2008: The year of 150 HD Channels

[karnac]

This Ad was in todays USA Today. Any bets on how many we will actually have by years end?

[jdspencer]

Link to ad?

[HDTVsportsfan]

As long as D11 goes up without a hitch and the are actually 150 HD conetent providers than I don't see why not.

[Stuart Sweet]

From your mouth...

I certainly hope DIRECTV finds 50 more channels to add. That would be the trick.

[ncxcstud]

I don't see why they wont' get there. THey said they would have 100 by the end of 2007..and they have that now...they've held to their promises this far..

[Nick]

Perhaps the USA Today ad should read "2008: The year of 150 HD Channels?"

[bhelton71]

From your mouth...

I certainly hope DIRECTV finds 50 more channels to add. That would be the trick.

Well just a few more and I think I will officially have more than I can watch:
Chiller
Comedy Central
History International
BBC
ABC Fam
Noggin and the Nicks

[Drew2k]

I wouldn't be surprised to see most of the shopping channels available in HD by the end of the year - that's at least 5 more channels.

What about NASA? Would seem sad for them not to offer that channel in HD.

[schlar01]

I wouldn't be surprised to see most of the shopping channels available in HD by the end of the year - that's at least 5 more channels.

What about NASA? Would seem sad for them not to offer that channel in HD.

Jeez........I would hope that adding my locals in HD is a little higher priority than some crappy shopping channel that no one watches.

[Drew2k]

Who's talking about priorities?

DIRECTV has already committed to delivering locals.

DIRECTV has already announced PBS and PBS-HD.

Someone else asked are there even 50 channels left to add? A short list was provided and I added 5 more (shopping channels) that I fully expect to see by the end of 2008.

[tonyd79]

Possibillities For 2008:

5 more HBOs
ESPNNews
ESPNU
Disney
Toon Disney
Boomerang?
WGN
Encore
Encore Theater (7)?
Flix
Sundance
IFC
A few more RSNs

Plus already mentioned:
Chiller
Comedy Central
History International
BBC
ABC Fam
Noggin and the Nicks


That is a couple dozen right there.

[BlackDynamite]

In addition to the ones listed, I would like to see Discovery Times in HD.

[machavez00]

Don't forget the C-SPANs

[Baldmaga]

GSN shows A LOT of old content, but for the newer shows they could show them in HD :)

And G4 seems like a channel that should be in HD already.

MTV2 and Fuse too.

Just my 2 cents.

[gphvid]

Also do add TCM, AMC, and Fox Movie Channel to the list.


Is ION trying HD soon?

[SPACEMAKER]

My personal opinion is that by next year none of us should have to watch anything in SD.

[Jimmy 440]

In addition to the ones listed, I would like to see Discovery Times in HD.


I read something about the NY Times is ending its relationship with Discovery.
They will have a new channel name in the coming months.

[ActiveHDdave]

I read something about the NY Times is ending its relationship with Discovery.
They will have a new channel name in the coming months.

There was something in todays Usa Today about that. Just a question posed to several people "insiders"about cable channels with changed names.

[twistedT]

I think its going to be ID or something, some one posted a link to the article in the tv forum I think.

Edit: yup here's the link- http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=113954

[ActiveHDdave]

Planet Green....Formally Discovery Home....I wonder what that will be like?

[ActiveHDdave]

TruTV formally court TV is another one.

[ActiveHDdave]

Planet Green....Formally Discovery Home....I wonder what that will be like?

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/

Looks like a biofriendly consumer channel "organic":lol:

[SteveHas]

Who's talking about priorities?

DIRECTV has already committed to delivering locals.

DIRECTV has already announced PBS and PBS-HD.

Someone else asked are there even 50 channels left to add? A short list was provided and I added 5 more (shopping channels) that I fully expect to see by the end of 2008.

I think he meant the shopping channels
which I would have to agree with, but the shopping channels pay the bills

[SteveHas]

Also do add TCM, AMC, and Fox Movie Channel to the list.


Is ION trying HD soon?
+1

[SteveHas]

I read something about the NY Times is ending its relationship with Discovery.
They will have a new channel name in the coming months.

this would be new name #2 for this channel

[AndrewP]

I just wonder how much they are going to charge us for these channels.

[kenn157]

NASA would be great in HD. At least HDNET carries the shuttle liftoff's in HD. I'd love to see a NASA or satellite company :) D*? have a HD camera focused on the earth we'd be able to sunrises/sunset's, weather related issues. Maybe mount it to the ISS. So we can see what the astronauts see! I was in space along time ago but I wont ever do it that way again! LOL!

