DIRECTV Remains Clear HD Leader with 130 HD Channels

[Seanb61]

DIRECTV Remains Clear HD Leader With 130 HD channels on Tap For Mid-August
DIRECTV Adding More Than 30 New HD Channels and is First To Offer All HD Programming in MPEG-4 AVC and Dolby Digital; Will offer HD Movies in 1080p Later This Year

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 28, 2007 - DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, continues to dominate the HD landscape by delivering significantly more quality national HD channels than any other television provider in the nation via the most advanced technology. Beginning August 14, DIRECTV will launch more than 30 additional HD channels, bringing the total HD channel lineup to 130.

DIRECTV will also transmit all of its HD programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding standard, by the end of this month - the first to do so in the industry. All HD programming will also be available in the Dolby Digital audio format, and later this year, DIRECTV will begin offering movies in 1080p, the highest resolution format available for HD video enthusiasts and the same format used by Blu-Ray HD DVDs.

Among the new HD channels that DIRECTV will launch next month are Showtime Extreme HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Planet Green HD, ABC Family HD, additional DIRECTV HD pay per view channels and an additional 23 Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in HD 24 hours a day.

"Despite all the sound and fury of confusing HD claims from our competitors, our customers understand that DIRECTV is the destination for the most compelling and complete lineup of HD content," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. "Our message is clear - DIRECTV is the content leader, and our delivery of the best quality HD via the most advanced technology is one way we continue to dominate this category and offer our more than 17 million customers nationwide an unparalleled entertainment experience."

In addition to its full lineup of linear HD channels, DIRECTV continues to lead the industry with the most sports HD programming available, by broadcasting exclusive, interactive sports packages like NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, NCAA® MEGA MARCH MADNESS™ and NASCAR HOTPASS™ all in crystal-clear HD. DIRECTV will also continue to add HD content to its newly launched DIRECTV on Demand platform.

The full DIRECTV HD programming lineup, including the new channels, and details on receiving equipment needed for the new DIRECTV HD services, are available by calling 1-800-DIRECTV or visiting directv.com/hd.

With the DIRECTV 11 satellite now part of the fleet and the launch of the DIRECTV 12 satellite next year, DIRECTV will have the capacity to deliver 200 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels in addition to new advanced programming services for customers nationwide.


A correction from DirecTV regarding the HD RSNs:

They will be adding 12 full-time RSNs for a total of 23.
Not 23 new HD RSNs.

Please see this post for more info:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv...-hd-leader-130-hd-channels-9.html#post1461423

 

[Rey]

WOW!!!!!! awesome!!! i'm jumping over here! 1080p! :up

 

[iceturkee]

where are the additional hbo hd channels plus lifetime, travel, outdoor channel, etc.? hoefully, this is only the start and there will be more additional national hd added before years end!

 

[Rey]

i really do want the travel channel in HD

 

[satjay]

This should make things intresting!!

 

[Rey]

there is no speculation. the announcement mentions what channels are going to be the 30 including rsn's

 

[goaliebob99]

I see the death of exstream hd coming.

 

[maxkil41]

23 of the 30 which are RSN's doesn't help me much.

 

[dlsnyder]

Are the current model HD receivers capable of displaying 1080p or will they be rolling out a new one soon?

 

[WilliamC]

Doesn't help me either. Looks like 23 RSN + 4 national HD = 27
So it looks like we will get 3 additional PPV channels. Nothing to be excited about really. I was hoping for something more than RSN, but the sports fans should be happy.

 

[Dog6869]

Are the current model HD receivers capable of displaying 1080p or will they be rolling out a new one soon?

Very good Question.. I hope the new HDDVR will have fire wire; it will make transferring the data to an external hard drive a faster.. Maybe they will also put in a lager internal hard rive to hold more data.. But I guess when PIGS will fly.. Can they broadcast 1080P??

