Dish Delivers: Hits HD-Channel Target Ahead of Schedule
New Additions Push DBS’ HD Offerings Past the Century Mark
By Larry Barrett -- Multichannel News, 7/10/2008 2:16:00 PM
Dish Network Thursday announced plans to launch another 17 national high-definition channels, assuring that the direct broadcast satellite provider will eclipse its internal goal almost five months ahead of schedule.
In January, CEO Charlie Ergen told analysts and subscribers that it would make good on its promise to offer 100 national HD networks and local HD channels in 100 markets by the end of the year.
“In January, we promised our customers that Dish Network would boost our national HD channel lineup to 100 by year’s end,” Eric Sahl, Dish’s senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. “Today, we are proud to say that in less than one year, not only did we deliver on our commitment, but we exceeded it. We continue our pledge…to add more national channels and local HD markets, as well as offer the best sports and movies in HD.”
Dish also unveiled something it’s calling TurboHD, a series of tiered HD-programming packages. TurboHD, company officials said, offers the most-watched HD channels in four separate tiers that can be viewed on analog, digital and high-definition TVs. All four tiers include all available local HD channels. They range in price from $24.99 a month up to $49.99 a month.
The 17 new national HD channels include:
ActionMax HD (DISH Network Ch. 313)
CBS College Sports HD (Ch. 152)
Lifetime HD (Ch. 108)
Lifetime Movie Network HD (Ch. 109)
Planet Green HD (Ch. 194)
Encore HD (Ch. 340)
HBO 2 HD (Ch. 301)
HBO Comedy HD (Ch. 307)
HBO Family HD (Ch. 305)
HBO Latino HD (Ch. 309)
HBO Signature HD (Ch. 302)
HBO West HD (Ch. 303)
HBO Zone HD (Ch. 308)
Starz Comedy HD (Ch. 354)
Starz Edge HD (Ch. 352)
Starz Kids & Family HD (Ch. 356)
Starz West HD (Ch. 351)
