HDNet to stay on DirecTV's total choice for now
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Nov 15th 2007 at 11:07AM
Our favorite HD channel has been part of DirecTV's total choice package as long as we can remember and while there has always been a fee to have access to DirecTV's HD programming, now DirecTV wants to charge another $5 a month to access HDNet and HDNet Movies. We've heard this over and over again, networks just hate to be on a tier, and as a result many have sued various providers in an attempt to widen their audience. Now, thanks to a temporary injunction, HDNet will remain free to everyone -- which isn't really saying much, since everyone is currently getting the HD Extra Pack for free anyways. In the long run, we can see HDNet's point on this one, and while we respect the fact that tiers can be a good thing for providers and customers, we hope Mark wins this one. Oh, and while you got the lawyers billing you hourly Mark, why not add bit-starving to the case while you're at it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dario @ Nov 15th 2007 11:22AM
I suspect that once DirecTV grabs what they believe to be enough market share, we could see a price increase. They've done a great job holding the line on their DVR service and how they charge but I think they will spread out that profit target with another tier by instead spreading out the increase on a wider market.
Kevin Murphy @ Nov 15th 2007 11:27AM
"bit starving" -- much less of an issue for HD, now that they aren't stressed for bandwidth and using the ancient mpeg2.
On the other hand, DirecTV continues to "bit-starve" SD; something it has done since about 2000, when it began stealing bandwidth to provide everyone their local stations over satellite. Even though this has since moved to spot-beams, the bit-starving continues. What used to be the best SD signal available -- better than OTA -- has been SD Lite for quite some time.
pimpdee976 @ Nov 15th 2007 12:21PM
I got timewarner when was hd net every free,sure not on timewarner
jbfaught @ Nov 15th 2007 5:50PM
i've had time warner hd for about 3 years and hdnet has never been free here in texas. you have to pay 9.95 for the upper tier hd which includes HDNet, HDMovies, and MOJO. I think it may have one other channel that I've never turned on but pretty ridiculous last week when I realized that those were the only channels on there. At one point they told me that I needed to have this tier in order to get ESPNHD (before ESPN2HD that I begged for over a year and a half before they finally got it). Shaved my bill with TW by 65 dollars once I unleashed on them for misrepresenting information.
Ryan @ Nov 15th 2007 2:27PM
the main sticking point is the current contract between HDNet & DirecTV stipulates that HDNet & HDNet Movies remain part of the 'most widely distributed' package/tier/grouping of hd channels. (The wording is a little vague, which is probably what has led to DirecTVs attempt to circumvent the agreement) All that being said, this contract only runs until the end of 2008. I don't know why DirecTV didn't just wait it out?
I think a good solution would be to keep HDNet in the 'regular HD tier' or whatever they decide to call it. HD Net Movies could move to an 'extra' tier, available for an 'extra' charge of course.
JP23 @ Nov 15th 2007 2:40PM
@Kevin Murphy,
You couldn't be more wrong on bit starving. The HDNet stations are still Mpeg2 with D*.
JeffDM @ Nov 15th 2007 3:19PM
OK, what's the deal with this idea of entitlement on the part of the networks? Did HDNet negotiate an agreement to be on the basic tier? I know that NFL network is whining about not being on basic.
JP23 @ Nov 15th 2007 3:23PM
Yes they have an agreement for basic tier.