DirecTV to Carry Public TV Stations in HD

DIRECTV TO CARRY PUBLIC TV STATIONS IN HD
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
Starting next year, DirecTV will provide high-definition feeds of local public television stations to its subscribers after reaching a 10-year deal with the Association of Public Television Stations and the Public Broadcasting Service. The HD carriage marks the first time the satellite operator will offer public TV programming in digital format. DirecTV will carry local public TV stations’ HD feeds in markets where it offers local HD programming. Currently, the direct-broadcast operator offers local HD channels in 68 markets, which according to DirecTV represents 72% of U.S. TV households. In addition, DirecTV will offer two new national standard-definition digital channels with public television programming and said it plans to work with APTS and PBS also to offer new video-on-demand content.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6514411.html

* Commissioner Adelstein
"I'm thrilled APTS, PBS and DirecTV reached this historic carriage agreement. PBS and local public television stations provide some of the most exceptional public interest programming on TV, including news, public affairs and children's programming. DirecTV subscribers will benefit from the high-quality and high-definition programming they will see as a result of today's agreement."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279080A1.doc