January 9, 2007 - Satellite provider DirecTV at CES 2007 announced that it plans to launch 100 new HD-dedicated channels in the coming months to support what it has dubbed "the year of HD." The company will effectively be offering three times more HD programming than any other distributor by the third quarter of the year. And there are spectacular additions coming, as we'll list below.
Look out for HD-ized versions of major network channels, including A&E, National Geographic, Bravo, NFL Network, Cartoon Network, Food Network, TBS, FX, The History Channel, HGTV, The Weather Channel, USA Network, MTV, and our personal favorite, the SciFi Channel.
For more than a year, nerds like us have begged for DirecTV to carry the SciFi Channel in HD so that we can watch HD versions of Battlestar Galactica as soon as they debut. It seems that our prayers and cries for a response have finally been addressed. Thank you, DirecTV.
The provider will also extend its sports-based HD programming by offerings hundreds of new games from the Regional Sports Networks around the country. DirecTV will additionally serve up an expanded line of premium movie channels in high-definition.
"This is DIRECTV's break-out year for HD," said Chase Carey, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "The launch of our two new satellites will complete the largest capacity expansion in DIRECTV history, and no other video service will be able to match the sheer volume and quality of our HD programming. With HD adoption now reaching critical mass in the U.S., and 40 million homes projected to have HD-capable TV's this year, DIRECTV will be uniquely positioned as the best choice for HD programming."
The company has not yet revealed when HD versions of these channels will debut, but we'll keep you posted as more details become available.
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