DIRECTV Transmits High-Definition Local Channels in New MPEG-4 Transmission Standard to Los Angeles
December 28 2005 - 1:16PM
PR Newswire (US)
WHAT: DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital television
service provider, announced today that it has begun offering local
high-definition (HD) channels via satellite to Los Angeles via new
compression technology known as MPEG 4 AVC (Motion Picture Expert
Group -- Advanced Video Compression). Los Angeles is one of dozens
of cities that will receive HD local programming from DIRECTV using
MPEG-4 AVC, the new standard in digital video compression, and
advanced modulation that more than doubles the efficiency of
DIRECTV's capacity. DIRECTV will carry each of the four primary
broadcast networks that offer an HD feed in the market. Customers
who subscribe to a programming package that includes local channels
will receive both the standard and HD signals at no extra monthly
charge. DIRECTV offers local HD broadcast channels in 12 cities
with plans to launch an additional 24 cities early next year,
offering access to DIRECTV-delivered local HD channels in more than
57 percent of U.S. television households. Customers can receive Los
Angeles local HD channels by purchasing a new H20 HD receiver and a
satellite dish that has the ability to receive programming from
five different orbital locations. DIRECTV is offering new and
existing non-HD customers who purchase a DIRECTV HD receiver a $200
mail-in rebate. (Limit one rebate per customer.) Receiving
equipment is available at major consumer electronics retailers like
Best Buy and Circuit City, and through DIRECTV. Existing DIRECTV
customers do not need to upgrade their HD equipment initially since
their existing MPEG-2 receivers will continue to receive local HD
broadcasts. WHEN: Beginning today, the following high-definition
local channels will be available to DIRECTV customers in the Los
Angeles designated market area (DMA) in the new MPEG-4 standard:
Los Angeles DMA New HD Local Channels* -- KABC/Channel 7 -- KTTV
(Fox)/Channel 11 -- KCBS/Channel 2 -- KNBC/ Channel 4 Contact:
DIRECTV, Inc. PainePR for DIRECTV Jade Ekstedt Elizabeth Owen
310-964-3429 949-809-6734 * Eligibility for local channels is based
on service address within certain designated market areas as
defined by Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Visit DIRECTV.com for more
information. PRNewswire-FirstCall -- Dec. 28 DATASOURCE: DIRECTV,
Inc. Web site: http://www.directv.com/
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