DirecTV expanding HD channel selection - Blu-ray Forum

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 04:32 PM

Has anyone else seen the commercial from DirecTV claiming that "soon" they will be offering 150 HD channels?
I don't see how this is possible, being that there isn't 150 companies offering HD feeds. I know A&E is a new HD feed, and courtv, cartoon network, CNN and a few others are launching HD feeds this year, but are we really going to be up to 150? Exciting if we are, but I contacted Time Warner and they told me they would be offering 30 channels by years end. That seems alot more doable!!!

theknub · 05-25-2007, 04:36 PM

who knows, maybe all the movie channels, more ppv, usa, tbs, national geographic, learning channel... it's possible. im just curious to see as to what.

GoldenRedux · 05-25-2007, 05:03 PM

This is actually quite old news. They had a press conference sometime around the end of 2005 announcing this and the launch of their new satellites, the switch over to Mpeg4 from Mpeg2, and that they were dropping Tivo for their own Mpeg4 HD-DVRs. They are currently still in the process of the switch over, though I do believe that all the new satellites may already have been launched.

The 150 HD channels, if I am not mistaken, will include national cable networks, local HD channels, HD PPV channels, and sports packages such as NFL Sunday Ticket. So it is not as far fetched as it may sound.

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:09 PM

I know the channels add up, but they aren't nowhere near 150 correct?
The satellites have been launched, that I know of, I remember reading those press releases you were talking about. I just didn't expect to see them advertise it on national television so soon.

A&E HD
MTV HD
CNN HD
courtv HD
cartoon network HD
national geographic HD
discovery HD
NBC HD
ABC HD
Fox HD
CBS HD
PBS HD
In HD
INHD movies
universal HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Encore HD

=18
That's all I can think of right now! Let's add to this list and see if we can come up with 150! U.S. broadcasts only.

inaz4sun · 05-25-2007, 05:12 PM

Read between the lines on this, its just total marketing BS. It says that they "soon" will have the "potential" to have "as many as" 150 HD channels.

Soon meaning when? Within 10 years? Before the medium for delivery of television totally changes to the internet? Soon means nothing.

Potential. Well potentially we will all have flying cars. Again it means nothing.

Up to. Like you could win "up to" a million dollars, but you will actually most likely only win $10. Its marketing BS. There aren't 150 HD channels. They were once including all the locals in that number too, like there are 5 HD locals in each market x 100 markets etc... = wow we will have 500 HD channels. Total BS, you can only get 5 of those.

Never fall for hype like this and read between the lines. How many channels do they have and does their DVR actually work. Right now I believe Dish leads the pack in actual HD channels offered to date, and for any one person I think the max is in the 30s. Someday when all channels are offered in HD then maybe some technology will be able to deliver them all.

BigRick · 05-25-2007, 05:14 PM

Well I Have Direct Tv And They Sent Us A New Satalite Dish Couple Months Back For The New HD Programming. It Has 5 LNB's And The Old Ones Had Three. The Satalites They Luanched Up Are For HD Only. Man Im So Exited Cant Wait

BigRick · 05-25-2007, 05:16 PM

its Not BS As Of 2010 I Believe All Networks Will Be Required To Have HD Feeds

Zvi · 05-25-2007, 05:19 PM

AFAIK that's the ususl marketing terminology play. They have CAPABIILTY to offer 150 HD chanels, not actual broadcasts. I doubt there's even 50 HD chanels today. There is more about that on dbstalks forum. But simply put that will have bandwidth for 150 HD chanels (still unclear what bitrates can they offer, because dish sux a lot lately, so overcompressed...), but not actual HD broadcasts.

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRick

Well I Have Direct Tv And They Sent Us A New Satalite Dish Couple Months Back For The New HD Programming. It Has 5 LNB's And The Old Ones Had Three. The Satalites They Luanched Up Are For HD Only. Man Im So Exited Cant Wait

Those 5 LNB dishes have been out for at least 18 months. They gave me one when I had directv almost 2 years ago.
There is a newer LNB coming out that looks like a single LNB, but is long and narrow. I will try and find a photo of it.

inaz4sun · 05-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermwhl

I know the channels add up, but they aren't nowhere near 150 correct?
The satellites have been launched, that I know of, I remember reading those press releases you were talking about. I just didn't expect to see them advertise it on national television so soon.

