DIRECT Satellite

DirecTV is proving its dominance in the high-definition broadcast as they announced that the satcaster will launch 30 new HD channels in August. Further more DirecTV will also add 44 new HD local channel markets in August. With this expansion the satcaster will provide local HD broadcast channels in 121 cities, representing more than 88 percent of U.S. TV households.

DirecTV will launch local high-definition channels to the subscribers with TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package, which offers local channels and the local HD channels will be delivered in primary broadcast networks where ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC local channels are offered. Apart from these HD expansion DirecTV also has plans to launch new satellite DIRECTV 12 in 2009 and with the help of the satellite the satecaster will deliver 200 national HD and 1,500 local HD channels.

Following are the new markets areas :

Augusta, Georgia

Bangor, Maine

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas

Boise, Idaho

Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, New York

Butte-Bozeman, Mont.

Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Illinois

Charleston, South Carolina

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colorado

Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri

Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Illinois

Dayton, Ohio

Des Moines-Ames, Iowa

Dothan, Alabama

El Paso, Texas

Evansville, Indiana

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Greenville-New Bern-Washington

Harrisonburg, Virginia

La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Lincoln-Hastings, Nebraska

Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Macon, Georgia

Mich.– Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas

Mobile AL-Pensacola, Florida

Moline, Illinois

Myrtle Beach-Florence, South Carolina

Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia

Palm Springs, California

Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois

Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia

Rochester, New York

Rockford, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Sioux Falls, S. Dakota

South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana

Springfield-Holyoke, Massachusetts

Syracuse, New York

Tallahassee, Florida

Toledo, Ohio

Traverse City-Cadillac, North Carolina and

Youngstown, Ohio

“With the rollout of 44 new HD local markets, DIRECTV continues to strengthen its position as the leading provider of quality HD programming among cable and satellite competitors nationwide,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “Our DIRECTV 11 satellite has recently begun operations and significantly expands our capacity for more national and local HD channels. And as we have with the SuperFan service for MLB EXTRA INNINGS and NFL SUNDAY TICKET and our multi-screen coverage of US Open golf, we will continue to use HD to enhance our unique interactive services to provide our customers with more of what they want and expect from us – the best television experience available.”

DirecTV announced that the satcaster is to launch more than 30 HD channels starting from August 14. At present DirecTV is offering 95 national high-definition channels. This new HD channels addition will take the DirecTV’s tally to 125 HD channels. DirecTV’s main competitor DISH Network has already announced that they will launch 17 HD channels on August 1 to become first satellite provider to deliver 100 HD channels.
DirecTV’s new HD channel will include ABC Family HD, Planet Green HD, Showtime Extreme HD , Showtime Showcase HD and DIRECTV HD pay per view channels. Apart from these channels, DirecTV will also add 23 high-definition Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). The satcaster will be first in the industry to broadcast all its high-definition programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding standard.

DirecTV is also planning to launch a new satellite “DIRECTV 12″ in 2009 and will deliver 200 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD channels. DirecTV also proves to be the leader in most sports HD programming broadcast with NFL SUNDAY TICKET, NCAA MEGA MARCH MADNESS and NASCAR HOTPASS available in HD. DirecTV will also continue to add HD content to its newly launched DIRECTV on Demand platform.
“Despite all the sound and fury of confusing HD claims from our competitors, our customers understand that DIRECTV is the destination for the most compelling and complete lineup of HD content,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “Our message is clear – DIRECTV is the content leader, and our delivery of the best quality HD via the most advanced technology is one way we continue to dominate this category and offer our more than 17 million customers nationwide an unparalleled entertainment experience.”

DirecTV joins NBC Universal (NBCU) to broadcast 2008 Beijing Olympic Games broadcast with the launch of a special video on demand (VOD) Olympics programming package to its subscribers who have the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR or R22 DVR receiver. NBCU will provide DirecTV with 10 VOD titles each week, which will include athlete features, Beijing previews, and more. NBC Universal will produce more than 500 titles now through the end of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and will be available on DIRECTV VOD through the end of the Olympics in both standard-definition and high-definition.

“NBCU’s 2008 Beijing Olympic Games content is an exciting addition to our growing DIRECTV on DEMAND lineup and a great opportunity to generate anticipation for the uniquely enhanced Olympic coverage that NBC plans to distribute to the subscribers of DIRECTV this summer” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment.

DIRECTV Mas, which offers Spanish and English-language programming, has honored Oscar de la Hoya, a legendary boxing hero. Oscar De La Hoya, nicknamed as “The Golden Boy” comes from a boxing family was awarded with “DIRECTV Mas Community Service Award” and $250,000 contribution to the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation. The Mexican American boxer was recognized for his philanthropic work and commitment to education in his hometown of East Los Angeles.
“Recognizing and supporting Oscar and his foundation represents for us one of those special moments in life where you do something because you want to do it, not because you have to do it,” said John Armas, vice president, WorldDirect, DIRECTV, “We at DIRECTV Mas have seen first-hand the powerful and positive impact the De La Hoya Foundation is having on the young people of East Los Angeles and it is appropriate that Oscar is the first recipient of this award.”