HD Programing anouncement

[dgmartin]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2007--DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, continues to set the stage for its unprecedented expansion of HD services. With agreements in place to launch four Discovery HD channels, five HD channels from Starz, CNBC and Chiller in HD, along with recently completed deals with The History Channel and A&E, DIRECTV is on schedule to roll out up to 100 national HD channels by year-end to satisfy the appetite of its HD customers, who have doubled over the last year.

"Earlier this year we called 2007 the 'Year of HD' and we're going to deliver on our commitment to offer more HD channels than any other multichannel provider," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. "In addition to the networks we've signed to date, we will continue to add more HD programming to our launch list between now and year-end. Demand for HD continues to grow, and with the dramatic expansion of our capacity this summer and the nationwide reach of our service, we are uniquely positioned to lead the industry in the carriage and delivery of HD programming."

Under the agreement with Discovery Communications, DIRECTV will launch four simulcasts - Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel - and two other channels to be named and launched by Discovery at a later date. The HD feeds of the four existing networks will launch in September.

DIRECTV also has an agreement in place with Starz to launch three new HD movie channels: Starz Edge, Starz Comedy and Starz Kids & Family, as well as Starz's East and West coast HD feeds. The new Starz HD channels, featuring first-run hit movies, and the Starz East and West HD channels, will also launch in September.

The History Channel and DIRECTV recently announced that DIRECTV will be the first to launch The History Channel HD, a new 24-hour HD network, and A&E HD in September.

As it continues to beef up its HD channel lineup, DIRECTV has also become the platform of choice for the debut of exclusive HD programming. Disney Channel is providing DIRECTV the exclusive rights to broadcast the premiere HD version of High School Musical 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the global sensation for kids and families. DIRECTV will air the movie in HD a few days after its standard-definition premiere Friday, August 17 on Disney Channel.

In addition to the networks listed below, DIRECTV also plans to offer the HD feeds of regional sports networks on a nationwide basis this fall, and has commitments from a number of other networks to launch their HD simulcasts. They will be added to the lineup for launch by year-end and will be announced at a later date.

To date, DIRECTV has signed agreements or agreements in principle, to launch the following networks.

-- A&E -- National Geographic
-- Bravo -- NFL Network
-- Cartoon Network -- SciFi Channel
-- CNN -- Speed
-- Food Network -- TBS
-- Big Ten Network -- The History Channel
-- HGTV -- The Weather Channel
-- MTV -- USA Network
-- Disney Channel -- Versus HD
-- Toon Disney -- TLC
-- ABC Family -- Animal Planet
-- ESPNNEWS HD -- The Science Channel
-- Starz E/W feeds -- Discovery Channel
-- Starz Edge -- The Tennis Channel
-- Starz Comedy -- Showtime West
-- Starz Kids & Family -- The Movie Channel
-- CNBC -- Chiller

[jpcamaro70]

What happened to NGC, I thought they were coming on board?

[dgmartin]

-- A&E -- National Geographic
-- Bravo -- NFL Network
-- Cartoon Network -- SciFi Channel
-- CNN -- Speed
-- Food Network -- TBS
-- Big Ten Network -- The History Channel
-- HGTV -- The Weather Channel
-- MTV -- USA Network
-- Disney Channel -- Versus HD
-- Toon Disney -- TLC
-- ABC Family -- Animal Planet
-- ESPNNEWS HD -- The Science Channel
-- Starz E/W feeds -- Discovery Channel
-- Starz Edge -- The Tennis Channel
-- Starz Comedy -- Showtime West
-- Starz Kids & Family -- The Movie Channel
-- CNBC -- Chiller

[dgmartin]

for some reason it won't copy correctly..............NGC is on the list

[rrb]

According to their 2006 Annual Report, from a couple weeks ago, the addition to the national HD list will result from the new satellite being launched this fall (DIRECTV 10). They will increase the national HD list to 150 channels and add 1500 LOCAL channels early next year from the DIRECTV 11 satellite being launched at that time.

[II SAL II]

this is good news but all i really want from my DirecTv in HD is my damn local channels

they need to get to Richmond, Va and do it soon?

[Uvarules]

Originally Posted by II SAL II

this is good news but all i really want from my DirecTv in HD is my damn local channels

they need to get to Richmond, Va and do it soon?

My HD OTA is doing great for most channels except for WWBT-12, which seems to have a stronger HD signal in the last few weeks.

[mcbeevee]

Originally Posted by dgmartin

for some reason it won't copy correctly..............NGC is on the list

NGC is on the first line (second column)

[moonman]

Originally Posted by rrb

According to their 2006 Annual Report, from a couple weeks ago, the addition to the national HD list will result from the new satellite being launched this fall (DIRECTV 10). They will increase the national HD list to 150 channels and add 1500 LOCAL channels early next year from the DIRECTV 11 satellite being launched at that time.

--------------
Direct-10 is scheduled for launch next month(June20)...direct11 is
for early next year due to the SeaLaunch disaster.....
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....125&highlight=
DIRECTV announced earlier this year that it will have the capacity to launch up to 100 national HD channels by the end of 2007, and offer local HD channels in up to 75 markets, following the launch of its D10 satellite this summer. The satellite will be operational and new HD services will begin rolling out in Q3.

The DIRECTV 11 satellite will be launched early next year to support further HD expansion. With the two satellites, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.

[stonedog23]

I am so glad there will a HD channel simulcasting the original Discovery channel as it is way more interesting to me than Discovery HD Theater.

I was beginning to wonder how blind can the two different posters be who didn't see the worlds, "National Geographic" even after it being included in at least 3 posts?

[Blackz06]

I think you are missing a few channels there. I'm quite sure D* has confirmed USAHD and TBSHD, maybe even Golf Channel HD if I remember correctly.

[buzd]

Originally Posted by Blackz06

I think you are missing a few channels there. I'm quite sure D* has confirmed USAHD and TBSHD, maybe even Golf Channel HD if I remember correctly.

TBS and USA are on the list.

[Blackz06]

Originally Posted by buzd

TBS and USA are on the list.

Oops, my mistake. I read the list only reading the left side, not realizing there were two channels listed on each line.

[egould]

This press release notes that regional sports channels will be going national. I copied in a post in another thread an e-mail I received from NESN suggesting they will be going national with their signal on Directv. Here's my question - I have a four year old Hughes receiver and an oval 3LNB dish. Will I need to get a new dish and/or receiver when the new satellites go on line? I've seen some references to switching to a different MPEG standard with the new birds, so I'm concerned I may have to upgrade.

[Chris Gerhard]

All I need to see now is the HDTV quality and price with DirecTV after the switch to MPEG-4. The channel lineup will be a big upgrade so I am optimistic.

Chris