Viewers in the Eau Claire, Wisconsin area will finally have the option of receiving local ABC affiliate WQOW via DISH Network when the station is added to the local programming package for that area. This will be a nice plus for people who want to switch from cable to satellite or are having problems receiving the new digital TV signals.

Here in New Hampshire, I sometimes have problems receiving the digital TV signals from Boston despite a good roof-top TV antenna and a nice elevated location which gives us pretty decent reception from the Boston area most of the time. However, I am noticing that digital TV seems to be susceptible to weather-related problems.

Just this morning I was watching the Fox station out of Boston and lost my signal for a short time. I know there is some inclement weather in the area, so my best guess is that the problems I experienced were weather-related.

Fortunately, we have the local channel programming package for the Boston area as part of our DISH Network service, so we are able to watch the local stations (including the ABC affiliate in Manchester, NH) off the satellite, which works out nicely.

For those of you waiting to see WQOW on DISH Network, word is that the station is scheduled to be added no later than October 1st.

DISH Network has struck a deal with MSNBC which will make them the exclusive provider of HD programming from the news network.

DISH Customers who have a Classic Silver 200 with HD package or better can expect to find MSNBC-HD on channel 209.

As the leader in high definition programming with more than 140 national HD channels, we are pleased to be the only pay-TV provider to offer MSNBC HD nationwide," Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for Dish Network, said in a statement.

As the battle between the satellite, cable and telephone companies continues, this exclusive deal with DISH Network seems like a noteworthy victory for the company that currently reports that they are serving about 13 million customers.

According to a report on the Upper Michigan’s Source, DISH Network is poised to add local channels to their line-up, giving UP residents access to local stations such as TV 6.

According to the report, the local channels will be available for DISH Network customers to order tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Photo: takomabibelot

Comments in response to the news from Upper Michigan’s Source seem to indicate that some UP residents have had problems receiving their local TV channels since the cutover to digital TV. Something I can relate to here at my home since DTV seems to be a bit less “stable” than the old reliable analog signals that served us well for many decades.

I signed up for the local channel package from DISH Network a while back, mainly to receive our local ABC affiliate that is located in Manchester, NH. The terrain between our home and the stations transmission tower make it impossible to receive a reliable signal these days following the DTV transition, although we could usually count on a snowy, but watchable signal when they were broadcasting an analog signal.

Residents of the UP who are not already DISH Network customers and who would like to sign up or learn more about DISH Network can visit the DISH Network website by clicking here for all the latest information on programming packages and pricing.