New DISH Locals, New DirecTV Programming

[Gregg Lengling]

This week, EchoStar will reveal the next local TV package for DISH Network viewers. The market: Chico/Redding, Calif.

DISH Network viewers living in the Northern California market will get ABC affiliate KRCR, CBS station KHSL, FOX-KCVU, NBC-KNVN, and PBS KIXE.

EchoStar added two markets - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb., - in January, both of which are smaller markets the company has been targeting in the past couple of months. With the addition of Chico/Redding, DISH Network will have local TV channel packages available in 57 markets.

In other programming news, DirecTV said it's partnering with TVB Satellite, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Chinese-language broadcaster TVB Group, to deliver Jadeworld, a programming package of five Chinese-language channels.

A DirecTV exclusive, Jadeworld will be available on an a la carte basis for $36.99 a month. The new programming package will be the second Chinese-language offering in the DirecTV lineup. The service also transmits the Phoenix North American Chinese Channel in Mandarin to its customers in the United States.