Hawai'i's 40,000 or so satellite TV subscribers should soon be able to watch their favorite network shows in high definition.

Both Dish Network and DirecTV are working to meet a June 8 deadline that will require them to begin carrying digital versions of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in Hawai'i and Alaska. Providers of satellite-based services have always faced challenges serving Hawai'i because of the state's geographic isolation. It's more difficult to pick up TV signals in Hawai'i because satellites typically are positioned to provide service to North America, where the bulk of the nation's TV-watching households are located.

That's one reason new satellite-based radio services aren't offered in the 50th state. It's also why satellite TV providers sometimes offer Hawai'i customers a limited channel lineup when compared with services provided to Mainland customers. Neither Dish Network or DirecTV — the nation's two biggest satellite TV companies — currently offer Hawai'i customer high-definition versions of local network affiliates.

That is changing because of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, passed by Congress in 2004, forcing satellite TV companies to offer Hawai'i and Alaska customers digital versions of local affiliates by June 8.

Negotiations between local TV stations and satellite pro-viders over the rights to digital versions of Hawai'i channels already are under way.

"It's all in the works, but we don't have a deal yet," said Joe McNamara, general manager for Fox-affiliate KHON 2.

McNamara said he was optimistic that signal retransmission deals could be reached with the two satellite companies.

In Hawai'i and elsewhere, the number of satellite TV viewers is eclipse by cable TV viewers. In Hawai'i, there are only about 40,000 satellite TV households versus about 400,000 cable-TV households, McNamara said.

"It's a small number, but still it's an important number for us," he said.

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.

Both Dish Network and DirecTV currently offer standard definition versions of the four major networks to Hawai'i customers.

"When local HD is available in Hawai'i, customers who are receiving (standard definition) locals there now will not need new equipment and will have access to the full complement of national HD channels when we roll them out," said DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.