Just Curious, DTV for 2008

[Clato]

Just "curious" as to what ""MIGHT" be added to DTV after HD ing all the channels by the end of 2007,

Any chance for new channels being added?

though have no idea what if any,(ie like TBS,TNT,NICK,,)

since all prem channels are on DTV,(HBO,SHOW,Star,ect,ect SCIFI,)

ANY IDEA what OTHER channels should or maybe added to package's or offered?

[longrider]

Other than some regional RSNs is their anything of value DirecTV doesn't already carry?

[Stuart Sweet]

BWC-HD (the Basket Weaving Channel, High Definition) ;)

[Radio Enginerd]

BWC-HD (the Basket Weaving Channel, High Definition) ;)

ahhh yes, that would be nice.

Perhaps the Sunday Couch Potatoe Channel (ie: large men eating shelled peanuts while watching TV) in HD!

[davring]

BWC-HD (the Basket Weaving Channel, High Definition) ;)

And it's companion, RGC-HD (Reed Growing Channel):rolleyes:

[Steve]

I'm hopeful CW, WB and PBS will arrive in HD in '08. The two cableco's and FiosTV in my area all carry them in HD. /steve

[lifelong]

I'd like PBS in at least my market, once the local station starts broadcasting in HD.

[LarryFlowers]

There are a lot of channels, granted many of limited interest but still some with fair sized following that have to make the leap. I did a rough count and not including any of the "400" channels, PPV or sports, there are over 90 channels that are not in HD yet.

Thats a lot of work yet to do. Even with the D11 satellite, is that possible?

One of the largest problems DirecTV is facing right now (also Dish and others) is the problem of networks and channels that have failed to finalize their plans for conversions. They have requested that the FCC establish a mandatory date for the finalization of these plans.

By this time next year, will you watch channels that aren't in HD?

[Canis Lupus]

I'm having a hard time doing that in 2007! :)

I only have COM for me in the list, and some DIS and NICK for the kids in SD. Otherwise, only HD in the favorites.

And hey, got to watch the Grinch in kinda-quasi-HD last night on TOON!

By this time next year, will you watch channels that aren't in HD?

[Radio Enginerd]

One of the largest problems DirecTV is facing right now (also Dish and others) is the problem of networks and channels that have failed to finalize their plans for conversions. They have requested that the FCC establish a mandatory date for the finalization of these plans. Yeah, fair point.

I think a lot of the hold up is legal now, not technical. Once DirecTV makes plans to move ALL HD to MPEG4 that will also free up additional technical resources. They may not need it today but as soon as D10 and D11 run out of space (it will happen soon enough) the additional bandwidth will be needed.

[ThomasM]

What "might" be added to DirecTV in 2008?

PRICE INCREASES!!

Probably the "usual" $3 per package hike that has been the norm for the last 3 years in March (or a "keep your old package and get hiked $3 or choose a new package or be a new customer and get hiked $6" trick like this year) and, of course, hikes in the HD package fees and/or more HD tiers. :mad:

[JLucPicard]

Oh ya, let's take this thread down that road right away. Good job.

At the risk of being hypocritical, let's not feed the trolls!

[mcbeevee]

What about the Travel Channel in HD? I think this would be the perfect channel to be broadcast in HD.

:)

[RUBBLE]

WPD-HD...Watching Paint Dry HD.

[jodyguercio]

What about the Travel Channel in HD? I think this would be the perfect channel to be broadcast in HD.

:)

Thats one that would be good. RFD-TV would be a good one too.

[lucky13]

Thats one that would be good. RFD-TV would be a good one too.

Imus in HD? Not sure I can take that early in the morning.

[Milominderbinder2]

From our sister site:

2007 DirecTV HD Channel Rollout Information -57 channels added (most recent: 12/05) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914047)

Announced HD Additions

Channels listed as available this Fall and Winter (source: DirecTV website)

ABC Family
CSTV
Disney Channel
ESPN News
The Tennis Channel
Toon Disney
HD channels promoted by DirecTV under "end of year heading" (source: DirecTV website)
BET
Chiller
MTV2
Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)
Sleuth
MoreMax
HBO2-E
HBO2-W
HBO Family-E
HBO Family-W
HBO Signature

Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement
Outdoor
Comedy Central
Regional Sports Networks
Available nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.

Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement

FSN New York
Comcast SportsNet West
MASN/SportsTime OhioForeign Language Channels
Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)

HBO Latino

[mluntz]

How about the Lifetime channels? My wife would like them. After all, she lives here too!

[dbmaven]

FSN NY HD went live last week.....time to update your list ! ;)

[wingrider01]

ahhh yes, that would be nice.

Perhaps the Sunday Couch Potatoe Channel (ie: large men eating shelled peanuts while watching TV) in HD!

don't they already offer this in the sports packages?

[jodyguercio]

Imus in HD? Not sure I can take that early in the morning.

