One day after Insight said it would join cable brethren Comcast, Cox and Time Warner in launching a family tier, the dish heads got into the act, with DirecTV saying it will offer one of 40 channels ($34.99) to its 15mln customers in Apr. The nets on the tier will include many of the usual suspects, plus such public interest and/or niche channels as NASA TV, BYU TV and RFD TV. The tier will also include local broadcast signals. In addition, EchoStar chmn Charlie Ergen will unveil plans today for a similar family-friendly tier when he testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee on indecency. The price-focused EchoStar is expected to make its family tier available to its 12mln subs for about $20.

The Daily

Subscribe
Friday–July 11

Next Frontier: CableLabs Explores More than Speed Connectivity Era

Internet speed records are all the rage these days, with two separate breakthroughs making the headlines recently. One is more in the distant future, but the other hits closer to home.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Sep 11
2025 Faxies Awards Faxies Nominations Open! Final deadline: 4/4/25
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.