 

[ScoBuck]

DirecTV to light 44 more HD local markets by years end

DIRECTV to Offer HD Local Channels in 121 Markets by Year-End
With Launch of 44 New HD Markets More Than 88 Percent of U.S.
Television Homes Will Have Access to Local HD Channels from DIRECTV

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jul 28, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, continues to strengthen its HD presence with the addition of 44 new HD local channel markets. By the end of 2008, DIRECTV will provide local HD broadcast channels in 121 cities, representing more than 88 percent of U.S. TV households. DIRECTV will begin the rollout of the new HD local markets in August and continue through the end of the year. The new markets include:

-- Augusta, Ga. -- Harrisonburg, Va.
-- Bangor, Maine -- La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.
-- Baton Rouge, La. -- Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.
-- Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas -- Lincoln-Hastings, Neb.
-- Boise, Idaho -- Macon, Ga.
-- Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y. -- Mobile AL-Pensacola, Fla.
-- Butte-Bozeman, Mont. -- Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
-- Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill. -- Norfolk-Newport News, Va.
-- Charleston, S.C. -- Palm Springs, Calif.
-- Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.
-- Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo. -- Richmond-Petersburg, Va.
-- Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo. -- Rockford, Ill.
-- Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., -- Rochester, N.Y.
Moline, Ill.
-- Dayton, Ohio -- Savannah, Ga.
-- Des Moines-Ames, Iowa -- Sioux Falls, S.D.
-- Dothan, Ala. -- South Bend-Elkhart, Ind.
-- El Paso, Texas -- Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.
-- Evansville, Ind. -- Syracuse, N.Y.
-- Fort Smith, Ark. -- Tallahassee, Fla.
-- Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Toledo, Ohio
-- Greenville-New Bern-Washington, -- Traverse City-Cadillac,
N.C. Mich.
-- Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas -- Youngstown, Ohio

"With the rollout of 44 new HD local markets, DIRECTV continues to strengthen its position as the leading provider of quality HD programming among cable and satellite competitors nationwide," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. "Our DIRECTV 11 satellite has recently begun operations and significantly expands our capacity for more national and local HD channels. And as we have with the SuperFan(R) service for MLB EXTRA INNINGS(R) and NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and our multi-screen coverage of US Open golf, we will continue to use HD to enhance our unique interactive services to provide our customers with more of what they want and expect from us - the best television experience available."

DIRECTV will deliver HD programming from the primary broadcast networks - ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC - where available and authorized, to customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package that offers local channels. DIRECTV HD customers will continue to pay only a $9.99 access fee, allowing them to receive DIRECTV's premier HD technology and all channels broadcast in HD that are tied to their particular base programming package.

Customers should visit directv.com to learn more about the full complement of DIRECTV's HD programming lineup including existing channels, new channels, details on equipment required for the new DIRECTV HD services and updates on when the new markets will launch.

With the DIRECTV 11 satellite just introduced to the fleet and the launch of the DIRECTV 12 satellite next year, DIRECTV will have the capacity to deliver 200 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels in addition to new advanced programming services for customers nationwide.

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQTV - News), the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 17 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with 95 national HD channels - more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed all national cable companies for eight years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc.



The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - DIRECTV to Offer HD Local Channels in 121 Markets by Year-End

 

[JayPSU]

23 of the channels are RSN's that no one can see games on anyway?! Terrible, just terrible. No new HBO's or Cinemax either. Very disappointing and bad choices for new space.

 

[gadgtfreek]

1080p huh, D*'s just killin Dish right now. Every time you think they might get a leg up, its gets broken off.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Man, I'd really like to see Norfolk in a locals announcement from Directv some day.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I see the death of exstream hd coming.

Could be. AS good as their 1080i looks, Im curious to see how D* does 1080p.

 

[Rey]

Are the current model HD receivers capable of displaying 1080p or will they be rolling out a new one soon?

they should be able to. for example the xbox 360. when i 1st bought the system it could only display up to 1080i. after a software update it now displays 1080p. so now i can play the games that have the 1080p logo. i imagine it should be that easy for D dvr's. they wouldn't come up with this knowing that many customers would have to change their boxes again.

 

[JerryVolunteer]

I hope they are still planning on lighting up ESPNU HD at the end of August!

 

[Rey]

I hope they are still planning on lighting up ESPNU HD at the end of August!

i hope they add more than that by the end of the year

 

[fireshoes]

1080p huh, D*'s just killin Dish right now. Every time you think they might get a leg up, its gets broken off.

I guess you missed the news about E*'s website being updated last week that said they would have 1080P VOD. They pulled it down later, but don't buy into the D* hype too much. 23 RSNs and 3 PPV...oh boy.