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·With the help of a future satellite, DirecTV is gearing up to expand its slate of local TV packages.
DirecTV is planning to unveil local channels in Hartford, Conn., Las Vegas and Providence, R.I., during the first half of the year, with seven additional markets added by year-end. With the addition of the 10 markets, DirecTV will offer local channels in 51 markets, covering more than 67 percent of U.S. television households.
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said debut of the extra markets is contingent on the successful launch of the DirecTV 5 satellite, which is set for lift-of sometime this quarter.
DirecTV 5 will be located at 119 degrees. That will require viewers receiving locals for the additional markets to get a multi-satellite DirecTV system that can receive signals from multiple orbital locations with a slightly larger dish.
Marsocci said the company hasn't determined the seven markets that will be added to DirecTV's local TV slate. Markets are determined by population, retail presence, consumer demand and competition among cable and satellite TV providers - including EchoStar. "It's not a process in which we put up a map and throw darts at it to see what markets we will add," Marsoci said.
While DirecTV wouldn't speculate on the cities it will add for local TV, some notable markets (as listed by DMA by the National Association of Broadcasters) show up as potentials. The SkyREPORT candidates include Grand Rapids (ranked No. 38 on the NAB list), Norfolk (No. 42), Oklahoma City (45), Albuquerqe (48 ) , Louisville (50) and Jacksonville (53). (Please note, this list is based on speculation, and it was not provided by DirecTV.)
In their quest to add additional local TV markets, proponents of the merger between DirecTV and EchoStar say if they can combine their platforms they will be able to deliver local TV packages to several more markets. EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen said this week that the combined entity would deliver local TV packages to at least one market in every state if the merger wins approval.
From SkyReport (Used with permission)
DirecTV is planning to unveil local channels in Hartford, Conn., Las Vegas and Providence, R.I., during the first half of the year, with seven additional markets added by year-end. With the addition of the 10 markets, DirecTV will offer local channels in 51 markets, covering more than 67 percent of U.S. television households.
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said debut of the extra markets is contingent on the successful launch of the DirecTV 5 satellite, which is set for lift-of sometime this quarter.
DirecTV 5 will be located at 119 degrees. That will require viewers receiving locals for the additional markets to get a multi-satellite DirecTV system that can receive signals from multiple orbital locations with a slightly larger dish.
Marsocci said the company hasn't determined the seven markets that will be added to DirecTV's local TV slate. Markets are determined by population, retail presence, consumer demand and competition among cable and satellite TV providers - including EchoStar. "It's not a process in which we put up a map and throw darts at it to see what markets we will add," Marsoci said.
While DirecTV wouldn't speculate on the cities it will add for local TV, some notable markets (as listed by DMA by the National Association of Broadcasters) show up as potentials. The SkyREPORT candidates include Grand Rapids (ranked No. 38 on the NAB list), Norfolk (No. 42), Oklahoma City (45), Albuquerqe (48 ) , Louisville (50) and Jacksonville (53). (Please note, this list is based on speculation, and it was not provided by DirecTV.)
In their quest to add additional local TV markets, proponents of the merger between DirecTV and EchoStar say if they can combine their platforms they will be able to deliver local TV packages to several more markets. EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen said this week that the combined entity would deliver local TV packages to at least one market in every state if the merger wins approval.
From SkyReport (Used with permission)