can get a "turbo-charged" HD package for as little as $10 more per month.

 

[Jim S.]

Rather ignorant of them to mention that they only added one channel for Scranton and the beam doesn't cover the parts of the DMA that need it most!

 

[browerjs]

Do these 5 markets now cover all the areas which have been previously announced or are we still waiting on some?

 

[zmwp01]

I know Tulsa was announced well over a year ago and we are still waiting on that

 

[Sarcoptic]

I know Omaha, NE and Des Moines, IA are uplinked just not available yet...

 

[janedo1586]

Lincoln/Kearney/Hastings, NE is uplinked but not available as well.

 

[millett1956]

Rather ignorant of them to mention that they only added one channel for Scranton and the beam doesn't cover the parts of the DMA that need it most!

Yeah, I would hope they are going to put more than 1 channel on for now. And is this the reason I get the blue screen telling me not to call - they are working on getting the channel back on as soon as possible?

 

[jamieh1]

In the Greenville NC market they only added 1 channel . WNCT-DT 9 CBS HD

Missing the local NBC, FOX, and ABC station. What a joke!

Directv has this market scheduled for launch in January.

 

[sdschramm]

Yeah, I would hope they are going to put more than 1 channel on for now. And is this the reason I get the blue screen telling me not to call - they are working on getting the channel back on as soon as possible?

I'm in the same boat at you guy's.....I want my Scranton Locals in HD! And I want them in MY area (Williamsport!)

 

[Hemi 6.1]

This is kind of BS since all they added for scranton Wilkes barre was WNEP HD. I guess one HD channel per DMA qualifies as have HD locals. What a crock !

 

[Jim S.]

Yeah, I would hope they are going to put more than 1 channel on for now. And is this the reason I get the blue screen telling me not to call - they are working on getting the channel back on as soon as possible?

I'm assuming that the blue screen is generated by the receiver in the event of signal loss on a local channel.

Go to menu, 6, 1, 1, and select the 61.5 degree satellite and transponder 7, and see what the signal strength is. I get anywhere between 5 and 8 depending on cloud cover.

 

[gfunk]

No HD locals in Las Vegas still!

 

[millett1956]

I'm assuming that the blue screen is generated by the receiver in the event of signal loss on a local channel.

Go to menu, 6, 1, 1, and select the 61.5 degree satellite and transponder 7, and see what the signal strength is. I get anywhere between 5 and 8 depending on cloud cover.

My signal is at 5. Did anybody call Dish to see what they say about this low signal and if they are going to do anything about it?

 

[Bill Millar]

Satellite picture 61.5

I am in Texas 130 miles North of Dallas, this is what I get on satellite 61.5, transponder 7

 

[dodge]

what sat and transponder are madison hd locals on???

 

[Mr Tony]

61.5 TP5

just Fox

 

[GeorgeLV]

No HD locals in Las Vegas still!

And several other large markets in the western US.

It is extremely unlikely that they will be added until the Ciel 2 satellite is launched and delivered sometime in 2009.

If you want HD locals your choice is to put up an antenna (you probably won't be able to get KVBC, our NBC HD) or switch to Cox or DirecTV.

 

[Rangers484]

Aside from the markets that did not get any locals or the ones that did but not all their locals, has anyone noticed the change in Dish press releases?

They no longer claim to be the HD leader. Now they claim to be the Digital Transition leader.

I say that is not good for their promise to provide 150 (since changed to up to 150) HD channels by years end.

 

[Jim S.]

The digital transition leader? WTF? They've been all-digital since the beginning.

The only thing I can think of is that they think people will switch to Dish if they can't get their locals due to coverage of the digital transmitters not being equal to the coverage of the analog transmitters (which it isn't by far, and I don't know why the government hasn't done something about it. They must assume that everyone who was watching analog OTA was only watching if they had a pristine signal.)

 

[Bobby H]

Do these 5 markets now cover all the areas which have been previously announced or are we still waiting on some?

Um, no. Close to a dozen markets in Texas, Oklahoma, New York and some other states had markets announced for HD local channels addition, but had those unlinks deleted instead. Those uplinks have not been restored and there is no sign of when or if those uplinks will ever be restored.

I say that is not good for their promise to provide 150 (since changed to up to 150) HD channels by years end.

Let's not forget the promise from E* to carry local HD channels in 100 markets by year end. E* only has about 30 more to add within the next 2½ months. Meanwhile, D* passed the 100 market a few days ago.