PRESS RELEASE: DIRECTV offers HD Locals in Marquette, Mich.

[Stuart Sweet]

from directv.com:

DIRECTV to Deliver Local Programming in Marquette, Mich.

Seven Local Stations Available via Satellite for the First Time Throughout the Market Area

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov 11, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's No. 1 satellite TV service, now offers local programming, including three networks in HD, to customers in the Marquette, Mich., market area.

The channels, available to Marquette customers for the first time via DIRECTV digital satellite, will include WBUP/ABC, WJMN/CBS and WLUC/NBC - all in HD, and FOX, WBKP/CW, WNMU/PBS, WNMU2/PBS and WZMQ/MNT in standard-definition.

With the launch of locals in Marquette, DIRECTV is rolling out a special offer for customers who need to upgrade their equipment: the first receiver is free and all additional receivers are only $49 along with free standard professional installation. To upgrade, customers should call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

With the launch of the Marquette market, DIRECTV will offer local broadcast channels (both HD and standard-definition) in 155 markets, representing more than 94 percent of U.S. TV households. Including Marquette, DIRECTV will offer local HD channels in 136 markets or more than 92 percent of U.S. TV households.

"We appreciate the leadership and support of Congressman Bart Stupak in our effort to launch local channels in the Marquette market," said Larry Hunter, DIRECTV president and CEO. "Local channels carry essential programming and consumers depend on them for critical news and weather information along with entertainment, and now for the first time, they're available via DIRECTV with three networks in crystal-clear HD."

To receive DIRECTV's local HD programming, customers must have an H20, H21 or H23 receiver, or an HR20, HR21 or HR23 DIRECTV Plus HD-DVR, and a Ka/Ku band dish. More information on programming package pricing and receiving equipment is available at directv.com.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV), the nation's No. 1 satellite television service, presents the finest television experience available to more than 18.4 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with more than 130 HD channels - more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed all national cable companies for nine years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.



SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc.
Robert Mercer, 310-964-4683

[dettxw]

Well good for them.
If I ever move back to Houghton (part of the Marquette DMA) I'll be all set.

Or maybe I'll buy a summer cabin in the Keweenaw peninsula - just need to buy that winning lottery ticket first!

[tomlin]

And the people in the Lansing area - you know, the CAPITAL, are still waiting

[davring]

Originally Posted by dettxw

Well good for them.
If I ever move back to Houghton (part of the Marquette DMA) I'll be all set.

Or maybe I'll buy a summer cabin in the Keweenaw peninsula - just need to buy that winning lottery ticket first!

Beautiful area, my Grandfather worked in a copper mine in Painsdale, I haven't been up there in years.

[whitepelican]

I found this article on WLUC's website interesting. Particularly the part I highlighted in red. This Burke fellow should become a DirecTV CSR, what with the lying through his teeth about something he should actually have some knowledge of. Oh, sure, "all channels are in HD", except for FOX, CW & PBS. I know a lot of people in the Marquette DMA who were waiting for this for a long time. Many of them aren't going to be too happy that the NFL games won't be in HD, though.

DirecTV in the U.P.  	

If you are a DirecTV customer, you can now watch TV6 on channel 6 and FOX UP on channel 7.

By Natalie Jovonovich
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 12:11 p.m.

MARQUETTE -- You've been asking about it for months, and we can now tell you that 
DirecTV is now carrying local channels in the UP.

A DirecTV representative was at American Furniture & Appliances in Marquette Thursday, 
telling people about the launching of local channels on the carrier.

Current customers will get the local channels added into their package for free.

"That was the biggest reason why a lot of people kept cable and decided to keep cable 
and not go to satellite," says DirecTV area sales manager Ryan Burke.  "Now we're able
to offer the alternative to the customer where they can save money and get channels
in high definition."

Burke also says all local channels will be in high defintion.

If you are a DirecTV customer, you can watch TV6 on channel 6 and FOX UP on channel 7.

[whitepelican]

Originally Posted by tomlin

And the people in the Lansing area - you know, the CAPITAL, are still waiting

The Marquette DMA never had ANY locals, not even SD. Dish just started serving the area with SD local channels a few months ago. So, for an area that is highly rural, most of which isn't served by cable companies, and has some extremely underpowered OTA signals, most of the people in the Marquette DMA could never get their local stations by any means whatsoever until recently.

[dettxw]

I used to live in town so we had cable.
Seems like CBS was from Marquette, ABC from Rhinelander, and NBC from Green Bay (though there may have been a different mix, was a long time ago). We did get channel 50 out of Detroit though, very interesting as that was 500 miles away. Also got the Thunder Bay, Ontario stations from across the lake.

There was an interesting mix of Lion and Green Bay Packer fans in the area since it is Michigan, but far from Detroit but close to Green Bay.

Originally Posted by davring

Beautiful area, my Grandfather worked in a copper mine in Painsdale, I haven't been up there in years.

I didn't realize that that the Painsdale mine stayed open until 1967 until I looked it up. Most closed much earlier in the century.

I'll be touring there in July on the cycle with a sister & BiL (from Corunna).
It is an absolutely beautiful area, especially the Keweenaw.

