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DISH to launch Madison's local channels in HD

Jeff Richgels  —  8/23/2008 5:48 pm

DISH Network announced Monday that it would launch local broadcast channels in high-definition in Madison and 21 other markets in the summer and fall of this year.

The Englewood, Colo.-based satellite provider did not give specific dates for the HD launches for any of the markets.

DirecTV, the nation's biggest satellite provider, and Charter Communications, the Madison area's dominant cable provider, both already offer local broadcast channels in HD.

 Local broadcast channels here include CBS affiliate WISC, ABC affiliate WKOW, NBC affiliate WMTV, Fox affiliate WMSN, CW affiliate WBUW, and PBS affiliate WHA.

However, not every local broadcast channel broadcasts in HD all of the time, and not every one is carried in HD by all of the providers.

Satellite and cable providers also don't carry the multiple digital signals of the local broadcast channels. For example, WMTV sends its regular programming over 15-1 and has a 24-/7 weather channel on 15-2. An HD-ready TV with a traditional "rabbit ears" antenna will capture all of the split digital channels.

DISH on Monday announced that the launch of local broadcast channels in HD in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Memphis, Tenn., moving the company to HD locals in 61 markets reaching more than 68 percent of U.S. TV households.

Earlier this year, DISH announced that it planned to reach 100 HD local markets and 100 national HD channels, which is roughly where DirecTV is now.

Jeff Richgels  —  8/23/2008 5:48 pm