DirecTV adds Disney Channel HD, Toon Disney HD and ESPNews HD

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 2nd 2008 at 9:04AM

Just days after rival DISH Network added NESN HD to its national high-def lineup, along comes DirecTV to pacify its own subscribers. As of today, Disney Channel HD (290), Toon Disney HD (292) and ESPNews HD (207) have all been added, bringing the grand total of available high-definition channels on the satcaster to 95. Triple digits is in sight, folks.

[Thanks, Rob]

Filed under: ESPN-HD, Satellite, Sports, New content

Tags: additions, breaking news, BreakingNews, channel, channels, DirecTV, disney channel hd, DisneyChannelHd, espnews, espnews hd, EspnewsHd, expansion, lineup, toon disney hd, ToonDisneyHd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highest Ranked

Adam @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:22AM

Common' Dish!!...get your freaking ducks in a row and fire off those HD channels!

Neutral

Bzydad @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:44AM

Same for Comcast,fire up those HD channel or it's time to switch!

Neutral

AztecPilot @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:54AM

I do not think this is to pacify DirecTV folks. They have had NESN for some time. For the time being, Dish is playing serious catch up. As a DirecTV sub, I rarely watch anything on a SD channel, except Comedy and Fox News. Now we just need more content!

Neutral

Chad @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:11PM

Catch up to what, exactly? The total number of faux HD channels? Most of the HD channels that DirectTV has and DISH doesn't have are just pushing converted SD content. It's all marketing until those channels start giving us actual HD content. At this point I still can't decide which company to go with.

Neutral

Dante @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:24AM

@Chad

You can't blame DirecTV for the channels not pushing more HD.

Besides CN, MTV, VH1 and maybe a couple other channels most show HD programming. Whether it's original programming or re-runs.

Now if stations like TNT and TBS would stop stretching the picture on non-HD stuff that would be great.

Neutral

Chad @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:26PM

@Dante

I don't blame DirecTV at all. However I'm not buying into their marketing, nor do I give them any advantage concerning HD content over Dish. At this point, Dish looks better to me because of their superior pricing, hardware, and ui.

Neutral

JOE @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:43AM

Why does Toon Disney need to be in HD? Comcast Detroit just added Disney and ABC Family in HD but NO WGN or ESPN News in HD. Syndicated tv shows and cartoons should not take HD preference over sports. Toon Disney HD thats just retarted.

Highly Ranked

dboothmu @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:50AM

they dont choose what they want the channel has to be broadcast in hd for them to carry it. It just happens disney (ABC) is more on the ball than other stations

Neutral

Victor @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:53AM

now if these stations offered hd content and not upscaled, stretched content (po'ed at cartoon network for the streching/lack of hd content) then it would be great.

Highly Ranked

Jose @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:34AM

Well, even the upconverted SD on most of the HD channels is way better than the regular SD channels. I do agree that the channels that stretch the image on their upconverted signal look terrible (History HD, TBS-HD, TNT-HD, etc...), and I avoid them. Maybe if enough of us stop watching their garbage picture they will change this moronic practice.

Neutral

Dante @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:22AM

Well ESPNNews HD is all HD. Disney HD has already showed an HD program, only 3 hours into programming.

Not sure about Toon Disney HD though.

Neutral

Myself @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:44PM

I was watching House of Mouse on Toon Disney HD and it was widescreen not stretched. When it went to comercial they were pillar boxed. I looked it up online and it was actually produced in widescreen HD back in 2001. I was suprised myself and it looked great.

Neutral

luismann @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:04AM

ahh, i thought DISH was getting ESPNEWS HD as well?!

Neutral

Big Sam @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:23AM

Sweet. I love DirecTV (2 years ago I never thought I would say that)

Highly Ranked

FLskydiver @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:44AM

To make this easier for everyone to add to their favorites, here's the channel numbers:

207 ESPN News HD
290 Disney Channel HD
292 Toon Disney HD

I just found myself watching cartoons for 15 minutes; because they look REALLY good in HD.

Neutral

Pip @ Apr 2nd 2008 1:26PM

Yeah, I'm sure that's why you were watching them...

Neutral

Cap'n Jack @ Apr 2nd 2008 1:40PM

There is nothing to add to the favorites. If you have the receiver set to "show HD when there is both HD and SD" on then you have nothing to do but to sit back and watch the clarity ....

Neutral

FLskydiver @ Apr 2nd 2008 1:43PM

Point taken, but I didn't have these in my favorites - since they weren't HD.

Neutral

bugatti23007 @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:12PM

I'm glad ESPNews and the Disney channel are in HD but when the hell I can I expect to see The Suite Life of Zack and Cody in HD so I can see Hot A*s Ashley Tisdale in 1080i?

Neutral

George @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:14PM

When is Directv suppose to add ABC Family HD? I thought that was supposed to be included with these three HD channels?

Neutral

jim.s @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:36PM

espn news has never so good in high def.way to go direct tv.people dont be affraid to switch to direct tv im glad i did last july.

Highest Ranked

boxmyth @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:43PM

Awesome! That mean Time Warner only has... about 85 more HD channels to go before they catch up.

Thanks Time Warner! I love being your customer!

Neutral

Achilles @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:48PM

I sense a bit of sarcasm. lol

Neutral

Achilles @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:13PM

I sense a bit of sarcasm. lol

Neutral

Bobby @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:56PM

DISH NETWORK CATCH UP OR I WILL CATCH ANOTHER DISH. DIREC TV IS LOOKING PRETTY SWEET. I HAVE THE NEW DVR AND IT SUCKS. BUGS BUGS AND THE WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. 3-WEEKS AND STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT

Neutral

Craig @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:18PM

Thanks for the updates. I use favorites, so I manually have to modify my channel listings. Seeing the posts help me identify new HD content.

On a side note, I see MASN-HD was added as channel 626-1 in the guide. No content or guide listings yet though.

Neutral

UnnDunn @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:03AM

New Yorkers got ESPNews HD for three hours last night, instead of the Yankee game (which was broadcast on YES HD.)

Honestly, they have way too many moving, changing, undulating graphics on the sides of the screen. It was very distracting. I checked the SD feed, and it was much better as far as the on-screen graphics package was concerned.

Neutral

Achilles @ May 7th 2008 3:14PM

I have to admit, ESPnewsHD looks awesome. Stretch-o-vision sux!!! (TNT, TBS, USA...etc.)

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