[Koz]

Went to college in Houghton. Lived in Hancock. Great area. I could use a pasty right now, too.

[RSNovi]

I also went to MTU. Dish has the locals in HD in Lansing. Just recently got the last one ABC in HD.

[aa9vi]

make that another from Tech...

nice to hear the West and Central UP will finally be on satellite since WLUC, WJMN, WBKP/WBUP, and WZMQ are all operating low powered digital signals that cover about 20% of the DMA over the air. This launch will provide well needed revenue and additional viewers to pretty poor stations.

(BTW, the eastern U.P. Chippewa, Mackinac, and Luce counties have been on DirecTV as part of the Traverse City-Cadillac market for years.)

Charter is going to lose customers ... They were the only game in town until now.

I wonder how long before Alpena is added. They're in Stupak's district too. Remember that he was the one that had pushed for this.

[jefbal99]

My god, how is Lansing the last DMA in Michigan to get HD LiL?

Seriously WTF?

[Newshawk]

Originally Posted by jefbal99

My god, how is Lansing the last DMA in Michigan to get HD LiL?

Seriously WTF?

It's not-you're forgetting alpena, which doesn't get HD locals-or SD, for that matter.

[adkinsjm]

Originally Posted by whitepelican

I found this article on WLUC's website interesting. Particularly the part I highlighted in red. This Burke fellow should become a DirecTV CSR, what with the lying through his teeth about something he should actually have some knowledge of. Oh, sure, "all channels are in HD", except for FOX, CW & PBS. I know a lot of people in the Marquette DMA who were waiting for this for a long time. Many of them aren't going to be too happy that the NFL games won't be in HD, though.

DirecTV in the U.P.  	

If you are a DirecTV customer, you can now watch TV6 on channel 6 and FOX UP on channel 7.

By Natalie Jovonovich
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 12:11 p.m.

MARQUETTE -- You've been asking about it for months, and we can now tell you that 
DirecTV is now carrying local channels in the UP.

A DirecTV representative was at American Furniture & Appliances in Marquette Thursday, 
telling people about the launching of local channels on the carrier.

Current customers will get the local channels added into their package for free.

"That was the biggest reason why a lot of people kept cable and decided to keep cable 
and not go to satellite," says DirecTV area sales manager Ryan Burke.  "Now we're able
to offer the alternative to the customer where they can save money and get channels
in high definition."

Burke also says all local channels will be in high defintion.

If you are a DirecTV customer, you can watch TV6 on channel 6 and FOX UP on channel 7.

The OTA FOX affiliate is just a digital subchannel of WLUC, the NBC affiliate. No HD.

[xmguy]

I have a good friend in Marquette, MI. He'd love to hear this as he despises Charter.

[aa9vi]

Originally Posted by adkinsjm

Burke also says all local channels will be in high defintion.

Burke is incorrect. Only NBC, ABC, and CBS will be in HD as of today. FOX, CW, MYT, and PBS will be in SD according to the announcement.

[kamu]

Originally Posted by aa9vi

Burke is incorrect. Only NBC, ABC, and CBS will be in HD as of today. FOX, CW, MYT, and PBS will be in SD according to the announcement.

I am now getting the locals from Marquette NBC, ABC, CBS , FOX and 1 of the PBS channels are all in HD for the major programing. The local news and local shows plus CW, MYT and 1 PBS are is SD. So I will be watching the NFL games in HD

[whitepelican]

Originally Posted by kamu

I am now getting the locals from Marquette NBC, ABC, CBS , FOX and 1 of the PBS channels are all in HD for the major programing. The local news and local shows plus CW, MYT and 1 PBS are is SD. So I will be watching the NFL games in HD

Are you sure about that FOX in HD? I asked the question over at avsforum in the Marquette thread and was told that FOX doesn't even broadcast in HD in Marquette. I know it's only a subchannel of WLUC TV6 which broadcasts NBC in HD, but I'm fairly certain the FOX broadcast is SD only. In fact, I watched a Detroit Lions game on FOX-UP channel 6.2 just last month, and it was definitely not in HD.

Also, it would be odd that DirecTV doesn't even list that FOX station as being in HD despite the fact that they just launched the locals.

[kamu]

Originally Posted by whitepelican

Are you sure about that FOX in HD? I asked the question over at avsforum in the Marquette thread and was told that FOX doesn't even broadcast in HD in Marquette. I know it's only a subchannel of WLUC TV6 which broadcasts NBC in HD, but I'm fairly certain the FOX broadcast is SD only. In fact, I watched a Detroit Lions game on FOX-UP channel 6.2 just last month, and it was definitely not in HD.

Also, it would be odd that DirecTV doesn't even list that FOX station as being in HD despite the fact that they just launched the locals.

It shows on the guide that it is in HD. I just started receiving them yesterday. I will look at it tonight when Bones is on at 8:00 and compare it to the SD signal on channel 388. I will let ya know.

[doctor j]

Directv Local lookup tool lists FOX 7 as SD MPEG4 on KA sat but SD.

Doctor j

[kamu]

Fox 7 Not in HD. It shows on the guide that it is HD, but the picture on the TV is not. Still better than nothing.