DIRECTV Adds Three Local HD Markets

DIRECTV made some folks happy this week with the announcement of three new local HD markets. Now that the new DIRECTV 11 satellite is up and operational, the company is promising to continue their expansion of local HD programming, reaching nearly 90% of the country with local HD channels by the end of 2008.

The new markets and stations that now are in HD for DIRECTV customers are as follows.

In the Johnstown-Altoona, Pennsylvania market, WTAJ/CBS and WJAC/NBC have been added in HD. In Augusta, Georgia, WJBF/ABC, WRDW/CBS and WFXG/FOX have been added. Finally, in the Chattanooga, Tennessee designated market area WTVC/ABC, WDEF/CBS, WDSI/FOX and WRCB/NBC are the new local HD additions.  While not all of the local channels are available in HD in these markets, they are often added within the first few weeks after the HD upgrade takes place.

These additions come on the heels of the addition of two local HD markets announced last week, those being Omaha, Nebraska and Rochester, New York.

Overall, DIRECTV is planning on adding 44 new local HD markets by the end of 2008. When all is said and done, DIRECTV will have local HD coverage to 121 US cities, representing 88% of US television households. At this point, DIRECTV reaches 82 markets, representing 77% of American households.