[Azdeadwood]

Remember this:
DIRECTV to Carry Public Television Stations in HD
DIRECTV, Association of Public Television Stations and PBS Reach
Landmark Agreement for Digital Carriage in Local Markets Across the
Country Beginning Next Year
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2007--Public Television stations across the country will soon be available in high-definition (HD) to DIRECTV customers through a landmark agreement reached today by DIRECTV, Inc., the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). DIRECTV viewers will have access to other Public Television content as well.

Continuing its unprecedented expansion of HD services, DIRECTV, the industry leader in HD programming, will include the local HD feeds of Public Television stations in its HD rollout plans beginning in 2008. DIRECTV currently offers local HD programming in 68 markets, representing more than 72 percent of U.S. TV households.

DIRECTV, APTS and PBS also will work together to develop new video on demand offerings to make available local and national public television programming to DIRECTV's customers anytime they want it. In addition, DIRECTV will carry two national standard-definition channels of Public Television programming, further expanding its commitment to high-quality educational programming.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with APTS and PBS to offer our customers award-winning HD programming from local Public Television stations across the country," said Chase Carey, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "This agreement is the result of a cooperative effort that will utilize innovative technology to deliver the highest quality local content to DIRECTV viewers. DIRECTV is committed to offering the best HD programming lineup available, and we are delighted to begin carrying programs of the caliber of The NewsHour, Frontline, NOVA, American Masters, the American Experience and award-winning children's programming in this visually compelling format."

APTS President & CEO John Lawson said: "This is a forward-looking, innovative agreement for the digital age. It means the great HD programming from PBS and local Public Television stations will be available to DIRECTV customers in every market where DIRECTV carries any local HD. We will also work together to make available a vast library of on demand content from local Public Television stations across the country. This is a great day for public service media in America."

"One of our foremost priorities is extending the quality content that PBS offers across the broadest range of platforms," said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger. "We are pleased with this agreement, which enables Public Television stations to provide even better service to viewers in their communities."

The terms of the deal were unanimously approved by the APTS Board of Trustees yesterday and are pending approval by the PBS Board of Directors. The agreement must be ratified by local Public Television stations.

Information regarding the full DIRECTV HD programming lineup, which includes 87 national HD channels, and details on receiving equipment needed for the new DIRECTV HD services, are available by calling 1-800-DIRECTV or visiting directv.com.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ : DTV), the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to 16.6 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with 87 national 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 cable for seven 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.

About APTS

The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) was established to support the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service for the American public. As broadcasters make the transition to digital, APTS is working to ensure the federal government continues its commitment to universal public television services and that those services are available across all platforms. For more information, visit www.apts.org

About PBS

PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial television stations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is a leading provider of digital learning content for pre-K-12 educators and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online (www.pbskids.org), continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org , one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.

According to my calendar it is now 8 months since this promise. Any word as to what Directv means by "SOON"?

 

[tcusta00]

You're looking for someone on here to provide more information than DirecTV has in their public statement (which is where, by the way?) or are you just making a statement of your own, thus making your question obviously rhetorical in order to stir the "soon" pot once again and create another discussion that will arrive at the same outcome as the rest?

Just curious.

 

[katzeye]

I'm still waiting until D11 is lit.
Not that I know anything about anything, but if they need to add 68 PBS HD stations, even for spot beams, isn't that a bandwidth issue? So it seems to me that they have to wait for more bandwidth to open up.
The other thing I would question about time frame in the press release, wasn't that before the launch of D11 was delayed? It was supposed to be launched in December/January before the delay from Sealaunch, wasn't it?

 

[vxman007]

Whenever you hear the word "soon" from DirecTV, they mean sometime within the next three to five years. As long as they are broadcasting some PBS stations within the next five years, they have arrived "soon".

 

[mystic7]

Hmmmm... maybe I should start sending in my monthly payments "soon"

 

[hdtvfan0001]

There have been several places where DirecTV indicated that they intended to add other local HD channels "where available".

PBS and CW would be examples of candidates. It still depends on the local station offerings, but once the added LIL capacity is started up, there is nothing that would restrict their addition other than a local carriage agreement absense.

 

[harsh]

2/3rds of D*'s HD LIL planned capacity is already live. They apparently need all three birds active to make use of even half of what is currently operational.

I would point out to the OP that the claim was "starting in 2008". You have to let the word "soon" go when it is something you're hoping for. When it is something that's expected of you or something you'd like to delay, soon comes around pretty quickly.

 

[LarryFlowers]

What part of
"Landmark Agreement for Digital Carriage in Local Markets Across the
Country Beginning Next Year"
Don't you understand?

Is it Dec. 31st yet?

 

[hdtvfan0001]

What part of
"Landmark Agreement for Digital Carriage in Local Markets Across the
Country Beginning Next Year"
Don't you understand?

Is it Dec. 31st yet?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Azdeadwood]

You're looking for someone on here to provide more information than DirecTV has in their public statement (which is where, by the way?) or are you just making a statement of your own, thus making your question obviously rhetorical in order to stir the "soon" pot once again and create another discussion that will arrive at the same outcome as the rest?

