Details about DirecTV's new HDTV channels continue to emerge

Ahh, the anticipation of new HDTV channels. You know, It's one thing when you're waiting for new channels to launch, but when there are so many expected all at once from your provider, well, it's more than most of us can handle. We don't know about anyone else, but we're ready; we got our MPEG4 hardware, our 5 LNB dish and even our B-Band converter, all there is to do now is wait. No one seems to know, exactly which day is the day, but our best guess is about Sept 15th. The other thing that still seems to be up in the air, is exactly how many channels will be available. DirecTV only says there will be 100 this year, and while some networks seem to be ready whenever they are, others have yet to make an announcement. Satellite guys has received a list, also without dates. CSRs have also been telling customers what they can expect at launch -- we know how reliable they can be. While the list of 57 channels is certainly impressive and will make them the new HD leader -- assuming DISH doesn't add the same channels, it is still a far cry from the 100 promised.

Here is the list DirecTV customer service reps have reported, the full list from DirecTV after the jump.

1. A&E HD
   
2. Big Ten Network HD
   
3. Cartoon Network
4. CNN HD
   
5. Food Network HD
   
6. Versus HD\Golf HD
   
7. HGTV-HD
   
8. History Channel HD
   
9. NFL Network HD
   
10. National Geographic HD
    
11. Smithsonian (channel 267)
12. TBS in HD
    

Channels that they will market to customers, but no exact dates.

1. A&E HD
2. ABC Family HD
3. Bravo HD
4. ESPNews HD
5. Food Network HD
6. Fuel TV HD
7. FX HD
8. HGTV-HD
9. Cartoon Network
10. Chiller HD
11. CNBC HD
12. CNN HD
13. History Channel HD
14. MHD
15. USA Network HD
16. National Geographic HD
17. Discovery Channel HD
18. Disney Channel HD
19. TBS in HD
20. Animal Planet HD
21. The 101 HD
22. TLC HD
23. Toon Disney HD
24. Weather Channel HD
25. Big Ten Network HD
26. Tennis Channel HD
27. Speed Channel HD
28. NFL Network HD
29. Versus HD/Golf Ch HD
30. Sci-Fi Network HD
31. Science Channel HD

Channels they plan to add, but carriage agreements have not be finalized.

1. HBO HD West
2. HBO2 HD East
3. HBO2 HD West
4. HBO Family East
5. HBO Family West
6. HBO Latino
7. HBO Signature
8. Showtime HD West
9. Cinemax HD East
10. Cinemax HD West
11. MoreMax
12. The Movie Channel HD East
13. Starz HD East
14. Starz HD West
15. Starz Edge HD
16. Starz Comedy HD
17. Starz Kids & Family HD

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 3:56PM]

Mmmmm... NFL Network HD!

I've already seen some of the History Channel in HD from the XBoxLive network and it's good stuff!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 6:53PM]

That link goes to a registration-only image.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 6:58PM]

Science Channel and Discovery Channel HD are all I want. DirecTV has me sold.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 11:46PM]

You do realise that you can get both these HD channels on DISH like now...right?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 11:00PM]

I WANT the SF channel in HD dammit! I'm pissed that it's already moved to the second tear nebulous launch date. The minute it's real direct tv can start having the money I give to comcast now.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 9:32PM]

If this really happens - DirecTV will really redeem itself in my eyes. They have been dragging for so long.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 11:52PM]

No Nickelodeon?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 1:41AM]

if only direct tv would lower some prices

i dunno the premier everything pack instead of $99 drop it to $69 with 2 receivers then charge $4.99 for each aditional.

they are offering as a 4 month special , that apckage with nfl sunday ticket for 69.99 (sunday ticket is 69

i know its just an introductory offer, but come on make that a standard deal (excluding nfl sunday ticket) at $69

hell ill leave cable and go direct tv

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 5:25AM]

I was told last week by a DTV customer service rep calling to verify that I had my B-Block Converter correctly installed that they were going to be rolling these out approx 9/30-10/1. At the very most we'll be seeing these in two to four weeks. Dang I am READY for it already!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 7:05AM]

Question, for those of you who get some of these now via satellite. Are they the same feed as the regular channel or are they on a different schedule all together?