A&E HD
MTV HD
CNN HD
courtv HD
cartoon network HD
national geographic HD
discovery HD
NBC HD
ABC HD
Fox HD
CBS HD
PBS HD
In HD
INHD movies
universal HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Encore HD

=18
That's all I can think of right now! Let's add to this list and see if we can come up with 150! U.S. broadcasts only.

Dish has like 15-20 Voom HD channels and a total lineup of about 30+ not including locals, those don't count, c'mon.

TNT HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
FOOD HD
HDNET
HDNET Movies
HGTV HD
Starz HD
NBA HD
Versus HD

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:23 PM

A&E HD
MTV HD
CNN HD
courtv HD
cartoon network HD
national geographic HD
discovery HD
NBC HD
ABC HD
Fox HD
CBS HD
PBS HD
In HD
INHD movies
universal HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Encore HD
TNT HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
FOOD HD
HDNET
HDNET Movies
HGTV HD
Starz HD
NBA HD
Versus HD
=28

inaz4sun · 05-25-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRick

its Not BS As Of 2010 I Believe All Networks Will Be Required To Have HD Feeds

By 2010, my bet is that most "TV" will be downloaded from the internet in some fashion or another, making broadcast companies obsolete (e.g. cable, sat, etc...)

As soon as my PS3 allows me to download HD movies from the web at a decent price, I'll be canceling my movie channels.

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inaz4sun

By 2010, my bet is that most "TV" will be downloaded from the internet in some fashion or another, making broadcast companies obsolete (e.g. cable, sat, etc...)

As soon as my PS3 allows me to download HD movies from the web at a decent price, I'll be canceling my movie channels.

What type of internet connection you have? Hope you have a full T3!!!!

inaz4sun · 05-25-2007, 05:27 PM

National Cable/Satellite HD Channels
A&E HD
Animania HD*
Chiller HD (launch 3/1/2007)
Cinemax HD
Discovery HD Theater
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
Equator HD*
Family Room HD*
Film Fest HD*
Food Network HD
Gallery HD*
GamePlay HD*
Golf HD **
HBO HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
HD World News*
HGTV HD
INHD, now MoJo
Kung Fu HD*
Lifetime Movie HD
MHD
Monster HD*
National Geographic HD
NBA HD
NFL HD
Outdoor Channel 2 HD
Playboy Hot HD (adult)
Rave HD*
Rush HD*
Showtime HD
Spice HD (adult)
Starz HD
The Movie Channel HD
TNT HD
Treasure HD*
Ultra HD*
Universal HD
Versus HD**
Wealth HD
World Cinema HD*
WorldSport HD*

Regional HD Sports Networks (RSN) (You can probably only ever get just the one in your market).

Comcast Sports Net Chicago
Comcast Sports Network Mid-Atlantic
MSG HD
NESN HD
SportsNet New York
YES Network
Part-time Sports Nets:
Altitude Sports & Entertainment
FSN Arizona
FSN Bay Area
FSN Detroit
FSN Florida
FSN Midwest
FSN New England
FSN New York
FSN North - Minnesota
FSN North - Wisconsin
FSN NorthWest
FSN Ohio
FSN Pittsburg
FSN Rocky Mountain
FSN South
FSN SouthWest
FSN Utah
FSN West
PRIME - FSN West 2
Sportsnet Philadelphia
Sportsnet West
SportsTime Ohio
SportSouth
Sun Sports

So currently, best case scenario, any one person could get maybe close to 50. Only Dish offers the Voom* channels.

inaz4sun · 05-25-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermwhl

What type of internet connection you have? Hope you have a full T3!!!!

Why would I go down to a T3, I have cox cable with a full what amounts to T7 speeds. I don't think for the foreseeable future stuff will be "streaming" rather, download, then watch. But with the speeds currently, you can download a full HD movie in just 10 minutes or so.

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inaz4sun

Why would I go down to a T3, I have cox cable with a full what amounts to T7 speeds.

