After discussing it for over six months DirecTV and Comcast finally came to an agreement to get Versus back on the satellite’s lineup. DirecTV says Comcast wanted more money for the Versus feed, and Comcast argued DirecTV wanted to cut the channel’s potential audience almost in half from 14 million households. Meanwhile, hockey fans with DirecTV were unable to watch the NHL on Versus. Full Story
DirecTV will offer a special midnight premiere of The Twilight Saga: New Moon for pay-per-view on Mar. 20, which includes behind-the-scenes bonus footage not available from cable networks. Bonus featurettes include “The Subtle Details” (behind-the-scenes look at New Moon’s production design), and “Chris Weitz Takes the Helm” (a look at the transition from ‘Twilight’ director Catherine Hardwicke and ‘New Moon’ director Chris Weitz). Full Story
DirecTV along with Panasonic displayed a satellite feed of 3D content at CES 2010. Reps for the satellite provider confirmed plans to launch a 3D channel this coming June (which is when ESPN says they will launch their 3D network…coincidence?). I should reiterate though the company is hopeful of launching in June, as no exact date was mentioned. Full Story
DirecTV officially announced a successful launch of their new satellite, DIRECTV 12, which the company says will allow them to offer 200 HD channels to subscribers. Although this would put them way ahead of competitors, they have not announced any of the channels they would offer. Full Story
HDGuru Gary Merson wrote an article claiming DirecTV’s newest satellite DIRECTV 12 (launching tonight) will bring the first US high-definition 3D channel. While it was confirmed by DirecTV that a successful launch of the satellite would bring more digital programming (supposedly up to 200 HD channels according to TV Predictions), HDGuru says the satellite provider will make an announcement about the 3D channel at CES 2010. Full Story
Dish Network says they have reached a milestone, now providing satellite TV service to 14 million customers in the U.S. The company added over 150,000 subscribers in the present quarter, and says they lead the nation in international channels, offering 175 channels in 28 languages. Full Story
DirecTV has added content from Mark Cuban owned networks HDNet and HDNet Movies. Over 20 hours from HDNet, and 25 movies from HDNet Movies are now part of the DirecTV video-on-demand library. Full Story
DirecTV has added local high-definition channels to their service in Columbia, South Carolina (population 127,029). New local broadcast networks which DirecTV will carry in HD include: WOLO/ABC, WLTX/CBS, WZRB/CW, WACH/FOX, WIS/NBC and ETV/PBS. Full Story
Dish Network has added local HD channels to several markets this week, bringing their local coverage to 97% of U.S. markets (according to Nielsen Media Research and Dish). Full Story
DirecTV has now expanded its local HD programming services to customers in Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia. The satellite TV provider now offers local HD broadcast channels in 127 markets, representing more than 89 percent of U.S. TV households. Full Story
DirecTV says it will soon launch local HD channels in 7 new markets, which will reach an additional 133 U.S. cities. First on the list is the Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA market, which will get local HD on July 9. Coming soon on Aug. 9, Shreveport, LA will get local HD. Full Story
Satellite TV providers Dish Network and DirecTV are no doubt excited about a recent Supreme Court Ruling. The decision overruled a Kentucky law allowing local governments to tax satellite TV. Full Story
DirecTV will start local HD service in Lafayette, Indiana tomorrow. Channels WLFI/CBS, WTHR/NBC, WXIN/FOX and WTTV/CW will be available in DirecTV’s market areas. With the addition, the satellite television provider will offer local HD channels in 125 cities. Full Story
DirecTV has expanded its local HD coverage to 123 U.S. cities with the addition of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Channels added today in high definition include: WHSV/ABC (Channel 3), WVPT/PBS (Channel 51) and FOX (Channel 49). DirecTV now offers local HD in 89 percent of U.S. TV households. Full Story
DirecTV has loaded up the newest Bond film Quantum of Solace in 1080p to their HD VOD library, along with a collection of James Bond classics including Diamonds Are Forever, Dr. No, Goldfinger, and From Russia With Love. Other Bond favs added include Die Another Day, Golden Eye and the precursor to Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale. Full Story
According to Multichannel News DirecTV added a few local HD channels yesterday. Subscribers in the Philadelphia area will now get WHYY (PBS) in high-definition. Subscribers in the Tucson, Arizona area will now get KUAT (PBS) HD, KWBA (CW) HD, and KTTU (MNT) HD.
Verizon has added 18 new channels to market areas in California including several new high-definition channels. According to the company, they now offer a total of 110 HD channels in those areas. If those numbers are correct, DirecTV’s high-def channel domination seems to have been surpassed, at least for now. Full Story
Friday Night Lights Season 3 will debut tonight on NBC in HD. But the new season will not be without any spoilers, as the show has already aired last Fall on DirecTV. So while the show’s third season will have its second premiere, it has a chance to build a bigger audience who didn’t catch it via satellite. Full Story
Havoc network is now available in HD on DirecTV’s channel 101. The network airs an interactive jukebox which viewers can interact with by texting messages that appear on screen. Havoc’s programming currently consists of videos focused on indie music and action sports. Full Story
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