DirecTV Inc. announced it is now offering local HD programming to customers in the Green Bay, Wisc., Greensboro, N.C., Grand Rapids, Mich. and Providence, R.I., markets. The additions mean that DirecTV offers local HD broadcast channels in 49 cities, representing more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households.

DirecTV plans to launch an additional eight HD local markets throughout the remainder of the year, part of its nationwide expansion of HD programming to culminate in 2007, with DirecTV’s ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD channels and more than 150 national HD channels.