DirecTV Adding 100 HD Channels in 2007

[Jpup]

http://tv.ign.com/articles/753/753818p1.html

January 9, 2007 - Satellite provider DirecTV at CES 2007 announced that it plans to launch 100 new HD-dedicated channels in the coming months to support what it has dubbed "the year of HD." The company will effectively be offering three times more HD programming than any other distributor by the third quarter of the year. And there are spectacular additions coming, as we'll list below.

Look out for HD-ized versions of major network channels, including A&E, National Geographic, Bravo, NFL Network, Cartoon Network, Food Network, TBS, FX, The History Channel, HGTV, The Weather Channel, USA Network, MTV, and our personal favorite, the SciFi Channel.

For more than a year, nerds like us have begged for DirecTV to carry the SciFi Channel in HD so that we can watch HD versions of Battlestar Galactica as soon as they debut. It seems that our prayers and cries for a response have finally been addressed. Thank you, DirecTV.

The provider will also extend its sports-based HD programming by offerings hundreds of new games from the Regional Sports Networks around the country. DirecTV will additionally serve up an expanded line of premium movie channels in high-definition.

"This is DIRECTV's break-out year for HD," said Chase Carey, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "The launch of our two new satellites will complete the largest capacity expansion in DIRECTV history, and no other video service will be able to match the sheer volume and quality of our HD programming. With HD adoption now reaching critical mass in the U.S., and 40 million homes projected to have HD-capable TV's this year, DIRECTV will be uniquely positioned as the best choice for HD programming."

The company has not yet revealed when HD versions of these channels will debut, but we'll keep you posted as more details become available.

It looks as if we will get to see TBS baseball in HD this year. I hope the cable companies and Dish Network offer these channels as well. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of these channels in HD including TBS and USA.

[Dom Heffner]

Great- now if they can solve the "Your service goes out if there is a cloud over your house" issue we might be able to watch these channels.

It's awful here in Florida.

[Ltlabner]

Great- now if they can solve the "Your service goes out if there is a cloud over your house" issue we might be able to watch these channels.

It's awful here in Florida.

My in-laws in Cincinnati had the same experience. It was horrible. After repeated attempts to fix the problem they finally got fed up and went back to cable.

[paintmered]

In all seriousness, it takes a very heavy thunderstorm to lose signal around here.

[FutureRedsGM]

In all seriousness, it takes a very heavy thunderstorm to lose signal around here.

Same here (Louisville) with Dish Network.

[JaxRed]

I live in Florida and almost never lose my Directv signal

[BRM]

In all seriousness, it takes a very heavy thunderstorm to lose signal around here.

We just went through back to back blizzards here in Colorado and I never once lost the signal. I have Directv by the way.

[Joseph]

I used to lose DirecTV all the time, but I switched back to Dish and it takes something SEVERE to even get the screen to blink a little now. I'm far more likely to lose power than signal.

[KronoRed]

In all seriousness, it takes a very heavy thunderstorm to lose signal around here.

Yep.

If your dish is aligned incorrectly it can make it worse.

[Yachtzee]

My DirectTV goes out far less often than my cable internet and Northeast Ohio isn't know for its perennial sunshine. Could it be the equipment, or as Krono said the alignment?

[HotCorner]

Alignment.

[BoydsOfSummer]

When I had DirecTv it took a darn good sized thunderhead to drop the signal. I went back to cable because I got a sweet deal on a internet/phone/cable package.

[macro]

...and have they said anything about the cost of these 100 new channels? Right now they're charging about $12 for ten HD channels. Even if I had a HD television, I don't think I'd give that much for that little. I know it takes money to put those bird up into space, but is this going to be cost-prohibitive to the majority of people?

[bengalsown]

See ya time warner!

[Jpup]

...and have they said anything about the cost of these 100 new channels? Right now they're charging about $12 for ten HD channels. Even if I had a HD television, I don't think I'd give that much for that little. I know it takes money to put those bird up into space, but is this going to be cost-prohibitive to the majority of people?

I figure that if you can afford a nice HDTV, then you can afford the service. If you can't afford the service, maybe you shouldn't buy the TV. I'm not speaking of you, but in general.

My guess is they will be in line with what Dish Network is currently offering.