[tonyd79]

So, the new potential list (from all the suggestions):

More RSNs
ABC Fam
AMC
BBC
Boomerang
Chiller
Comedy Central
Discovery Times Replacement
Disney
Encore
Encore Theater (7)
ESPNNews
ESPNU
Flix
FMC
Fuse
GSN
HBO (5 more)
History International
IFC
Ion
MTV2
NASA
Nick Toons
Noggin
Sundance
TCM
The N
Toon Disney
TruTV
TVLAND
WGN

This list is not meant to be an announced list, only possibilities.

We have listed 41 channels not including possible RSNs.

Looks like 150 is a possibility.

[Tom Servo]

As silly as it sounds, the shopping channels in HD would be a great hook for reluctant female viewers to embrace their gadgety husbands' desires to buy a new HDTV. Plus, the merch would look better. Hell, I'd even watch QVC-HD. :D

BBC America has been running promos about BBC HD coming soon. I've seen online that ESPN is trying to get ESPNNews HD off the ground. Disney's supposedly working on their HD stuff as well, but like Nickelodeon only one feed will be upgraded.

WGN, if they broadcast OTA in HD, should at least have some ability to feed HD to us distant viewers. The question is, do they have anything worth showing?

Of course, the more movie channels, the better. One or two of the Encore channels going HD would be nice, but I'd love to see Sundance or IFC launch a channel since they already show most of their works letterboxed and whatnot.

Chiller was mentioned as launching in HD when the SD version launched, dunno what happened to that.

Comedy Central HD - dunno anything about that one but like Nickelodeon, they have nothing I know of to show in HD.

Noggin is supposed to be splitting off into two full time channels, Noggin and The N, with The N replacing the Nick GAS sports channel.

As for ION, when PAX relaunched as ION I think they made a commitment to multicasting instead of high definition. All of the ION digital television stations I've seen so far have at least 3 (but sometimes more) subchannels, all SD. So I doubt they'd do any HD anytime soon, since they're still supposedly struggling financially.

I'd enjoy NASA in HD as well. Heck, our taxes pay for their stuff, it should be no problem for them to afford full HD equipment. :D

Last but not least, don't forget DirecTV's exclusive "The 101" channel, which showed a good bit of HD before the MPEG4 stuff came online. Dunno why that one hasn't made the jump to a fulltime HD channel. :confused:

[mx6bfast]

And of those 95 will distort 4:3 programming.

And 40 of them will not be showing HD programs.

[smiddy]

And of those 95 will distort 4:3 programming.

And 40 of them will not be showing HD programs.

Only until they get their act together and start using the equipment for what it is supposed to be used for.

[smiddy]

I would like to see all SD channels now be removed and converted to HD, so there is no question as to which ones...

[tonyd79]

Comedy Central HD - dunno anything about that one but like Nickelodeon, they have nothing I know of to show in HD.


Hmm. I disagree. I like the HD of 4:3 material I am seeing on Nick-at-Night, for example. PQ is much improved. And CC has their own original material that they can produce in HD.

I don't really care if they are not showing "HD programs." I would like to see All in the Family remastered for HD, for example. Watching Hogan's Heroes on HDNet was enjoyable.

As long as you don't stretch it, I prefer older material on an HD delivery mechanism. Better picture AND better sound.

[Drew2k]

So, the new potential list (from all the suggestions):

More RSNs
ABC Fam
AMC
BBC
Boomerang
Chiller
Comedy Central
Discovery Times Replacement
Disney
Encore
Encore Theater (7)
ESPNNews
ESPNU
Flix
FMC
Fuse
GSN
HBO (5 more)
History International
IFC
Ion
MTV2
NASA
Nick Toons
Noggin
Sundance
TCM
The N
Toon Disney
TruTV
TVLAND
WGN

This list is not meant to be an announced list, only possibilities.

We have listed 41 channels not including possible RSNs.

Looks like 150 is a possibility.Don't forget all those shopping channels ... they are as much candidates to move to HD as any other current SD channel.

QVC
HSN
ShopNBC
etc.

[Drew2k]

As silly as it sounds, the shopping channels in HD would be a great hook for reluctant female viewers to embrace their gadgety husbands' desires to buy a new HDTV. Plus, the merch would look better. Hell, I'd even watch QVC-HD. :DAnd that is why I fully expect the shopping channels to be in HD by the end of the year. They don't want to be left behind ... especially when it comes to selling power. How better to show off all that special sparkling cubic zirconia bling? :p

[donyoop]

I wouldn't be surprised to see most of the shopping channels available in HD by the end of the year - that's at least 5 more channels.

