More HD for DirecTV
This morning DirecTV customers woke up to find the addition of 31 new high definition channels. However many fans are scratching their heads wondering why 18 of those new HD channels are HD PPV channels.
The new channels added today are as follows:
Planet Green HD – Channel 286
ABC Family – Channel 311
Showtime Showcase HD – Channel 541
Showtime Extreme HD – Channel 542
Fox Sports Network South – Channel 646
Fox Sports Network Midwest – Channel 647
Sport South – Channel 649
Sun Sports – Channel 653
Fox Sports Network Pittsburgh – Channel 659
Fox Sports Network North – Channel 668
Fox Sports Network Rocky Mountain – Channel 683
Fox Sports Network Arizona – Channel 686
Fox Sports Network Northwest – Channel 687
18 HD PPV Channels
Missing from today’s launch are three channels which were announced in DirecTV’s July 28th announcement. Those channels missing are Fox Sports Network Cincinnati, Fox Sports Network Florida and Fox Sports Network Ohio. We are told that these channels were not ready to launch today and DirecTV has no timetable when those channels will go 24/7 in full HD.
Some folks seem upset that 18 of the new channels are PPV channels; I am told that these channels are placeholders for future national HD programming. I personally don’t see an issue with DirecTV using the space to earn extra revenue while they are waiting to seal deals for addition national HD content. The transponders are powered up and are running there is no reason why DirecTV shouldn’t use them to their advantage in the mean time. As we move into the fall season I expect many of those PPV channels to become real national HD programming.
There are a number of channels that I am surprised DirecTV has not launched yet in HD, including Travel Channel HD, Outdoor Channel 2 HD, the entire HBO/Cinemax HD suite and even the missing Starz Encore channels. (Those channels are owned by DirecTV’s parent company Liberty Media.)
These are exciting times if you’re a fan of high definition television!
John Grayson commented:
Why are you disappointed? are you too cheap to pay for PPV? I bet if Dishet added HD PPV and you could use your Pirate FTA to watch them for free you would be ranting and raving about it.
FYI for those of us that PAY for TV to help keep the satellites in the sky we LOVE that Directv has added some PPV HDTV.
After all if I'm to watch a ppv event or movie I want it in the best quality for my $4 and that would be HDTV, but cheapskate pirates and thier sympathizers never understand that
rocky commented:
Not a D* sub, but that list of 31 is pretty underwhelming. If I was a d* sub I'd be disappointed.
scott sandeman commented:
i think its a joke these new channels are useless direct should put up the channels we all want and the channels that dish has and blow dish out of the water
dish cust commented:
You mean scott the capacity is there for DTV... I expect dish now to follow soon by adding 19 ppv and deleting 18 true-hd channels...
Scott commented:
The capacity is now there. The stations will come online by Fall. They want to be the leader and I'm sure they will be. The competition between Dish and DTV is great for consumers as they both try to out duel each other.
Jeff commented:
I too agree with Scott about the missing HBO/Cinemax and Starz Encore movie channels.
Q commented:
"MEH"
Reaper commented:
I'm really dissapointed with DIRECTV because of all the HD movie channels that Scott notes in his article that their still missing that Dish Network has.
Kyle Luna commented:
The delay is likely because those three FSN stations are ones formerlly owned by Rainbow Media and still use their uplink on Long Island unlike the ones that were almost always Fox owned (or now Liberty owned) which have their uplink in Houston.