"T7" LOL!
Well since a T3 is 43Mbps, and Cox has a max throughput for residential users of 12Mbps.........and assuming there was such a thing as a T7, you must have say....12 residential connections all bridged together?

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inaz4sun

National Cable/Satellite HD Channels
A&E HD
Animania HD*
Chiller HD (launch 3/1/2007)
Cinemax HD
Discovery HD Theater
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
Equator HD*
Family Room HD*
Film Fest HD*
Food Network HD
Gallery HD*
GamePlay HD*
Golf HD **
HBO HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
HD World News*
HGTV HD
INHD, now MoJo
Kung Fu HD*
Lifetime Movie HD
MHD
Monster HD*
National Geographic HD
NBA HD
NFL HD
Outdoor Channel 2 HD
Playboy Hot HD (adult)
Rave HD*
Rush HD*
Showtime HD
Spice HD (adult)
Starz HD
The Movie Channel HD
TNT HD
Treasure HD*
Ultra HD*
Universal HD
Versus HD**
Wealth HD
World Cinema HD*
WorldSport HD*

Regional HD Sports Networks (RSN) (You can probably only ever get just the one in your market).

Comcast Sports Net Chicago
Comcast Sports Network Mid-Atlantic
MSG HD
NESN HD
SportsNet New York
YES Network
Part-time Sports Nets:
Altitude Sports & Entertainment
FSN Arizona
FSN Bay Area
FSN Detroit
FSN Florida
FSN Midwest
FSN New England
FSN New York
FSN North - Minnesota
FSN North - Wisconsin
FSN NorthWest
FSN Ohio
FSN Pittsburg
FSN Rocky Mountain
FSN South
FSN SouthWest
FSN Utah
FSN West
PRIME - FSN West 2
Sportsnet Philadelphia
Sportsnet West
SportsTime Ohio
SportSouth
Sun Sports

So currently, best case scenario, any one person could get maybe close to 50. Only Dish offers the Voom* channels.

nuff said!!
No way we're getting this list up to 150!

theknub · 05-25-2007, 05:55 PM

i think they are stating what is currently offered. not what is possibly coming

jermwhl · 05-25-2007, 05:58 PM

correct! However.....even if we add what is coming this year......it still won't be anywhere near 150.
DirecTv needs to define how close to "near" 150 they are getting, and how soon "soon" is! And how close to "up to" blah, blah, blah.

ZVI said it best:
"AFAIK that's the ususl marketing terminology play. They have CAPABIILTY to offer 150 HD chanels, not actual broadcasts. I doubt there's even 50 HD chanels today. There is more about that on dbstalks forum. But simply put that will have bandwidth for 150 HD chanels (still unclear what bitrates can they offer, because dish sux a lot lately, so overcompressed...), but not actual HD broadcasts."

and INAZ4Sun:
Read between the lines on this, its just total marketing BS. It says that they "soon" will have the "potential" to have "as many as" 150 HD channels.

Soon meaning when? Within 10 years? Before the medium for delivery of television totally changes to the internet? Soon means nothing.

Potential. Well potentially we will all have flying cars. Again it means nothing.

Up to. Like you could win "up to" a million dollars, but you will actually most likely only win $10. Its marketing BS. There aren't 150 HD channels. They were once including all the locals in that number too, like there are 5 HD locals in each market x 100 markets etc... = wow we will have 500 HD channels. Total BS, you can only get 5 of those.

Never fall for hype like this and read between the lines. How many channels do they have and does their DVR actually work. Right now I believe Dish leads the pack in actual HD channels offered to date, and for any one person I think the max is in the 30s. Someday when all channels are offered in HD then maybe some technology will be able to deliver them all.

GoldenRedux · 05-25-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermwhl

I know the channels add up, but they aren't nowhere near 150 correct?
The satellites have been launched, that I know of, I remember reading those press releases you were talking about. I just didn't expect to see them advertise it on national television so soon.

A&E HD
MTV HD
CNN HD
courtv HD
cartoon network HD
national geographic HD
discovery HD
NBC HD
ABC HD
Fox HD
CBS HD
PBS HD
In HD
INHD movies
universal HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Encore HD

=18
That's all I can think of right now! Let's add to this list and see if we can come up with 150! U.S. broadcasts only.