What about NASA? Would seem sad for them not to offer that channel in HD.

Please NASA, make your channel high def. Your standard definition video is awful. If they could go high def and cancel the nasa edge guys, it would make my day. However, I don't expect any support from the current NASA administrator on this due to budget constraints, especially when they are facing big layoffs at KSC in 2010 with the shuttle retirement.

Don

[rrrick8]

I fully expect Playboy and maybe another 590's to be HD by the end of the year.

[richiephx]

I hope that, before they add another 50 channels of stretch and and not so HD, the other channels that already exist get their acts together and provide more HD programming.

[Tom Servo]

Hmm. I disagree. I like the HD of 4:3 material I am seeing on Nick-at-Night, for example. PQ is much improved. And CC has their own original material that they can produce in HD.

I don't really care if they are not showing "HD programs." I would like to see All in the Family remastered for HD, for example. Watching Hogan's Heroes on HDNet was enjoyable.

As long as you don't stretch it, I prefer older material on an HD delivery mechanism. Better picture AND better sound.

Good points. The improved PQ is nice on N@N. I'd much rather see improved PQ on these channels than stretch-o-vision.

I fully expect Playboy and maybe another 590's to be HD by the end of the year.

:nono:

I don't. The details HD reveal would be... Um, detrimental to the model's looks, don't you think? There was an article a few years back about how apprehensive porn stars were to high def because it would reveal the 'imperfections' of their bodies, imperfections that are more easily hidden on DVD and internet videos.

Not that I know anything about porn stars. :p

[scottchez]

Dont forget they could add the 14 VOOM HD channels as maybe a $4.95 extra movie tier or something like dish has>

They are up-linked and ready to go, they just need a contract (the contract is the hard part).

Rave Music, EquatorHD, Gallery, Treasre, Animani Cartoons HD, RUSH, World Sports, Ultra, KungFU, Monster, HD NEWS, Gameplay, and Family Room .

It would give people of the OPTION for VOOM if they like those types of channels.

(better yet add them at no extra charge to the existing $4.95 HD pack).

Think about it, that would be a fair price as it would match Dishnetworks price for Voom.

Dish HD w Voom
=============
$20 ( you dont have a choice its $20 for everyone)

DirecTV HD
===========

$9.95 for HD activation
$4.95 for HD extra channels
$4.95 proposed VOOM HD Pack
-------------
$20 about the same price as Dish

[lwilli201]

One thing that seems to be lost in the conversation is that all the SD and HD channel feeds are provided to Directv, Dish and the cable companies from commercial satallites. I wonder how these companies are keeping up with all the additional bandwidth required for all these new HD channels.

[Dave]

Actually they need about 65 more to reach that 150 mark. Right now they only have 85. Hopefully they will make the 150. But that will be a lot of PPV and RSN's.
If they add VOOM they could pull a lot of Dish customers there way. If they lower the fees for the box. Knock off the $ 300 fee for new customers and give them away for free for new customers. As long as Dish has there free boxes for new customers they will be signing up new customers faster. Even though I do have DirectV I do tell anyone that ask what I think they should sign up for to go with Dish because of DTV's high sign on and start up cost.

[dcanesdbs]

How about Comcast Philly already!!!!!!!!

[DCSholtis]

Dont forget they could add the 14 VOOM HD channels as maybe a $4.95 extra movie tier or something like dish has>

They are up-linked and ready to go, they just need a contract (the contract is the hard part).

Rave Music, EquatorHD, Gallery, Treasre, Animani Cartoons HD, RUSH, World Sports, Ultra, KungFU, Monster, HD NEWS, Gameplay, and Family Room .

It would give people of the OPTION for VOOM if they like those types of channels.

(better yet add them at no extra charge to the existing $4.95 HD pack).

Think about it, that would be a fair price as it would match Dishnetworks price for Voom.

Dish HD w Voom
=============
$20 ( you dont have a choice its $20 for everyone)

DirecTV HD
===========

$9.95 for HD activation
$4.95 for HD extra channels
$4.95 proposed VOOM HD Pack
-------------
$20 about the same price as Dish

Have you checked the thread in the E* forum yet though?!! If you thought the bitching was bad when D* started the Extra Pack, apparently E* is going to have a $10 tier made up of upconverted/simulcast HD Channels and a separate $20 tier made up mostly of VOOM and maybe a few others. Thats $30 for everything in HD.

[Dusty]

I don't think it is that much an issue to find 50 more channels. We'll get there.

I'd also like to see VSGFHD split into two. I can't stand them cutting off the final round on Sunday to show bull riding. I have nothing against bull riding. I just don't see the point of showing the earlier rounds on HD but not the final rounds.

