I respectfully disagree. While DirecTV may be the leader of HD Marketing Hype, I feel that Dish Network (DishHD) is still the leader when it comes to providing both the most HD and best HD value. Additionally, when is comes to quality Verizon FiOS TV is second to none. Hopefully DirecTV will finally deliver on the promises they have been making the past 2 1/2 years - it will certainly help stimulate HD competition in both the cable and satellite markets. However, until they start rolling-out their new HD lineup and making drastic improvements to their national HD picture quality, I place them well behind Dish Network, FiOS TV, and just about every major cable provider out there.

Interesting definition of "leader". If empty promises and marketing hype that shakes up the rest of the market is being a leader then I guess you are right. But I really don't agree. Dish Network and other Multi-channel companies have the same problem: bandwidth and, more importantly, HD CONTENT!!! Many of the channels expected to be launched by Dish Network next week weren't in existance until very recently. One of the "Announced" channels isn't even going live until September! So really is Dish Network following DirecTV's hype or is it just quietly adding the HD channels it planned to add as they become available? Here is a question: How many national broad-appeal HD networks are on line now that are not carried by Dish Network?

Interesting perspective. Never thought about it that way.

coming from a hardcore dish network guy, i am somewhat impressed by your willingness to look at the true big picture

This is a very good way to look at this. Nobody wants to be last in this industry.

I think that DirecTV has become the leader of Hype, and it has had a VERY REAL impact on Dish - and apparently Comcast. In the long run, this will push DirecTV to ACTUALLY DELIVER on what they have promised (some of which should be challenging, as some of the channels they promise simply do not exist), and it will force Dish Netowrk to continue to up the ante. Software is already rolling for External USB HDD support; with seven new channels and a conversion of Voom to mpeg-4 and increasing the resolution as well; I say BRING ON THE HD WAR!!!! :--)

Just taking this as an opportunity to congratulate you Scott on your multichannel.com column! I've been following the Satelliteguys.us for a while and it was a nice surprise seeing you around here!

Its a moot point come end of next month, but does one have to be the leader without having to deliver anything? I think the mere fact that Directv has been threatening to deliver more HD has the market moving. And thats a good thing for everyone!

Fact check: 1. There are 15 VOOM channels 2. DIRECTV made their 150 national HD channels announcement in Septmber of 2004 3. DIRECTV's idea of what constitutes a national HD channel is decidedly at odds with what the unsuspecting subscriber might expect.

THe difference between true HD and HD-Lite is PQ, just as the difference between SD and HD is PQ. The company with the full HD resolution is the leader.

MPEG4 local HD on DirecTV looks outstanding. Once everything has been transitioned to MPEG4 and the new channels are up, what will the complainers find next? BTW Scott...very interesting perspective. I read many articles and forums and have never read things this way. In reality, your column is dead right. The HD landscape has been stale for quite some time. Charlie has done a nice patch-work job with the space he has available. Fact is, there aren't alot more services available that he doesn't already carry. Where Dish takes the biggest hit in HD now is sports. MLB and NFL fans who sub to out of market packages are much better off with DirecTV, and that won't change for years to come.

Uh-oh! Looks like the faithful of the Cult of Echostar are up in arms that their "guru" Scott has named DirecTV the leader in HD. What they fail to see is that Scott is not just counting channels to come to that determination, but is gaging the impact that DirecTV's moves has had on the industry as a whole. Be it hype or hard fact, nothing has made the multichannel industry sit up and take stock of what they need to do in the HD realm than DirecTV's methodical implementation of it's plans. Neither Voom nor Echostar's snapping up of the Voom channel package has caused as much consternation as has the scenario presently playing out in space (with the launch of D10), TV commercials and even the federal courts.

Leading or not I agree with Scott that E* HAS the HD channels. D* has the promise of more. The best news is that both systems (and other multichannels) will stay in the race. Every day that a source announces their HD plan is a good day ... for both D* to fulfill their "pie in the sky" as well as E* to stay ahead and others to do what they do.

Let's not make this partisan. Scott has a very good point in that all carriers have been dragging their heels. The DTV announcement has spurred the other carriers to get off their butts, and this is a good thing for us consumers, no matter which service provider you use.

Here in Puerto Rico the cable companies are ahead of Dish Network and DirecTV. While Dish Network only offers 5 HD channels and none from DirecTV, you can get more than 10 channels with cable. The "America's best HD" marketing slogan from Dish Network is a huge lie here in Puerto Rico.