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November 29, 2005
See Update on this story:
News
DIRECTV to Offer Free HDTV Upgrade
The switch will likely require a programming commitment.
By Phillip Swann
Washington D.C. (September 6, 2005) -- DIRECTV revealed tonight that it will offer a free system upgrade for High-Definition TV owners so they can get local high-def channels later this year.
DIRECTV is expected to begin offering local HD in 12 markets by year's end. However, the channels will only be available on new DIRECTV MPEG-4 receivers and dishes, which have yet to go on sale.
Until now, it was uncertain if current HDTV owners would have to pay up to $300 to buy a new receiver to get the local high-def signals.
However, Robert Mercer, a DIRECTV spokesman, told TVPredictions.com Tuesday night that current owners of DIRECTV HDTV receivers would be offered a free upgrade. An estimated 600,000 DIRECTV customers have high-def receivers and subscribe to DIRECTV's high-def programming package.
Mercer said the satcaster did not have further details, such as when the upgrade would be available or if current owners would be required to make a one or two year commitment to a DIRECTV programming package. However, Mercer said the upgrade would first be offered to HDTV owners in the 12 markets where local HD will be launched later this year.
In the past, DIRECTV has made the programming commitment a requirement for system upgrades.
DIRECTV is launching four new satellites over the next two years that will enable it to provide local channels in high-def for the first time. Local HD is expected to be launched in one test city in October with the remaining 11 cities to roll out by year's end.
The 12 markets are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington DC, Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, and Tampa Bay.
By 2007, the satcaster expects to have capacity for local HDTV in all major markets -- and up to 150 national HDTV channels. The new HD services are expected to give DIRECTV a major competitive advantage in its battle against the cable TV industry and chief satellite rival,
EchoStar's Dish Network
© TVPredictions.com
See Update on this story:
News
DIRECTV to Offer Free HDTV Upgrade
The switch will likely require a programming commitment.
By Phillip Swann
Washington D.C. (September 6, 2005) -- DIRECTV revealed tonight that it will offer a free system upgrade for High-Definition TV owners so they can get local high-def channels later this year.
DIRECTV is expected to begin offering local HD in 12 markets by year's end. However, the channels will only be available on new DIRECTV MPEG-4 receivers and dishes, which have yet to go on sale.
Until now, it was uncertain if current HDTV owners would have to pay up to $300 to buy a new receiver to get the local high-def signals.
However, Robert Mercer, a DIRECTV spokesman, told TVPredictions.com Tuesday night that current owners of DIRECTV HDTV receivers would be offered a free upgrade. An estimated 600,000 DIRECTV customers have high-def receivers and subscribe to DIRECTV's high-def programming package.
Mercer said the satcaster did not have further details, such as when the upgrade would be available or if current owners would be required to make a one or two year commitment to a DIRECTV programming package. However, Mercer said the upgrade would first be offered to HDTV owners in the 12 markets where local HD will be launched later this year.
In the past, DIRECTV has made the programming commitment a requirement for system upgrades.
DIRECTV is launching four new satellites over the next two years that will enable it to provide local channels in high-def for the first time. Local HD is expected to be launched in one test city in October with the remaining 11 cities to roll out by year's end.
The 12 markets are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington DC, Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, and Tampa Bay.
By 2007, the satcaster expects to have capacity for local HDTV in all major markets -- and up to 150 national HDTV channels. The new HD services are expected to give DIRECTV a major competitive advantage in its battle against the cable TV industry and chief satellite rival,
EchoStar's Dish Network
© TVPredictions.com
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 Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and The Hollywood
Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
And click
TVPredictions.com
to read more news and features on TV
technology.
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