DirecTV to See if Local Plays in Peoria

DirecTV Inc. said Monday that it will begin offering local channels to its direct-broadcast satellite customers in the Peoria-Bloomington, Ill., DMA by midyear.

The DBS provider said Peoria-Bloomington will be among more than 24 new markets that will receive local channels once the Federal Communications Commission approves its relocation of the DirecTV 5 satellite to the Telesat-controlled orbital slot at 72.5 degrees west longitude.

DirecTV currently offers local channels in 64 markets.