Dish to Add Nat Geo Channel
By Monica Hogan -- Multichannel News, 7/9/2002 7:15:00 AM
EchoStar Communications Corp. plans to add National Geographic Channel to its Dish Network 'America's Top 150' package Friday, chairman Charlie Ergen said Monday night during an on-air 'Charlie Chat' with subscribers.
Ergen said NGC had been the No. 1 most-requested channel in recent months.
The company continues to promote its top-tiered programming package aggressively, offering subscribers who upgrade to Top 150 by the end of July a chance to win a trip to Manhattan in Bloomberg Television's 'New York Power Trip' sweepstakes.
Ergen also announced that Dish would add several new local-to-local markets this month, including Burlington, Vt.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Tulsa, Okla., which should bring the company's total markets offering local channels to 43.
EchoStar could serve as many as 50 markets with local broadcast channels following the successful launch of its EchoStar VIII satellite later this summer, Ergen predicted.
EchoStar VIII was expected to launch last month, but it was delayed when a problem was detected with the satellite in a prelaunch check. No new launch date has been set, but Ergen said he hopes the launch will be rescheduled for this summer and the new satellite will be operational this fall.
Also during the chat, Ergen confirmed that the company's new dual-tuner personal video recorder, the 'DishPVR 721,' is shipping at a suggested retail price of $549, or $599 including the satellite dish.
No related content found.
Featured Company
-
Telestream
Telestream products are used by the world's leading media and entertainment companies and corporations for transcoding and workflow automation. Telestream helps customers transform their media for multiplatform distribution to web, mobile, DVD, cable VOD, podcast and broadcast pl..more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
