DISH Network rolls out 22 new HD channels
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted May 12th 2008 at 8:20AM
If you still believe that the fate of AMC-14 was going to get in the way of DISH Network rolling out new HD channels, you have to give up on that one because last night DISH announced the addition of 22 new HD channels including some that only its biggest competitor, DirecTV currently carries. Of the 22 channels, most are stretch-o-vision, but at least hold promise and a few have popped up recently unannounced. The biggest win is for news and movie fans as CNN HD, CNBC HD, ESPNews HD and a few movie channels top the list. The full list after the jump.[Thanks, Scott]
- ABC Family HD (DISH Network Ch 180
- Disney HD East (Ch. 172)
- ESPNews HD (Ch. 142)
- Biography HD (Ch. 119)
- Hallmark Movie Channel HD (Ch 187)
- Bravo HD (Ch. 129)
- Cartoon HD (Ch. 176)
- MGM HD (Ch. 385)
- Cinemax 5 Star (Ch. 381)
- Sci Fi HD (Ch. 122)
- Cinemax HD West (Ch. 380)
- Smithsonian HD (Ch. 374)
- Comcast Sports Network Bay Area HD (Ch 419)*
- Tennis Channel HD (Ch. 400)
- Toon Disney HD (Ch. 174)
- Comcast Sports Network New England HD (Ch 435)*
- Travel Channel HD (Ch. 215)
- USA HD (Ch. 105)
- CNBC HD (Ch. 208)
- Weather Channel HD (Ch. 214)
- CNN HD (Ch. 200)
- World Fishing Network HD (Ch. 396)
Filed under: Satellite, New content
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DIRAN ONI @ May 12th 2008 9:02AM
GREAT NEWS: But where is FX, SPEED & NICKOLODEON
travis.Taylor @ May 12th 2008 9:33AM
Yeah, I agree... I would love to see Speed and FX.
These new channels have yet to show up on our system, though. Does anyone else already have them?
mjpd1 @ May 12th 2008 9:47AM
I don't have them yet either. I've reset my DVR in an attempt to force an update, but still nothing. Will keep my eye on it though. The wife loves Bravo and has missed it since we switched from cable.
Ghoti @ May 12th 2008 9:35AM
Dish is involved in a lawsuit with Fox, so I doubt we'll see FX and/or SPEED until that gets resolved. Of course, that's just a guess on my part.
No clue about Nickelodeon other than it's probably coming at some point.
Mike Peluso @ May 12th 2008 9:58AM
very bitter sweet for me. The two channels I desperately wanted were Travel HD and Fox Business HD (Dave Ramsey is awsome!). So I guess I should be happy that i'm half way there.
BigDaddyJ @ Jul 10th 2008 11:14AM
Ohhhhhh, World Fishing Network now in HD!
I didn't even know I got this in standard def.
Achilles @ May 12th 2008 10:29AM
Stretch-o-vision bites!!!!! I have DTV and I get TBS along with USA and TNT which are exactly that. I hate that!!!!!!!!!!!! TNT every once in a while will have actual HD content but for the most part it's stretch-o!
Ilavazhagan @ May 12th 2008 10:33AM
Actually USA is not stretch-o-vision on DIsh. Most of the programs are in 4:3 with bars on the side, and some shows are in HD not stretched. Some movies are even in OAR like this past weekend Indiana Jones Trilogy.
Miggity @ May 12th 2008 12:51PM
USA is not stretch-o-vision, and believe it or not TBS/TNT have finally gotten better at airing 16:9 (still a lot of work to be done), but at least now I can watch Office reruns on TBS...
man_rob @ May 12th 2008 12:04PM
Well, they haven't exactly launched the channels yet, except for SciFi, and USA, which were actually launched weeks ago. They've only said the expansion will start today, but then give no time frame on when all these channels will actually go live. It could be months before all 22 make it to subscribers.
travis.Taylor @ May 12th 2008 12:13PM
T
The new channels that will be added today are:
ABC Family HD; Biography HD; Bravo HD; Cartoon Network HD; Cinemax 5 Star HD; Cinemax HD West; CNBC HD; CNN HD; Disney HD East; ESPNews HD; Hallmark Movie Channel HD; MGM HD; Sci-fi Channel HD; Smithsonian HD; Tennis Channel HD; Toon Disney HD; Travel Channel HD; USA Network HD; Weather Channel HD; and World Fishing Network HD.
