DIRECTV announced Tuesday that Providence will now be one of 14 additional U.S. markets where local high-definition programming will be offered later this year. When the markets are added, DIRECTV will offer local HD programming in 50 major metropolitan areas, representing more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households. The rollout is scheduled to begin during the third quarter of this year.
Local news, sports and primetime programming from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC will be available in HD to customers in Providence who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE programming package that offers local channels. There is no additional charge for local HD programming.
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“Our local HD expansion will continue through next year when we expect to offer access to the clear picture and sound of local HD programming to nearly every household in the nation,” said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president of DIRECTV.
The 14 local markets to receive HD programming from DIRECTV include: Cincinnati; Madison, Wis.; Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Portland, Maine; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Portland, Ore.; Green Bay, Wis.; Providence; Greensboro, N.C.; Reno, Nev.; Las Vegas; and San Antonio.
DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 20 HD local channel markets including: Atlanta; Birmingham; Boston; Chicago; Columbus; Dallas-Fort Worth; Detroit; Houston; Kansas City; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Nashville; New York; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; Tampa; and Washington, D.C.
By June of this year, DIRECTV will have activated local HD programming in 16 more previously announced markets for a total of 36 markets, representing 58 percent of U.S. TV households.
With the launch of two new satellites – DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 – in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels.
DIRECTV has more than 15 million customers.
