Dish Brings Local HD to Chicago

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network direct-broadcast satellite service Thursday launched local HD signals in Chicago and its surrounding counties.

Chicago-area Dish subscribers with any of the provider's "DishHD" packages will now receive ABC channel 7 (WLS), CBS channel 2 (WBBM), NBC channel 5 (WMAQ) and Fox channel 32 (WFLD).

The local channels are available in 11 Illinois counties (Cook, De Kalb, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Lake, McHenry and Will) and five Indiana counties (Jasper, La Porte, Lake, Newton and Porter).

[bradsmainsite]

What happened to the rest? WJYS, WGBO, WSNS, WWTO, WCIU, WYIN, WYCC WTTW, WCPX, WXFT, WPWR I know I know BANDWIDTH big deal put up an antenna and getem all FREE!

[Sparkman87]

What happened to the rest? WJYS, WGBO, WSNS, WWTO, WCIU, WYIN, WYCC WTTW, WCPX, WXFT, WPWR I know I know BANDWIDTH big deal put up an antenna and getem all FREE!

E* is only putting up ABC,CBS,FOX, & NBC as HD locals.  Other than, WTTW & WPWR none of the other stations you listed are currently broadcasting in HD.  You did leave WGN off of your list, they also are broadcasting in HD.  I currently do have my antenna pointed to Milwaukee and still get most of the stations you listed, along with all of the Milwaukee stations.

[bradsmainsite]

Maybe not right now they are not in HD, but they will then what?  Will they really pickup the rest?  Time will tell.

[Sparkman87]

Maybe not right now they are not in HD, but they will then what?  Will they really pickup the rest?  Time will tell.

I don't think either satellite company has any plans to carry any digital stations other than the big 4 until the 2009 analog drop date.

[John L]

I'm surprised WGN isn't on the list.  Unless they're carrying only the satellite version.  Thou being Chicago it would make sense to carry the same signal offered to WGN-TV, ch. 9 analog viewers.  WGN-TV was the most popular independent station in the country.  I remember years ago how most Milwaukee people bought large TV antennas to be able to get WGN-TV and its great independent TV programming including Chicago Cubs baseball.

-John L.

[Sparkman87]

I'm surprised WGN isn't on the list.  Unless they're carrying only the satellite version.  Thou being Chicago it would make sense to carry the same signal offered to WGN-TV, ch. 9 analog viewers.  WGN-TV was the most popular independent station in the country.  I remember years ago how most Milwaukee people bought large TV antennas to be able to get WGN-TV and its great independent TV programming including Chicago Cubs baseball.

-John L.

They do carry Both versions.  I don't think they will carry anything other than the 4 nets iin HD anywhere.  What is ironic is that Express Vu in Canada carries both the SD & HD local versions of WGN all thru Canada , but E* & D* subscribers who live in the Chicago market won't be able to get the HD version.