Well, they can count HBO East and HBO West as two, if they finally start carrying both in HD, the same for Showtime East and West and the Starz channels. You also left off

HDNet
HDNet Movies
Food Network HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
ESPN College(?) HD (Can't remember the exact name, but I know they have an HD channel dedicated to college sports).
TNT HD
USA HD
They could also add more PPV channels in HD. Right now, they only offer one. Then, as I said, there are the sport subscriptions which take up many channels, in addition to any other national HD channels that may launch in the future.

05-25-2007, 04:32 PM	#1
jermwhl Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Virginia	DirecTV expanding HD channel selection Has anyone else seen the commercial from DirecTV claiming that "soon" they will be offering 150 HD channels? I don't see how this is possible, being that there isn't 150 companies offering HD feeds. I know A&E is a new HD feed, and courtv, cartoon network, CNN and a few others are launching HD feeds this year, but are we really going to be up to 150? Exciting if we are, but I contacted Time Warner and they told me they would be offering 30 channels by years end. That seems alot more doable!!!

05-25-2007, 05:58 PM	#19
jermwhl Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Virginia	correct! However.....even if we add what is coming this year......it still won't be anywhere near 150. DirecTv needs to define how close to "near" 150 they are getting, and how soon "soon" is! And how close to "up to" blah, blah, blah. ZVI said it best: "AFAIK that's the ususl marketing terminology play. They have CAPABIILTY to offer 150 HD chanels, not actual broadcasts. I doubt there's even 50 HD chanels today. There is more about that on dbstalks forum. But simply put that will have bandwidth for 150 HD chanels (still unclear what bitrates can they offer, because dish sux a lot lately, so overcompressed...), but not actual HD broadcasts." and INAZ4Sun: Read between the lines on this, its just total marketing BS. It says that they "soon" will have the "potential" to have "as many as" 150 HD channels. Soon meaning when? Within 10 years? Before the medium for delivery of television totally changes to the internet? Soon means nothing. Potential. Well potentially we will all have flying cars. Again it means nothing. Up to. Like you could win "up to" a million dollars, but you will actually most likely only win $10. Its marketing BS. There aren't 150 HD channels. They were once including all the locals in that number too, like there are 5 HD locals in each market x 100 markets etc... = wow we will have 500 HD channels. Total BS, you can only get 5 of those. Never fall for hype like this and read between the lines. How many channels do they have and does their DVR actually work. Right now I believe Dish leads the pack in actual HD channels offered to date, and for any one person I think the max is in the 30s. Someday when all channels are offered in HD then maybe some technology will be able to deliver them all. Last edited by jermwhl; 05-25-2007 at 06:01 PM.

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05-25-2007, 04:36 PM	#2
theknub Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2006	who knows, maybe all the movie channels, more ppv, usa, tbs, national geographic, learning channel... it's possible. im just curious to see as to what.

05-25-2007, 05:03 PM	#3
GoldenRedux Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	This is actually quite old news. They had a press conference sometime around the end of 2005 announcing this and the launch of their new satellites, the switch over to Mpeg4 from Mpeg2, and that they were dropping Tivo for their own Mpeg4 HD-DVRs. They are currently still in the process of the switch over, though I do believe that all the new satellites may already have been launched. The 150 HD channels, if I am not mistaken, will include national cable networks, local HD channels, HD PPV channels, and sports packages such as NFL Sunday Ticket. So it is not as far fetched as it may sound.

05-25-2007, 05:09 PM	#4
jermwhl Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Virginia	I know the channels add up, but they aren't nowhere near 150 correct? The satellites have been launched, that I know of, I remember reading those press releases you were talking about. I just didn't expect to see them advertise it on national television so soon. A&E HD MTV HD CNN HD courtv HD cartoon network HD national geographic HD discovery HD NBC HD ABC HD Fox HD CBS HD PBS HD In HD INHD movies universal HD HBO HD Cinemax HD Encore HD =18 That's all I can think of right now! Let's add to this list and see if we can come up with 150! U.S. broadcasts only.

