UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE
http://www.tvpredictions.com/dish114073108.htm
Dish Network: We Now Have 114 HD Channels (August 1st-LVD)
Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2008) — Dish Network said today that it will have up to 114 High-Definition channels starting tomorrow, more than any other TV provider.
The satcaster is scheduled to add 17 national HD channels on Friday. However, until now, Dish was only counting around 80 HD channels, which would seem to put its total at 100 at best.
But in a press release issued today, Dish Network said:
“As previously announced, (we) will also launch 17 new national HD channels tomorrow, surpassing its goal of reaching 100 national HD channels five months ahead of schedule. Dish Network now offers up to 114 national HD channels and plans to expand that lineup to 150 channels by the end of 2008.”
DIRECTV says it now has 95 national HD channels, but will increase that number to 130 on August 14.
Asked how Dish is able to reach the 114 mark, Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez said the total includes 14 Video on Demand channels, six ‘HD PPV’ channels and 25 regional sports channels.
Here is a list of the 114 channels that Dish Network says it will offer by tomorrow:
A&E HD
ABC Family
Cartoon Network
CNBC
CNN HD
Discovery Channel HD
Disney (E)
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
ESPNews
Food Network HD
HD Theater
HDNet
HGTV HD
History Channel HD, The
Lifetime
MHD
SCI FI Channel HD
TBS in HD
TLC HD
TNT HD
Travel Channel
USA HD
Weather Channel
Animal Planet HD
Big Ten Network HD 2
Bravo
CBS College Sports
Lifetime Movie Network
NFL Network HD
Toon Disney
WGN America
Biography
Encore (E)
Golf Channel/Versus HD
Hallmark Movie Channel
National Geographic Channel HD
Planet Green
Science Channel HD, The
Tennis Channel
5StarMAX HD
Cinemax HD (E)
Cinemax HD (W)
ActionMAX
HBO HD (E)
HBO HD (W)
HBO2 HD
HBO Signature HD
HBO Comedy
HBO Family
HBO Zone
HBO Latino
Showtime HD
Starz HD (E)
Starz HD (W)
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Edge HD
Starz Kids and Family HD
HDNet Movies
MGM
NBA TV
NHL Network HD
Smithsonian
Universal HD
World Fishing Network
DISH Network HD PPV – 6 Channels
Regional Sports Networks – 25 Channels
VOD – 14 Channels
Locals – 4 Channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC)
TOTAL 114
The satcaster also said today it will be the first TV provider to offer high-def movies in 1080p resolution, the same resolution offered on Blu-ray high-def discs.
DIRECTV earlier this week said it would air some movies in 1080p, but did not give a launch date other than to say “later this year.”
Dish said its 1080p resolution will be offered when it unveils a new subscription package next month. The company said that starting August 1, a new system upgrade will be rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers.
The upgrade will activate a feature in the set-top that improves the current standard of high-def delivery used by pay TV providers, such as the ability to output 1080p programming.
By early August, Dish said in a press release, all Dish customers with MPEG-4 HD DVRs will have set-tops that can display 1080p.
Dish said that starting August 1, Will Smith’s movie, I Am Legend, will be available in 1080p resolution on Dish’s VOD service.
DISH Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Insalaco told Reuters that the satcaster plans to start promoting more of its high-end products, such as high-def , even with the economy sagging.
“Television is still a huge part of people’s lives, and with rising gas prices the whole home video experience is more important than ever,” she told the wire service.
A recent study found that DIRECTV and Comcast customers spend more money per month on their TV service than Dish customers.
Seems to me to be a major screw up.
Nice!!!!
Thanks for the ping, Dave! I’m awaiting HD availability of my local channels (Montgomery) before possibly moving from cable. If we lived in the next county north, we could get Birmingham locals - all in HD. Oh well…