Texas, Fla., Mich. Launches Push Satellite Provider’s HD Presence To 39 Local Markets

By Linda Moss — Multichannel News, 3/27/2008 11:10:00 AM

Dish Network will begin offering local stations in high-definition in four new markets: Austin, Texas; Flint, Mich.; and Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla., officials said Thursday.

With these additions, Dish Network now offers HDTV locals in 39 markets, reaching more than 54% of U.S. TV households with local HD channels.

“We announced earlier this year that we would reach our goal of 100 local HD markets and 100 national HD channels by the end of 2008, and over the next two months we will continue toward this goal by increasing our local HD offerings by more than 60 percent,” Eric Sahl, Dish’s senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. “We understand that our customers watch some of their favorite TV programming through their local networks and by adding these markets we are again demonstrating our continued commitment to enhance how our customers watch TV.”

The US DTH provider DISH Network has said it will deliver 100 local HD markets and 100 national HD channels by the end of 2008. This month, the operator will start delivering local HD channels in four new markets, and adding the New England Sports Network (NESN) in HD.

In a statement, Eric Sahl, senior VP of programming, said: “And over the next two months we will continue toward this goal by increasing our local HD offerings by more than 60%.

The four new markets are: Austin, Texas; Flint, Mich.; Orlando, Fla.; and West Palm Beach, Fla.With the additions, DISH Network offers HD locals in 39 markets, reaching more than 54% of US television households with local HD channels, the company said.