Im up and gone by the time hes on so I wouldnt be any worse for the wear there, but I would like to see some of the training shows in HD.

[giantsox]

I'm looking for forward to Comedy Central, maybe ESPN News, but mainly the addition of the remaining HBO's. I don't really watch or record any channel that is not an HD channel, so It's always a letdown to see that the wife has recorded a movie on HBO Family, HBO signature, or HBO2 in glorious SD. I guess I'm spolied, that's all.

[lucky13]

I'm looking for forward to Comedy Central, maybe ESPN News, but mainly the addition of the remaining HBO's. I don't really watch or record any channel that is not an HD channel, so It's always a letdown to see that the wife has recorded a movie on HBO Family, HBO signature, or HBO2 in glorious SD. I guess I'm spolied, that's all.

And the remaining HBO channels (Comedy/Zone, and assorted Cinemax offerings) not offered yet at all on DirecTv.

[RunnerFL]

BWC-HD (the Basket Weaving Channel, High Definition) ;)

Any word on when we might see the far more complex UBWC-HD? [Underwater Basket Weaving Channel - HD]

;)

[michaelyork29]

Something different: Faster DoD download speeds?

[KTrentLR]

There are 9 Cinemax channels (http://www.cinemax.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_TODAY=TODAY)and DirecTV only offers a few. Let's see some more of those?

[Candyt]

Travel and MSNBC. Although, I'm not one of them, I am sure a lot of people would like to have Fox news in hd.

[n3ntj]

FCTV- HD (Fly and Caterpillar TV in HD) - No play by play needed as these subjects would put us all to sleep. Maybe a good channel to watch @ 11:30pm to encourage those sleepy feelings..?

Seriously.. I think D* has just about everything that currently exists nationally in HD. Once channels like Fox News HD and ESPN News HD actually exist, I would expect D* to pick them up.

With D11, I am hoping the few HD locals that aren't carried currently (CW and PBS) would be added. I am also hoping a PBS HD feed (different than the local PBS channel). D11 will provide some CONUS transponders, but I think its main function is to increase HD local channel markets.

Regarding sports, I hope the MLB Extra Innings package via D* provides all HD produced baseball games for 2008 as well as dual feeds. For NHL Center Ice, I am also hoping for CBC HNIC HD feeds as well as the Canadian network (TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, etc.) feeds as part of the 2007 (sometime to come) and hopefully this will happen for the 2008 season and beyond.

[gfrang]

the ed infomercial channel hd

[RunnerFL]

Something different: Faster DoD download speeds?

That is nothing they'd have control over, that's your Internet connection.

[Kevin Dupuy]

The addition of a new network: The KevTV. Me, all the time.

And I'll never stop subscribing to DIRECTV :D

[michaelyork29]

That is nothing they'd have control over, that's your Internet connection.

Nope...my cap is way above the tracked speeds I get from DTV...

Must be something at LimeLight...anyone have any ideas?

[jfeheley]

Fox News HD.

[kryscio23]

There are 9 Cinemax channels (http://www.cinemax.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_TODAY=TODAY)and DirecTV only offers a few. Let's see some more of those?

Yeah I agree. Check the HBO Web site's schedule. There are a whole bunch of other HBOs & Cinemaxs that arent even offered.

Will we ever see some of these?

And as for more HD ... Comedy Central & E! would top my list. ESPNews is gonna look great. That's one of my most popular channels. Ohh and tell NFL Network to get some new HD cameras so we can have (studio) Total Access in HD (as well as the highlights)!!

Thank you again for MSG HD!!!

[bullitt]

BWC-HD (the Basket Weaving Channel, High Definition) ;)

I believe that will only be available with new Leisure HD Pack, only 6.66 a month but there is a free preview for 2 full moons. This new package also includes the new channel from Home & Garden TV - "Watching Paint Dry HD".

[BattleScott]

I believe that will only be available with new Leisure HD Pack, only 6.66 a month but there is a free preview for 2 full moons. This new package also includes the new channel from Home & Garden TV - "Watching Paint Dry HD".

There is 'semi-official' confirmation of this but, following the new model, it will actually be made avaialble as the HD EXTRA Sub Package "HDX-Xtra_Leisure" pack for $4.99. It will also include the HD Only WGGHD (Watching Grass Grow HD channel).
There will be similar 'Accute Interest' Sub-Packages made available as well in the future...

[SPACEMAKER]

What about the Travel Channel in HD? I think this would be the perfect channel to be broadcast in HD.

:)

Agreed.
Travel Channel HD (http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/31/travel-channel-hd-coming-in-08/)

Also, BBC America will be launching HD soon. I would expect that D* will pick them up ASAP.:)

[Draconis]

Something different: Faster DoD download speeds?

Perhaps they could use a different, more compact CODEC for the DoD downloads to increase the speed?

-----

Now, what would I like to see in 2008?

