I'm curious if it is differnent for areas. I see DirectTV ads talking about 150 channels. Comcast isn't close. So what do you have?

 

20... Plus 5 HD ON-Demand "Channels" I think you're thinking of digital channels in sat. ads

 

DirecTV is expanding their HDTV bandwidth. They have a couple dozen HD channels now. A new satellite comes online in September in order to provide more HD channels... including local stations that are broadcasting in HD. They are already offering free equipment upgrades to current customers to try and head off the rush in September. The new sat requires a 5-LNB satellite dish. An additional satellite will be launched after the first of the year. Their capacity at that point will be 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels

"The future of television has arrived. DIRECTV brings you our new HD DVR, soon with the capacity to offer 150 HD channels, that's three times more than cable. Images are sharper. Sound is crisper. And now, they can be recorded. Get the best sports, movies, family and special events, all in stunning HD.

 

DIRECTV Adds New HD Channels for Fall; Four Discovery HD Channels, Five Starz HD Channels, CNBC and Chiller to join the HD Pack, More On the Way

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 23, 2007 - 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.

A&E
National Geographic
Bravo
NFL Network
Cartoon Nothing
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


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™ 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.

 

That's about what I have also here in Metro Detroit. I had Comcast, went to Direct TV for a year and then went back to Comcast. I'll never subscribe to Direct TV again.

 

That is close to what I have but not quite.

Why did you go back?

 

DirecTV has been babbleing about their HD for YEARS. They were supposed to have launched all these HD channels... oh, a year and a half ago. They keep getting delays, blah blah blah... I'll believe it when I go to their web site and can see the list of 150 HD channels and what channel #'s they are. Then I'll switch. Maybe.

 

I was having all kinds of problems with Direct TV (channels weren't coming in, bad reception, etc...) and I was also stuck in a 1 year contract. Their satelite inetrnet was outrageously priced at the time.

I got cable, internet and phone all through Comcast for a good price this year. When they try to jack it up next year, I'll threaten to cancel and they'll keep my rates the same.

 

Direct TV is full of crap about those 150 HD channel Claims. First off, there arent 150 HD channels available for them to even broadcast yet.

Second, calling their HD channels High Definition is stretching the term. They compress their broadcasts sooo much that its barely HD.....
If cable Co's compressed theirs that much they could add another 30-40 HD channels in the already avail bandwidth spectrum.

My .02's

 

I'm just sick of the same Hi-Def channels.

I need HD Spike and History Channel, etc.

I want to see Ice Road Truckers in HD.

 

Ice Road Truckers?

The UFC in HD would be nice. I know this for a fact...DO NOT get Suddenlink's services...their HD sux.

 

I have comcast and there are over 30 HD channels listed. i don't get them all because i don't pay for the movie channels. i do get Stars though.

Also just because the channels are HD, not all shows are in HD.

I like ESPN and ESPN2 in HD but would really love the get Speed in HD.

There is also a misnomer about all channels becoming HD, Its not mandatory to switch to HD but it is to switch to a digital signal in a few years.

 

History channel, spike and MSNBC in HD would be nice. I have Comcast HD and barely use it even though I pay for it. I skip between Comcast and Dish every year to get a better price. So whatever they offer I guess I settle for.