March 16, 2007

DirecTV Ends Gospel Music Channel Local Feeds

By Shirley Brady

DirecTV discontinued Gospel Music Channel's local feeds, which it added to its local broadcast package in Aug. 2006 in 10 markets: Austin, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Orlando, Paducah, Philadelphia and San Antonio. GMC's website urges affected DirecTV subscribers to contact the satellite TV provider.

Gospel Music Channel was "in the unique position of being part of (DirecTV's) local broadcast station package in 10 markets," according to a GMC spokesman, who said the two companies are discussing other carriage (including national and HD) opportunities. A DirecTV representative said that GMC's local carriage had "expired."

Commented the GMC spokesman: "The newfound popularity of Gospel Music Channel in those markets has triggered several cable systems to launch the channel immediately (they've got GMC exclusively for a stretch) plus we have another major MSO agreement being finalized. GMC's growth momentum is as strong as it has ever been in its just over two year history."

Gospel Music Channel is now in more than 100 DMAs and added more than 1 million subs in Q4 2006 (its highest increases since launching in 2004) thanks to expanded roll-outs on Comcast. It continues to roll out on Comcast systems including Jackson, MS, a former Time Warner Cable market that today launches Comcast's preferred programming line-up, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.

GMC launched in January on cable systems operated by Metrocast Cablevision and Blue Ridge Communications, while Cox and Charter systems are adding it to their channel line-ups. The Christian Post has more.