DirecTV Adds Local HD in Nine Markets

DirecTV added nine more local HDTV markets -- Baltimore; Cleveland; Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.; Denver; Hartford, Conn.; and Miami, Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla. -- to its service Wednesday, according to officials.

With the addition of these markets, the satellite provider now offers local HDTV broadcast channels in 36 cities, with plans to launch in an additional 13 cities later this year, offering access to DirecTV-delivered local HD channels in more than 65% of U.S. television households.

DirecTV’s rollout of local HDTV channels in Charlotte is part of a nationwide expansion of HD programming that will culminate in 2007, when the satellite provider will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HDTV channels and more than 150 national HDTV channels.