First to Broadcast in All 210 Local Television Markets in the United States
DISH Network L.L.C. today announced that it plans to launch local broadcast channels in 29 new markets on June 3, 2010, becoming the first and only pay-TV provider to offer local channels to consumers in every market nationwide. The announcement comes moments after President Obama signed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA) into law, which paved the way for DISH Network to take this historic step.
"We are proud to announce that every American will soon have access to their local channels from DISH Network," said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, President and CEO of DISH Network. "While our nearest competitor offers local channels in only 75 percent of local markets, DISH Network is committed to offering consumers in all markets — particularly those living in smaller and rural communities — a full complement of satellite TV services. All Americans, regardless of where they live, deserve access to key in-state news, sports, weather and other programming."
On June 3, DISH Network plans to launch local channels in 29 new markets, introducing to many consumers a choice in television service for the first time ever. These markets include: Alpena, Mich.; Biloxi, Miss.; Binghamton, N.Y.; Bluefield, W.Va.; Bowling Green, Ky.; Columbus, Ga.; Elmira, N.Y.; Eureka, Calif.; Glendive, Mont.; Greenwood, Miss.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Jackson, Tenn.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Lafayette, Ind.; Lake Charles, La.; Mankato, Minn.; North Platte, Neb.; Ottumwa, Iowa; Parkersburg, W.Va.; Presque Isle, Maine.; Salisbury, Md.; Springfield, Mass.; St. Joseph, Mo.; Utica, N.Y.; Victoria, Texas; Watertown, N.Y.; Wheeling, W.Va.; and Zanesville, Ohio.
The passage of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 was made possible through the hard work and dedication of many members of Congress, including Chairman Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary; Chairman Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; Senator John Kerry, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; Chairman John Conyers, U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary; Chairman Henry Waxman, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Chairman Rick Boucher, U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
"For far too long, consumers in many small or rural markets didn't have access to their local news, weather and sports. One of the principal goals of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act was to encourage local television to be made available to all consumers via satellite," said Chairman John Conyers, U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. "Implementation of the legislation will help make television markets more competitive, and serve the interests of consumers nationwide."
"My major goal in reforming the Satellite Home Viewer Act has been to bring to all 210 local television markets across the nation what we call local-into-local television service through which local TV signals are transmitted by satellite to homes in the market where the TV stations are located," said Chairman Rick Boucher, U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. "Today, we have taken the final step in achieving this long held goal, and as a result, satellite TV subscribers everywhere will soon be able to receive both national programming and the local TV stations that serve their area. With today's presidential signature, on June 3, DISH Network plans to begin serving the many rural markets that lack vital local TV signals. I want to commend the leadership of DISH Network for making this commitment. Millions of homes in America's most rural regions will be the beneficiaries."