More HD, assuredly, it will be interesting to see if how many SD channels will be simulcast in HD by the end of 2008. Hopefully, all of them. One other thing I would like to see is an Anime network.

How about MRV and DIRECTV 2 Go? (Announced at the 2006 & 2007 CES)

As for the HD Basket-weaving channel, they should raise the difficulty and film it underwater.

But with my luck we will get the HD SPAM channel, which showcases different SPAM recipes and programs by Monty Python.

[sNEIRBO]

From our sister site:

2007 DirecTV HD Channel Rollout Information -57 channels added (most recent: 12/05) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914047)

Announced HD Additions

Channels listed as available this Fall and Winter (source: DirecTV website)

ABC Family
CSTV
Disney Channel
ESPN News
The Tennis Channel
Toon Disney
HD channels promoted by DirecTV under "end of year heading" (source: DirecTV website)
BET
Chiller
MTV2
Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)
Sleuth
MoreMax
HBO2-E
HBO2-W
HBO Family-E
HBO Family-W
HBO Signature

Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement
Outdoor
Comedy Central
Regional Sports Networks
Available nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.

Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement

FSN New York
Comcast SportsNet West
MASN/SportsTime OhioForeign Language Channels
Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)

HBO Latino

WOW! Thanks for that!!

I'm looking forward to ESPN News, Comedy Central and all of the HBO/Cinemax channels. ESPN broadcasts SportsCenter in HD widescreen, hopefully ESPN News will do likewise, or better yet carry some kind of "wing" like CNBC-HD and FOX Biz-HD do. Hopefully Comedy Central would follow suite with a similar HD widescreen treatment of The Daily Show and Colbert Report - if we ever get to see them again! :nono2:

I know my daughter will appreciate the Disney Channels going HD - she'd be ecstatic if Hannah Montana was eventually broadcast in HD widescreen! ABC/Disney has seemed to embrace that format for all their prime time shows - they probably make more money off of Hannah than they do off of LOST, Grey's Anatomy and all the other ABC shows combined.

[csgo]

2008 will be a transition year for DirecTV. There will be major management changes when Liberty takes over, and nobody knows what's going to happen.

Will Liberty continue with the HD expansion?
Will Liberty continue with the price increases?
Is Liberty interested in DirecTV long term or just packaging them for a quick sale?
Will top management be retained or dumped?

We don't know the answers to any of those questions.

Both companies are hoping that the transaction is completed yet this year. That means 2008 will be a major transition year for DirecTV.

Hopefully DirecTV is interested in providing greater value to the customers, and will clean house of the current arrogant attitude that prevails.

[Ray3]

With a nicely rounded set of HD offerings in place and another satellite scheduled to go up soon, I would hope that those of us in DMAs who ARE NOT getting our locals in HD (but still pay the same fees) will see that fixed in 2008.

[bullitt]

There is 'semi-official' confirmation of this but, following the new model, it will actually be made avaialble as the HD EXTRA Sub Package "HDX-Xtra_Leisure" pack for $4.99. It will also include the HD Only WGGHD (Watching Grass Grow HD channel).
There will be similar 'Accute Interest' Sub-Packages made available as well in the future...

Yes and I'm really getting excited about the rumored "Paid Programming Tier" featuring the following channels:
Ronco HD
George Foreman HD
Ginsu Knife HD
Time Life Music HD
Bowflex HD
I've heard it's going to be only $3.33 and available only to those subscribers with odd numbered street addresses and own HR21's that were manufactured after June 2007.

[longrider]

Perhaps they could use a different, more compact CODEC for the DoD downloads to increase the speed?

-----

Now, what would I like to see in 2008?

One other thing I would like to see is an Anime network.



FYI, while it is not a full time channel, there is a lot of Anime in the DoD selections. It lists like a channel (1889) but there is no corresponding 889. Look under Interests > Animation

[Nofences]

Honestly, I would just love to see more HD content on the channels we already have. I realize D* has nothing to do with that, but we have a lot of good channels already that claim to be HD, but mostly just stretch-o-vision. I agreed with most that Travel Channel in HD is the most intriguing of the ones we don't get yet.

[BattleScott]

Yes and I'm really getting excited about the rumored "Paid Programming Tier" featuring the following channels:
Ronco HD
George Foreman HD
Ginsu Knife HD
Time Life Music HD
Bowflex HD
I've heard it's going to be only $3.33 and available only to those subscribers with odd numbered street addresses and own HR21's that were manufactured after June 2007.

That's how they "sucker you in", reading the fine print of that deal I realized that no one really "owns" an HR21, they are just "leasing" it. So their hope must be that once you have those channels, you will not be willing to part with them and continue to pay the full "$6.99 Paid Programming Access Fee". Although, I must admit, that might be worth it if "Shop Erotic HD" is included...

I would like to see GSN in HD. I want to be able to count Gene Rayburn's ear-hairs.

[Draconis]

I want to be able to count Gene Rayburn's ear-hairs.

<shudder>
:eek2: