Posted on 05/27/2007 5:48:15 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., BUSINESS WIRE -- DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, continues to set the stage for its unprecedented expansion of HD services. With agreements in place to launch four Discovery HD channels, five HD channels from Starz, CNBC and Chiller in HD, along with recently completed deals with The History Channel and A&E, DIRECTV is on schedule to roll out up to 100 national HD channels by year-end to satisfy the appetite of its HD customers, who have doubled over the last year.
"Earlier this year we called 2007 the 'Year of HD' and we're going to deliver on our commitment to offer more HD channels than any other multichannel provider," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. "In addition to the networks we've signed to date, we will continue to add more HD programming to our launch list between now and year-end. Demand for HD continues to grow, and with the dramatic expansion of our capacity this summer and the nationwide reach of our service, we are uniquely positioned to lead the industry in the carriage and delivery of HD programming."
Under the agreement with Discovery Communications, DIRECTV will launch four simulcasts - Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel - and two other channels to be named and launched by Discovery at a later date. The HD feeds of the four existing networks will launch in September.
DIRECTV also has an agreement in place with Starz to launch three new HD movie channels: Starz Edge, Starz Comedy and Starz Kids & Family, as well as Starz's East and West coast HD feeds. The new Starz HD channels, featuring first-run hit movies, and the Starz East and West HD channels, will also launch in September.
The History Channel and DIRECTV recently announced that DIRECTV will be the first to launch The History Channel HD, a new 24-hour HD network, and A&E HD in September.
As it continues to beef up its HD channel lineup, DIRECTV has also become the platform of choice for the debut of exclusive HD programming. Disney Channel is providing DIRECTV the exclusive rights to broadcast the premiere HD version of High School Musical 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the global sensation for kids and families. DIRECTV will air the movie in HD a few days after its standard-definition premiere Friday, August 17 on Disney Channel.
In addition to the networks listed below, DIRECTV also plans to offer the HD feeds of regional sports networks on a nationwide basis this fall, and has commitments from a number of other networks to launch their HD simulcasts. They will be added to the lineup for launch by year-end and will be announced at a later date.
To date, DIRECTV has signed agreements or agreements in principle, to launch the following networks. -0- *T -- A&E -- National Geographic -- Bravo -- NFL Network -- Cartoon Network -- SciFi Channel -- CNN -- Speed -- Food Network -- TBS -- Big Ten Network -- The History Channel -- HGTV -- The Weather Channel -- MTV -- USA Network -- Disney Channel -- Versus HD -- Toon Disney -- TLC -- ABC Family -- Animal Planet -- ESPNNEWS HD -- The Science Channel -- Starz E/W feeds -- Discovery Channel -- Starz Edge -- The Tennis Channel -- Starz Comedy -- Showtime West -- Starz Kids & Family -- The Movie Channel -- CNBC -- Chiller *T
HD networks currently offered by DIRECTV include ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, TNT in HD, Universal HD, HBO HD, Showtime HD, an HD pay per view/special events channel and HD feeds from NY- and LA-based broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX (for eligible customers). DIRECTV also offers local HD broadcast channels in 60 cities, representing more than 70 percent of U.S. TV households.
DIRECTV's industry leading lineup of HD sports programming includes up to 10 MLB games a week in HD, and DIRECTV plans to offer all MLB games produced in HD beginning with the 2008 season. DIRECTV also offers NBA and NHL games in HD, and through its exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) Superfan subscription, DIRECTV customers have access to more than 150 NFL games in HD. In total DIRECTV offered more than 200 HD games last season, nearly twice as many as cable.
DIRECTV announced earlier this year that it will have the capacity to launch up to 100 national HD channels by the end of 2007, and offer local HD channels in up to 75 markets, following the launch of its D10 satellite this summer. The satellite will be operational and new HD services will begin rolling out in Q3.
The DIRECTV 11 satellite will be launched early next year to support further HD expansion. With the two satellites, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.
The pinged subjects will be those of HDTV technology, satellite/cable HD, OTA (over the air with various roof top and indoor antennas) HD reception. Broadcast specials and any and all subjects relating to HD.
Lasvegasdave
Pinging the HDTV list.......
CNBC in HD? I can’t stand Chissy in standard definition.
It depends what you mean by real. Cable and Satellite companies compress their signals, but I would not call them crap. Granted, if you could pick up the OTA signals it would be slightly better, but even a compressed HD signal is far superior to SD. I think 98% of viewers would be hard pressed to spot the difference between compressed and non-compressed HD.
Aren’t like 1/2 of these channels special sports packages? For example, don’t they count the NFL package in HD as 16 of the 160 channels?
FYI. Thought this might be of interest.
Anything new being added in HD on DISH?
It’s about time. I won’t go get it until they get NESN HD as well.
INHD is one of the DISH offerings coming, the others I will need to research.
Found this:
EchoStar Will Launch New HDTV Satellites (dated May 9,07)
Not for my 922.
LLS
With Chris Matthews it may become Spit-o-vision.
Get an umbrella and a yellow (the favored color of Democrats everywhere) rain slicker and Sou’wester hat.
Oh great. Now I can veiw all the compression artifacts in high definition.
Who do you use for programming?
Adelphia used to have the INHD 1/2 channels here. When Comcast took over they dropped them. I was totally PO'd. Would love to drop Comcast and I'm currently reviewing the new AT&T bundle being offered here.
I have it all with NPS and John. It does not look like the analog did. Bonnie Hammer has ruined the channel, so I watch it far less than in the FarScape days.
Good to see a fellow Bud user!
LLS
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