One thing I hate about our current HD service via cable is that HGTV and HGTV-HD are never showing the same shows.

Is satellite any better/different?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 12:58PM]

HGTV HD is not a simulcast of the original HGTV channel. HGTV decided to do that, so it will not be any different on satellite.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 8:41AM]

I thought CNN was supposed to be ready to begin broadcasting in HD for DirecTV? Didn't see them on the list.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 9:20AM]

The Weather Channel's "station identification" breaks already say something like, "You're watching The Weather Channel, in HD where available." Probably not unreasonable to assume they'll be in the first group available, too.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 10:42AM]

I'm so blind...CNN is on the list.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 11:17AM]

Anyone know if they're improved their HR20 DVR? I had one of the first ones when it came out, and returned it to stick with my DirecTV HD Tivo instead. It froze all the time on me, randomly restarted, and is a real pain to use/program.

I'm considering coming back to one once SciFi HD launches, but on the flip side if Comcast adds these channels and releases their subsidized tivo gear, I'd rather go that route.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 5:31PM]

I have a HR20-100, most people have the HR20-700. It's the same receiver pretty much they just work on new firmware updates for the HR20-700 first. Also the HR20-100 has 2 Ethernet ports and an external ota antenna whereas the HR20-700 has 1 Ethernet port and an internal ota antenna.

For Mpeg4 DVR function alone the HR20-100(or 700) is worth it. (I get abc, fox, and nbc over mpeg4 now) The external SATA port is great with 500gb hard drive prices where they're at right now. I miss the Tivo interface but I can record season passes and standard recordings much faster then with my 10-250 or my SD Directv Tivos(I have 2 of those). VOD also looks to be a great feature that's only found on the HR20s (Only the HR20-700 is testing it right now though).

BTW I've had zero freezes with the HR20-100 and have it for going on 3 months now.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 5th 2007 10:38AM]

Tom, I have to echo what Brendan said about the HR20. I had some small ticks that accompanied mine when I first got it but shortly after things started smoothing out and now it is running smooth as silk. The only thing I really miss about my Tivo units is the layout of the channel guide. The HR20 barely shows anything while the Tivo showed a whole night's worth per channel at once. Other than that, I have no complaints. Additionally, you only have to pay one flat price for multiple DVR units. With Tivo you have to pay for every box subscription.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2007 7:13AM]

I don't know if everyone's has improved but my hd dvr works pretty consistently. I had problems at first with it locking up. I'd have to reboot it and it would work right. It happened maybe 3x first month and a half. It's happened maybe 2x in past 7 months. Doesn't seem to like have buttons moved a lot continuously.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 12:01PM]

@Tom: I haven't used one myself, but I've heard that it's actually really good now. I'm still holding on to my HR10-250, but I might have to upgrade soon...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 1:07PM]

Damn! Speed TV in HD? I want to leave Comcast so badly and go to Direct TV. I'll give Comcast until end of year to figure their HD deals.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 2:08PM]

I just got the HR-20 with HD service about 3 weeks ago. Absolutely no problems at all! No reboots or freezes. It works better than my regular DVR, the H20.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 3:17PM]

Yeah, but it's DirecTV: masters of re/over compression. What's the point of HD if you're ass-deep in macroblocks and mosquito noise?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 4:13PM]

Hopefully with a new satellite and MPEG4 there'll be less compression.

I'm torn between cable and satellite at my new place. Bleh.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 5th 2007 10:53AM]

Ian, ever wonder if it's your TV that's giving you macroblocks or noise? I almost NEVER get either of those with my DTV reception. The only exception is the occasional loss due to a bad thunderstorm blowing through and even then my reception is far better than it used to be with a triple LNB dish.