Just curious.

I'm just trying to find out if anyone has heard anything more about this. When the LIN agreement was signed I got HD from my regional LIN channel the next week. PBS has been broadcasting in my area long before anyone else. I can't get it OTA because of mountains, it is the only non-HD channel I routinely watch and I hate the SD image.

 

[Azdeadwood]

There have been several places where DirecTV indicated that they intended to add other local HD channels "where available".

PBS and CW would be examples of candidates. It still depends on the local station offerings, but once the added LIL capacity is started up, there is nothing that would restrict their addition other than a local carriage agreement absense.

Its been "available" for at least 5 years in Albuquerque, which Directv says is my local channel.

 

[arxaw]

...Any word as to what Directv means by "SOON"?

Probably, between now and the end of the year.

Our market doesn't have any HD LIL yet, but I don't really care. I get different affilliates of each big 4 network from two different cities, + PBS in HD, for free, with an OTA antenna and my HR20 DVRs.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

Its been "available" for at least 5 years in Albuquerque, which Directv says is my local channel.

Unfortunately...thats the exception, and not the rule Nationally.

I'm in the same boat with local PBS in HD and CW in HD available here.

 

[LarryFlowers]

I suspect there are a number of things at work here:

1. Bandwidth space (assuming that D11 will resolve that)
2. How will the signal be handled? Will each local PBS station connect in the same manner as regular local networks do? That's a lot of channels.
3. I would imagine that there is a financial component involved.. can every local PBS station afford the expense of providing the HD feed to DirecTV?
4. Did DirecTV negotiate some kind of deal to carry the National PBS feed?

We dont know anything about the deal unfortunately, so it is hard to speculate, but as to why they haven't happened yet, simple. The same reason we havent seen FOX News, the Travel Channel, etc., in HD yet... no space on D10 and D11 isnt quite ready yet.

 

[N5XZS]

AZdeadwood,

I remember we used to get KENW-TV from Portales few years agos on directv along with KNME-TV.

I E-mailed KENW-TV, do they plan to return back on Directv and will they serve Albuquerque metro areas.

They responed back to me saying yes, we will be back on Directv and also yes, for the whole Albuquerque metro areas and the rest of the DMS areas as well too.

But they did not say when they will be on Directv again.

So that's might be there a chances they will be on D-11 satellite.

All we have to do is wait and see whats happen next.

7-26-08

 

[Azdeadwood]

AZdeadwood,

I remember we used to get KENW-TV from Portales few years agos on directv along with KNME-TV.

I E-mailed KENW-TV, do they plan to return back on Directv and will they serve Albuquerque metro areas.

They responed back to me saying yes, we will be back on Directv and also yes, for the whole Albuquerque metro areas and the rest of the DMS areas as well too.

But they did not say when they will be on Directv again.

So that's might be there a chances they will be on D-11 satellite.

All we have to do is wait and see whats happen next.

7-26-08

That would be really great!

I do find it interesting that KNME says they have tried to contact Directv about adding their HD channel but have gotten no response.

 

[Newshawk]

2/3rds of D*'s HD LIL planned capacity is already live. They apparently need all three birds active to make use of even half of what is currently operational.

How do you figure that, harsh? I count 333 different stations live in HD from DirecTV. However, three of those stations (KSTP, KARE and KMSP) are shared by Minneapolis and Mankato, MN, so that makes a grand total of 330 stations live on DirecTV, distributed between three different satellites (Spaceways 1&2 and D10). There's also the SD LiLs that are presently on the three operational birds, but that is still just a tick over 1/5th of the total capacity of the DirecTV Ka fleet.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

How do you figure that, harsh? I count 333 different stations live in HD from DirecTV. However, three of those stations (KSTP, KARE and KMSP) are shared by Minneapolis and Mankato, MN, so that makes a grand total of 330 stations live on DirecTV, distributed between three different satellites (Spaceways 1&2 and D10). There's also the SD LiLs that are presently on the three operational birds, but that is still just a tick over 1/5th of the total capacity of the DirecTV Ka fleet.

Perhaps "Dish Math" is being used to count the channels? :lol:

 

[Ed Campbell]

Whenever you hear the word "soon" from DirecTV, they mean sometime within the next three to five years. As long as they are broadcasting some PBS stations within the next five years, they have arrived "soon".

You mean like the Osprey being a truly useful aircraft, soon?

 

[Ed Campbell]

Its been "available" for at least 5 years in Albuquerque, which Directv says is my local channel.

DMA's are not determined by carriers like DirecTV.

When LIN signed the nat'l agreement with D*, there still were local contracts that had to be agreed to. Which is why the LIN roll-out didn't happen uniformly through their affiliates.

Multiply that by the number of local PBS stations - and, again, by the local boards of directors representing seventeen different interest groups in each community, I'd be happy to see PBS-HD via sat before the decade is out. Either through KUNM or the national feed.

But, I expect them by the Fall season - as I do most of the useful national channels.