"We are excited to extend our competitiveness in HD by enhancing our already comprehensive HD lineup with these 22 channels, bringing our total HD lineup to over 95 channels,'' said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. ``These launches, along with other recent additions such as the New England Sports Network (NESN) HD, reinforce our commitment to offer the best in entertainment.''
If that website is correct, then all of those channels should be available within the next couple of days.
Kaiser @ May 12th 2008 12:00PM
A few of these channels were already on the air on Dish. CNN HD, SciFi HD etc
CaptainMcNerd @ May 12th 2008 12:15PM
Wow, it keeps getting harder and harder to choose a satellite company. If you want to see a good comparison between DIRECTV and DISH Network, this might help you: http://www.connectmysatellite.com
man_rob @ May 12th 2008 12:31PM
Travis, again, nothing in the press release gives any indication on how long the expansion will take, and so far today, absolutely no new HD channels have been added. Dish is only stating that the expansion will start today, but they include CNN, USA, and SciFi, which were launched weeks ago in the announcement as part of today's expansion. All of the channels have been previously announced as being slated for launch on Dish at some point this year. Could Dish be trying to pass off the previously added channels as new, and previously announced channels (without actually saying when they will be launched) to grab headlines?
travis.Taylor @ May 12th 2008 12:40PM
Dude, I know, I was just pointing out what that website said.
I'm holding out hope that it will be soon! But my guess is that it will be a while before we see all of them... Maybe ESPNews will be like..today...haha
mirage @ May 12th 2008 12:35PM
So Comcast recently added some of these including Disney HD and ABC Family HD. I have to complain about these two channels because they are not even stretch o vision. They are a complete waste of bandwidth!! There has not been one single program in HD or even stretch o vision since they were added. Every program is in 4:3 which I could just flip over to the regular channels if I wanted to watch 4:3. Why are they adding channels that are a complete waste of their HD bandwidth???
Miggity @ May 12th 2008 1:02PM
Not being stretched out is a GOOD THING! Stop it! The other channels are gonna read that and think they should pull a FoodNetwork/HGTV and start stretching too!
nooooooooo
Fred @ May 12th 2008 2:27PM
I agree with miggity. even if the shows arent in hd it is a horrible idea to stretch and squash them. it really pisses me off because when companies do that it makes it impossible to set any aspect ratio that is not malformed. if anything i would much rather have a show that is formatted to 16x9 and presented in 4x3 with bars all around. at least then i have the option to zoom and fill my screen without squashing the image. A&E along with history have to be the worst stretcho offenders. so bad i almost canclled my dish over it untill hd was more mature.
John Bracich @ May 12th 2008 12:36PM
Here in Chicago, it's almost a half hour to noon, nothing so far, and I got the top tier package. Hrmm...perhaps tonight?
Miggity @ May 12th 2008 12:58PM
$29.99 for the HDOnly package = even better now
Seriously can anybody even touch Dish Networks $30 HD-Only package? If I was looking at providers right now it wouldn't even be a contest!
bill @ May 12th 2008 1:21PM
look for them from 5pm on today.. regards
Nick @ May 12th 2008 1:23PM
Damnit, DirecTV doesn't even have travel HD yet. I want that shit so bad.
Pipe @ May 12th 2008 7:03PM
All i want is FX, Speed, and Versus in HD. Its nice to have all this channels but I dont care for them.
mirage @ May 12th 2008 1:37PM
I agree that stretch o vision is a bad thing, but why are they wasting bandwidth on these channels to begin with if there are other true HD channels that they could be adding instead. Again, if I want to watch ABC Family, I can watch it on the regular channel. There is absolutely no difference. At least most channels show SOME HD content. Disney and ABC Family are a complete waste.
Ilavazhagan @ May 12th 2008 2:06PM
What other trueHD channels are there, other than VOOM, HDNets, HDTheatre, and Premium Channels?
mirage @ May 12th 2008 3:56PM
If you are saying 1080p true HD there are none that I know of. I am talking about channels that give me some HD content. Discovery HD, TNT HD, ESPN HD, etc.
ABC Family has had ZERO HD content since it was added to Comcast on May 1. I could watch all of these shows on the standard channel without it taking up bandwidth that could be used for actual HD content. That is my gripe.
Why is everyone arguing with me over semantics? We should all be able to agree that channels with no HD content whatsoever should be not be given bandwidth in our HD channel lineups simply by adding an HD to their logo.