[Dusty]

I think we can add SHO3 HD, TMCW HD into the potential list, too.

Can we separate the potential list into two groups, announced/confirmed and wishful thinking. Some reality check will be nice. For example, I very much would like to see Sundance and IFC, but I don't think they have a plan, yet.

[Cable_X]

Don't forget the C-SPANs

Edward Kennedy in high-def! Scarier than any monster on Chiller!

[jasonblair]

And don't forget the extra HBOs and Cinemaxes that will be added, too.

[Ulicni]

this would be new name #2 for this channelThat would be name #5.

1. CBS Eye On People
2. Discovery People
3. Discovery Civilization
4. Discovery Times Channel
5. TBD

[clueless]

Don't forget the C-SPANs

Bob Byrd in HD:eek2:

[ansky]

And don't forget the extra HBOs and Cinemaxes that will be added, too.
They are adding more Cinemax's? You mean adding MoreMax HD, or adding Thriller Max, Action Max, and the others?

[coota]

Don't forget Fox News Channel.

[richiephx]

[QUOTE=DCSholtis;1366717]Have you checked the thread in the E* forum yet though?!! If you thought the bitching was bad when D* started the Extra Pack, apparently E* is going to have a $10 tier made up of upconverted/simulcast HD Channels and a separate $20 tier made up mostly of VOOM and maybe a few others. Thats $30 for everything in HD.[/QUOTE

I don't think that's right...the $20 pack includes all the simulcast HD from the $10 tier plus VOOM plus 5 others (channel details not known yet). For those who want everything, the cost is $20, the same as it is today.

[CKNAV]

Dont forget they could add the 14 VOOM HD channels as maybe a $4.95 extra movie tier or something like dish has>

They are up-linked and ready to go, they just need a contract (the contract is the hard part).

Rave Music, EquatorHD, Gallery, Treasre, Animani Cartoons HD, RUSH, World Sports, Ultra, KungFU, Monster, HD NEWS, Gameplay, and Family Room .

It would give people of the OPTION for VOOM if they like those types of channels.

(better yet add them at no extra charge to the existing $4.95 HD pack).

Think about it, that would be a fair price as it would match Dishnetworks price for Voom.

Dish HD w Voom
=============
$20 ( you dont have a choice its $20 for everyone)

DirecTV HD
===========

$9.95 for HD activation
$4.95 for HD extra channels
$4.95 proposed VOOM HD Pack
-------------
$20 about the same price as Dish

Voom channels are uplinked by D*? Where? E* gets them on fiber from Rainbow media. D* can't use E*'s VOOM overcompressed downrezzed consumer satellite feeds.

[Tom Servo]

I thought that VOOM channels were exclusive to E* because they bought out the VOOM service (or something like that)... :confused:

[bjs188]

MOJO

[dtrell]

MOJO

mojo specifically advertises that they are on cable only. i serriously doubt youll ever see it on DTV. yet another reason I am keeping cable for now...along witih roadrunner...

[minsco92]

I haven't seen the Military Channel listed. Futureweapons will be awesome in HD.

[ActiveHDdave]

Hmm. I disagree. I like the HD of 4:3 material I am seeing on Nick-at-Night, for example. PQ is much improved. And CC has their own original material that they can produce in HD.

I don't really care if they are not showing "HD programs." I would like to see All in the Family remastered for HD, for example. Watching Hogan's Heroes on HDNet was enjoyable.

As long as you don't stretch it, I prefer older material on an HD delivery mechanism. Better picture AND better sound.

it's better but not HD widescreen Quality that I invested in with a HD TV.

[uncrules]

I thought that VOOM channels were exclusive to E* because they bought out the VOOM service (or something like that)... :confused:
Cablevision carries Voom as well.

[Jungle Jim]

Has RFD-TV been mentioned in this thread?

[Tom Servo]

Has RFD-TV been mentioned in this thread?
Not yet. Now that you mention it, kinda surprising that D* didn't jump on that one.

[doctrsnoop]

MOJO

Yes, Mojo is actually owned by a consortium of cable providers so I don't believe you'll ever see it on D*. I like it too, though not enough to hang on to cable

[RUBBLE]

Military Ch
ESPN News
Fuse
Tru TV
Remaining HBOs
Travel Ch
CW
Fox News

[tonyd79]

it's better but not HD widescreen Quality that I invested in with a HD TV.

Improved picture is why I have an HDTV. If it is improved 4:3 then it is improved.

Do you refuse to watch black and white on your color TV?