Dish Network: HDTV Expansion Still 'On Track'

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Dish Network: HDTV Expansion Still 'On Track'
The satcaster says more local and national HD channels are coming.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2008) -- Dish Network today said its expansion of High-Definition channels is "on track" despite a recent satellite launch failure.

An SES Americom satellite (AMC-14), which Dish is leasing to expand its HD capacity, failed to reach its proper geostationary orbit on Friday.

Officials say they are confident they can still place the AMC-14 into its proper orbit, but even if successful, the procedures could shorten the life of the satellite.

Dish Network wanted to use the satellite to expand its capacity for national HD channels from 76 to 100.

But in a statement, Dish reiterated today that it will launch three new satellites in 2008 to expand both national and local HD capacity, with the AMC-14 being the first.

Consequently, the satcaster said its HD expansion plans "remain on track" and it named roughly 24 channels that it might add later this year.

However, it did not offer specific launch dates for any of the national HD channels.

Dish did say that over the next two months that it would add local HD channels in the following markets:

April
Abilene, TX
Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD
Columbia, SC
Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI
Ft. Myers, FL
Greensboro, NC
Milwaukee, WI
Orlando, FL
Providence, RI
Tampa, FL
West Palm Beach, FL

May
Beaumont, TX
Burlington, VT
Grand Rapids, MI
Green Bay, WI
Greenville, SC
Huntsville, AL
Knoxville, TN
Norfolk, VA
Richmond, VA

“Dish Network customers can be reassured that the expansion of our HD programming over the next few months will proceed as planned,” said Dish CEO Charlie Ergen. “We are fortunate to have two more satellites scheduled for launch later this year to continue our HD rollout and reach our year-end goal of 100 local HD markets and 100 national HD channels.”

The national HD channels that Dish may add later in the year are:

ABC Family HD, AMC HD, BET HD, The Biography Channel HD, Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, CMT HD, CNN HD, Disney Channel HD, ESPN News HD, HBO2 HD, IFC HD, MGM HD, MoreMAX HD, MTV HD, Nickelodeon HD, Sci-Fi HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, Starz Edge HD, Tennis Channel HD, Superstation WGN HD, The Weather Channel HD, Toon Disney HD, USA Network HD and VH-1 HD.

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Swanni (Phillip Swann) is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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