Latest DirecTV HD news ...

[Chinatown]

LAS VEGAS, Jan 08, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is hailing 2007 as the "Year of HD" with the planned launch and carriage of 100 national high-definition (HD) channels. With this substantial HD muscle, DIRECTV will offer three-times more HD programming than any other multi-channel distributor, with the majority of these channels launching in Q3.
DIRECTV also announced today that it currently has signed agreements, or agreements in principle, with more than 70 major networks including:
-- A&E                             -- National Geographic
-- Bravo                           -- NFL Network
-- Cartoon Network                 -- SciFi Channel
-- CNN                             -- Speed
-- Food Network                    -- TBS
-- FX                              -- The History Channel
-- HGTV                            -- The Weather Channel
-- MTV                             -- USA Network


DIRECTV will also extend its leadership in HD sports programming by offering hundreds of games and other HD programming available from Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) around the country, including YES Network, Comcast Sports Net, New England Sports Network and FOX Sports.
To satisfy the insatiable appetite for a greater number of movies in HD, DIRECTV will offer an expanded line-up of HD programming available from all premium movie channels.
"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 TVs this year, DIRECTV will be uniquely positioned as the best choice for HD programming."
With the launch of DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 satellites in 2007, 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.
DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as local HD broadcast channels in 49 cities, representing more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households.

[Tom Snyder]

Am I reading this right?  

Food Network, CNN and Weather Channel HD?  

I didn't even think they HAD HD channels...

[gparris]

Tom: FoodnetworkHD is on Dishnetwork right now.

CNNHD maybe in discussion, though opinion and info varies at avsforums.

Weather Channel HD is for the future (unless someone else know anything).

These HD channels are being allocated for FUTURE slots, not that these are a reality as of yet for the last two and the many offered in the press release.

Dishnetwork offers Nat Geo HD, HGTVHD, NFLHD but not MHD (MTVHD).
Time Warner Cable (not our location), Cox cable and Comcast offer MHD.

I think Directv is just allocating HD channel slots for future availablity...D* just isn't explaining it clearly.

[gb4fan92]

Well if DirectTv really does get 100 HD channels and TWC continues to stand still.......... It's see you later TWC!:rock: :rock:

[Sparkman87]

We have MHD here on Comcast, but not FoodHD, A&E HD, Natl Geo HD, or NFL HD yet. (Do have the Live HD NFL games, they postpone INHD during the games.  MHD is NOT MTVHD because they also show Music programming from other nets, like VH1 & CMTV.  We also just got the VS/Golf HD channel so tonights Det/COL NHL game is actually on 2 HD channels here.

[gparris]

I really think 2007 is the year of HD for Directv, especially as more and more HDTVs are sold and some cable systems, like our local one, fail to deliver more HD channels.

With the promise of more HD and better everything from them firmly in everyone's mind, Directv cannot win without delivery...time will tell.