I've got a Pioneer Elite set though and I'm sure their superior digital processing has something to do with my picture quality. Don't be so fast to point the finger at something that might be caused by something else entirely.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 9:21PM]

I just checked and the HR20-700 does not have an internal antenna. You have to plug one in.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 2nd 2007 12:38PM]

Have you actually connected an external sata drive and, if so, how well did it work?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 4:04PM]

I love my Dishnetwork.

I am waiting for the price of the HD Tv to come down some more. I have been keep close watch on Dishes HD offering, and watching the technical chat, they do every month or so. I am looking forward to their new hd receivers and by the time the tv prices come down more, The programing will be even better.

[CharlieX Posted Sep 4th 2007 4:38PM]

We just moved into a new pad and got D*. Coming from Time Warner HD to the new Mpeg-4 channels is such a massive improvement. Now I just have to fish extra coax through the house to get 2 feeds for our DVR's....

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2007 12:45AM]

As long as the Big Ten Network is in HD before hoops season, that's all that matters. Can't wait to see the Hoosiers dominating in High-Def!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2007 10:59PM]

Thanks for the correction.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2007 2:14PM]

DTV is well known for it's bit starving marcoblocking problems. Feel free to Google HDlite and learn about DTV's stellar commitment to HD. They are going to offer a ton of HD channels but they can't even deliver on what they have know.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 5th 2007 8:04PM]

I had a Direct TV techincian come today to replace a HR20 DVR receiver that got fried by a lightning storm near our house. He installed the B-Band conveters, in the back but said he would lose my over the air channels that I receieve via a diplex connection from the OTA attenna I have in the attic. He sad the OTA channels were broadcast on frequency (too low or too high?) to be received on the B-Band converter.

He deprogrammed the OTA channels from the receiver.
What's up with that? Has anyone encountered this or does anyone know of any other solution to recieve the OTA channels with a B-Band converter?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 5th 2007 8:04PM]

He's right, you'll have to run another line for the OTA channels, no more diplexers.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2007 4:30AM]

Answer to B-Band Conv----someone already posted, cannot pass the Ka(Mpeg-4) Band channels physically on the coax wire with OTA or Cable signal(that little 5-950mhz rating referring to OTA/Cable is being used to pass low band Ka signals to the reciever)

Don't talk about DTV Fanboys, I can and do install both, Dish has some good Ideas and dumps a lot into "features" that 5 out of 100 people need, DTV has been really good at using the KISS method and debug before deployment.(not to say the firmware upgrades don't occur) In other words they design the system for the 95% who want it installed right in the first place.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 6th 2007 1:06AM]

ahhh, again direct tv fanboys.. dish network has had these channels for about a month now and are adding just as many as directtv. They just dont advertise as much. The only reason in my eyes to go to directtv would be the football.. other than that. well having owned cable, direct tv and dish.. dish by far is hands down the best. They also just added the feature to be able to add ANY external usb harddrive to their dvr's to record more... case closed in my eyes. I do hope though that direct tv uses better compression than in the past.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2007 3:19PM]

the 100 has an external RF antenna, the 700 has an internal. both have OTA antenna inputs.

I had a 700 that worked great but got corrupted taking a software update. D* replaced with a 100. I asked if i would get a 700 and they said either one, it depended on what the warehouse had. the 100 seems to work just as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2007 3:25PM]

Some confusion on antennas here. Both the HR20 models require an external OTA antenna. The 700 has an internal antenna and the 100 has an external one for the RF Remote. Nothing to do with OTA.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2007 3:51PM]

I think many of the rest of the 100 HD channels come from the Fox Sports Net regional channels. There are quite a few topics regarding this on dbstalk.com forums.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2007 3:54PM]

