Some Hawai'i satellite TV subscribers now can watch prime-time TV in glossy, high-definition glory.

Dish Network on Friday began complying with a federal deadline that requires satellite companies to carry digital versions of ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC in Hawai'i. Congress passed the mandate in 2004 amid perceptions that TV viewers in Hawai'i and Alaska were underserved by satellite companies.

In Hawai'i, there are only about 40,000 satellite TV households versus about 400,000 cable-TV households. Among these satellite customers is Ha'iku retiree Robert Lane, who's noticed the local availability of CBS affiliate KGMB, Fox affiliate KHON, NBC affiliate KHNL and ABC affiliate KITV on Dish Network.

"It made my day," he said.

Lane said he's looking forward to watching football this fall in high definition. High definition, or HDTV, is a version of digital TV that is far richer and sharper than current standard-definition TV signals or non-HDTV digital signals.

"I think it's the best thing since canned beer," Lane said.

Both Dish Network and DirecTV already offer versions of the four major networks to Hawai'i customers. The Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, passed by Congress in 2004, required both satellite TV companies to offer Hawai'i and Alaska customers digital versions of local affiliates as of June 8. DirecTV said it wasn't yet providing the digital service because of an unexpected delay in launching a satellite designed to serve Hawai'i.

Financial terms of the satellite television rebroadcast agreements were not disclosed. In the past, one hurdle that kept local network affiliates' HD programs off many TV dials was the stations wanting to be compensated for providing added HD programming.

Joe McNamara, general manager of Fox-affiliate KHON 2, said Dish Network now is carrying KHON in HD along with a standard-definition version of KHON's second channel, which is an affiliate of the CW Network.

The satellite agreements show that congressional intervention sometimes works, said McNamara.

"To me it's a good thing," he said. "We were one of the states left out."

Cory Jo Vasquez, a spokeswoman for Dish Network, said the company was pleased to provide full digital local service to Hawai'i subscribers. The Dish Network is part of EchoStar Communications Corp.

"EchoStar is determined to provide the best possible service to all of our subscribers, therefore we built the necessary infrastructure on the ground and in the sky to provide special satellite coverage in Hawai'i and meet this mandate," she said in a written statement.

Satellite TV subscribers seeking to watch local channels in HD need an HD-capable television and may need a new set-top box and a second satellite dish.

HD programming also can cost extra to receive.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.