For more information, contact DirecTV Inc., El Segundo, California Bob Marsocci, 310 726 4656.
DirecTV Offers Local Broadcast Network Channels In Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. And Boston
DirecTV Inc., provider of the nation's leading digital television service, announced that it began offering local broadcast network channels via satellite in Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. and Boston December 18. Local channels from WTVD (ABC), WRAL (CBS), WNCN (NBC) and WRAZ (Fox) are currently available to consumers in the Raleigh/Durham designated market area (DMA). Beginning December 29, local channels from WSPA (CBS), WYFF (NBC) and WHNS (Fox) will be available to consumers in the Greenville/Spartanburg designated market area (DMA). station as soon as an agreement is reached. Beginning December 29, all DirecTV customers in the Boston designated market area (DMA) will receive a free preview of their local broadcast network channel package. DirecTV customers in the Boston DMA can subscribe to a local channel package that includes WCVB (ABC), WBZ (CBS), WHDH (NBC) and WFXT (FOX). DirecTV customers can subscribe to their local channel package for $5.99 per month. In addition to local broadcast network channels, a national PBS feed is included in each local channel package at no additional charge. To receive local channels existing DirecTV customers, as well as new customers, will require a new DirecTV PLUSô System capable of receiving satellite signals from two orbital locations. To date, DirecTV Systems have been capable of receiving programming signals from one orbital location only. DirecTV multi-satellite capable equipment will be available in the coming months at authorized retail locations. The DirecTV PLUS System contains a multi-satellite receiver, an 18-by-24-inch oval satellite dish and a remote control. The DirecTV PLUS System allows consumers to receive programming from multiple orbital locations, which provides access to their local channels in addition to all of DirecTV's core programming from its 101-degree west longitude orbital slot. ""The availability of local channels ushers in a new era for DirecTV, and we are excited to provide local channels to these area,"" said Eddy W. Hartenstein, President of DirecTV. ""By offering local channels on DirecTV, our customers can access entertainment and information that's most relevant to their lives and their community. The additional channel capacity we have available to us at our 110-degree orbital location allows us to expand our local channel service offerings to consumers in these areas."" DirecTV PLUS Systems are currently being manufactured by Thomson Consumer Electronics under the RCA brand name and Hughes Network Systems - a sister company of DirecTV - under the HNS brand name.