I understand how they're getting to 100, but it doesn't change the fact that during CES this year, they said they'd be adding 100 National Channels. I'm not sure why anyone would count a regional sports channel as a National channel. They could have very easily said they'd be adding 100 HD channels (which would have been just as impressive at the time), but they didn't, and even when pressured by the press, they still insisted.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2007 2:28PM]

How can the list of 57 channels be impressive when some of the channels are listed twice? (Take out the duplicates and you have only 50 different channels. So where do they get 57?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2007 11:26AM]

Hmm, not sure what you're looking at, but they have 9 now and they are adding 48, which makes 57. Not counting any twice.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2007 6:09PM]

Is it REALLY a definite that the HR-10 with Tivo will not work for the new line up? Can you not just hook the converters up the old units with the new dish?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2007 10:02PM]

its about time ive been waiting for this forever, FINALLY. the big ten network in HD awesome. Had dishnetwork for 3 years before switching to directv best choice i ever made, dish network= crap network....JK


Samsung 56" dlp 1080p, PS3, Onkyo 605, 2 cerwin vega 12's, two audio source 12" floor subs, HTD center and rears,

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2007 4:46PM]

I'm very disappointed in this list. There are no dedicated movie channels under the first two release dates. Malone owns a big chunk of Starz & they are already broadcasting in HD, so what's the hold up?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2007 11:53PM]

I was really hoping that DirecTV would get their
act together much sooner as far as HD is concerned.
But given the current lineup of DISH they have a
long way to go. The new DISH HD DVD is MPEG4 and
the quality overall is excellent. I am using a
Samsung DLP 46" rear projection and an NEC DLP
projector and the both yield excellent images.
The only thing that could persuade me to move
to DIREC would be a better channel lineup and
a improved image quality. There is just not
enough content out there yet. And the back
side (studios, post houses, uplink distribution
etc) all have a ways to go to be fully 1080P
and MPEG4. Till then DISH wins, hands down!!!
Here is the DISH lineup.....ENJOY!!!!
9419 A&E
9420 TNT
9421 DiscoveryHD
9422 HDNet
9423 HDNetMovies
9424 ESPN
9425 ESPN2
9426 NFL
9427 Universal
9429 National Geographic
9435 STARZ
9443 HDTV3 (Demo Channel)
9456 HBO
9458 CINEMAX
9460 SHOTIME
9461 HGTV
9462 FOOD
9466 NBAHD
9467 PayPerView
9468 VS/GF
9469 MusicHD (Music Videos Music Specials)
9470 RAVE (Music Concerts & Events)
9471 EQUATOR (World Travel & Doc)
9472 GALLERY (Fine Arts)
9473 TREASURE (Collectors & Auctions)
9474 ANIMA
9475 WORLD CINEMA
9476 RUSH (Extreme Sports)
9477 World Sports
9478 ULTRA (Fashion)
9479 KUNGFU (Martial Arts Movies)
9480 FILM FEST
9481 MONSTER (Horror & SciFi)
9482 NEWS
9485 GAMEPLAY
9486 FAMILY CHANNEL
9487 DISCOVERY2
9488 THE LEARNING CHANNEL
9489 ANIMAL PLANET
9490 SCIENCE
9491 HISTORY
9500 BIG 10 Sports

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2007 10:45AM]

Currently have DirecTV HD service with the standard 8 or 9 channels plus the local 13 HD channels via antenna. Two HD receivers HR10-250 DVR and RCA DTC210 HD-receiver.
Does anyone know how long this current service will be available and if DirecTV will force customers off this package.
Also would like to get another DTC210 HD turner if I can stay on current package for a while, are they still on the market?
If I lease the new HR20 for $99 can I still keep my old HD package?
Eventually want to get all the new HD programming but satisfied for now.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2007 8:36PM]

I work for Directv, the channels were lunched today Sep 19. If you connect the BBC and you have the right Receiver and Dish you should be getting 'em now.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 30th 2007 8:07PM]

Does anyone know where you can find an external RF antenna that will hook up to the external RG6 connector on the back of the H20 100?