05-25-2007, 05:12 PM	#5
inaz4sun Active Member Member since:Apr 2007	Read between the lines on this, its just total marketing BS. It says that they "soon" will have the "potential" to have "as many as" 150 HD channels. Soon meaning when? Within 10 years? Before the medium for delivery of television totally changes to the internet? Soon means nothing. Potential. Well potentially we will all have flying cars. Again it means nothing. Up to. Like you could win "up to" a million dollars, but you will actually most likely only win $10. Its marketing BS. There aren't 150 HD channels. They were once including all the locals in that number too, like there are 5 HD locals in each market x 100 markets etc... = wow we will have 500 HD channels. Total BS, you can only get 5 of those. Never fall for hype like this and read between the lines. How many channels do they have and does their DVR actually work. Right now I believe Dish leads the pack in actual HD channels offered to date, and for any one person I think the max is in the 30s. Someday when all channels are offered in HD then maybe some technology will be able to deliver them all.

05-25-2007, 05:14 PM	#6
BigRick Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:ANAHEIM, CA Trading Score:3	Well I Have Direct Tv And They Sent Us A New Satalite Dish Couple Months Back For The New HD Programming. It Has 5 LNB's And The Old Ones Had Three. The Satalites They Luanched Up Are For HD Only. Man Im So Exited Cant Wait

05-25-2007, 05:16 PM	#7
BigRick Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:ANAHEIM, CA Trading Score:3	its Not BS As Of 2010 I Believe All Networks Will Be Required To Have HD Feeds

05-25-2007, 05:19 PM	#8
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	AFAIK that's the ususl marketing terminology play. They have CAPABIILTY to offer 150 HD chanels, not actual broadcasts. I doubt there's even 50 HD chanels today. There is more about that on dbstalks forum. But simply put that will have bandwidth for 150 HD chanels (still unclear what bitrates can they offer, because dish sux a lot lately, so overcompressed...), but not actual HD broadcasts.

05-25-2007, 05:23 PM	#11
jermwhl Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Virginia	A&E HD MTV HD CNN HD courtv HD cartoon network HD national geographic HD discovery HD NBC HD ABC HD Fox HD CBS HD PBS HD In HD INHD movies universal HD HBO HD Cinemax HD Encore HD TNT HD ESPN HD ESPN2 HD FOOD HD HDNET HDNET Movies HGTV HD Starz HD NBA HD Versus HD =28

05-25-2007, 05:27 PM	#14
inaz4sun Active Member Member since:Apr 2007	National Cable/Satellite HD Channels A&E HD Animania HD* Chiller HD (launch 3/1/2007) Cinemax HD Discovery HD Theater ESPN HD ESPN2 HD Equator HD* Family Room HD* Film Fest HD* Food Network HD Gallery HD* GamePlay HD* Golf HD ** HBO HD HDNet HDNet Movies HD World News* HGTV HD INHD, now MoJo Kung Fu HD* Lifetime Movie HD MHD Monster HD* National Geographic HD NBA HD NFL HD Outdoor Channel 2 HD Playboy Hot HD (adult) Rave HD* Rush HD* Showtime HD Spice HD (adult) Starz HD The Movie Channel HD TNT HD Treasure HD* Ultra HD* Universal HD Versus HD** Wealth HD World Cinema HD* WorldSport HD* Regional HD Sports Networks (RSN) (You can probably only ever get just the one in your market). Comcast Sports Net Chicago Comcast Sports Network Mid-Atlantic MSG HD NESN HD SportsNet New York YES Network Part-time Sports Nets: Altitude Sports & Entertainment FSN Arizona FSN Bay Area FSN Detroit FSN Florida FSN Midwest FSN New England FSN New York FSN North - Minnesota FSN North - Wisconsin FSN NorthWest FSN Ohio FSN Pittsburg FSN Rocky Mountain FSN South FSN SouthWest FSN Utah FSN West PRIME - FSN West 2 Sportsnet Philadelphia Sportsnet West SportsTime Ohio SportSouth Sun Sports So currently, best case scenario, any one person could get maybe close to 50. Only Dish offers the Voom* channels.

05-25-2007, 05:55 PM	#18
theknub Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2006	i think they are stating what is currently offered. not what is possibly coming

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