DISH Sticks with HD Plan

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar confirmed to retailers during a monthly "chat" broadcast Tuesday that instead of offering high-definition TV through a new dish, reportedly the SuperDISH product, the company will continue delivering HD from satellites at 110 degrees, 61.5 degrees and 148 degrees.

High-def programming from the satellite TV service is already offered from those locations. The non-move allows customers with HD to continue receiving the content without the need for any new equipment. At the moment, four HD channels are available from 110 degrees via the DISH 500 system. Four channels are available from 61.5 degrees or 148 degrees.

Customers who want local channels in some of the new markets DISH Network is launching will still need the 66-centemeter SuperDISH, retailers learned. The dish may be pointed at 105 degrees, with capacity that's expected to be supplied by SES Americom, or 121 degrees, the orbital location of the recently launched EchoStar 9.