By the way, I am fairly new to the HD scene so I might not use the correct terminology, but I hope my point is clear. Thanks!
Christopher Wilson @ May 12th 2008 2:31PM
Is anything on cartoon network HD actual hd, or is it all upconversion?
Andrew @ May 12th 2008 2:33PM
now....if they could only get the Fox Business network, I would switch...I have to watch Dave Ramsey.
Johnny Venom @ May 12th 2008 2:45PM
Outside of that person, what else about FBN is better than CNBC? From what I've seen, even Bloomberg looks better!
Ben Keezer @ May 12th 2008 2:49PM
I just checked, I got all the new channels. It's about time!
Ilavazhagan @ May 12th 2008 3:45PM
Just like to second that everything is live...
pahensley @ May 12th 2008 5:07PM
there here....
took a hard reboot to get them to load.
Examancer @ May 12th 2008 3:19PM
Good news! I noticed the Sci Fi and CNN additions. Happy to hear even more are coming :-)
Dungwader @ May 12th 2008 5:17PM
Has there been announcement on which channels are going to which packages? I've been looking at the DISH Network HD only package and if Sci-Fi HD and Cartoon Network HD are included in that package then I am sold. I ask because when I check the official website the HD only package doesn't list any of these new channel additions.
mjpd1 @ May 12th 2008 6:24PM
I have the HD-only package, and I just received ALL of the aforementioned channels. I received CNN and SciFi a couple weeks ago as well. I'm LOVING the HD-only package at $30/mo. I'll be in HD heaven as soon as Dish adds HD locals in Columbus, OH.
Miggity @ May 12th 2008 7:10PM
The HD-Only package is the only way to fly!
Best move I ever made.
jumbowl @ May 12th 2008 7:40PM
Dish-NETWORK has finally stepped up to the plate and it looks light this one might be out of the park. I think my next move is an external hard drive because I know between the kids, wife and myself, we will run out of space in no time flat. I need to check the specs first but a nice TB drive should due very nicely. Go dish!
Jumbowl in Houston, TX
HDTVFanAtic @ May 12th 2008 8:48PM
They had to do this - as they got KILLED in Q1, despite what was predicted under the Comcast numbers a week ago. Cable and Directv is eating their lunch.
Dish Network Subscriber Growth Skids 89% In First Quarter.
Citing competition from the telcos and the worsening economy, Dish Network reported Monday that its first-quarter subscriber growth nosedived nearly 89% from a year ago, with only a 35,000 net subscriber gain. The precipitous decline in new subscribers comes less than a week after archrival DirecTV reported last week that it had added 275,000 new subscribers in its most recent quarter, a 17% increase.
mda20 @ May 13th 2008 7:11AM
They gave us 22 channels that most will never use. And took away 10 Voom channels without any notice. They are just gone. Once Fox gets off it's high horse and settles up the HD only package will be complete.
jjmisterx @ May 13th 2008 9:02PM
They couldn't launch there new sat.,so where are they getting the bandwidth ?I think somebody should look into there compression percentage!!
jtalbea @ May 15th 2008 11:19PM
Like the guy said above me, they took off 10 Voom channels to compensate for the bandwidth which sucks cause there were some alright channels from Voom
John @ May 18th 2008 5:15PM
So is anyone else having problems viewing the San Francisco Giants games on CSNBA?? I've talked to Dish who told me to call comcast because they handle the programming, and i've spent hours on the phone with Dish again to have them tell me that they don't have any scheduled games being broadcasted in hd on this channel? What gives here?
John @ May 18th 2008 7:21PM
***Update***
I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow night to see if this channel with actually broadcast something and hope that it isn't sd upconverted to look like "hd" For some reason 4 different Dish tech support personnel and a tech support supervisor couldn't tell me when the games would be broadcasted. They told me they don't see anything in their guide. Low and behold I checked my guide for tomorrow night on 419 and it says Giants vs the Rockies .. so we'll see tomorrow. And Dish tech support told me that channels 409 and 419 didn't exist and that i shouldn't be seeing them in my guide. C'mon dish .. get you crap together.
Charles Willis @ May 30th 2008 2:07PM
When are yougoing to add Montgomery ,Alabama.
NBC,Abc,CBS AND Fox TO YOUR HD LINEUP.
Thank you
Charles Willis