DirecTV to boast 130 HD channels on August 14th, 1080p movies later this year
Now this is what we're talking about! On the very same morning that Verizon trumpets its achievement of hitting 100 high-def channels in New York, along comes DirecTV to make that figure look second-rate. The satcaster has just announced that it will be hosting upwards of 130 high-definition channels on August 14th, which means that 30 or so newcomers are just weeks away from going live. All of the channels will be transmitted in the MPEG-4 AVC standard, and if you're curious, it also plans to provide "movies in 1080p" later this year. Included in the new stations will be Showtime Extreme HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Planet Green HD, ABC Family HD, additional DirecTV HD pay-per-view channels and 23 more regional sports networks in high-def 24 hours a day. Any other carriers feel like doing the leapfrog today?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
vypergts @ Jul 28th 2008 1:03PM
How can they do movies in 1080p when the highest any of their current boxes will output is 1080i? Does this mean new receivers for everyone? If so, I want my $300 back.
tony @ Jul 31st 2008 1:28PM
Hy HR21-200 has a "1080p" light on it. Maybe it will light up soon! Just becuase it's not in the UI yet, doesn't mean it cant do it.
Fancy Shmancy @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:04PM
My Dish ViP722 just got 'Turbocharged" via a firmware update and can now apparently do full 1080p, though I haven't checked into it yet.
j epstein @ Jul 28th 2008 1:08PM
adding 30 Hd stations in nice, but when 23 are rsn's it sort of takes away the fun as unless you have Sowtime, you are getting only 2 new channels. How about Lifetime, A and E HD, Lifetime Movies, etc
Andy Sullivan @ Jul 28th 2008 1:10PM
Wonderful, great, fantastic. Now, if we could just see some HD content on all these non premium channels. Showtime, HBO, Cinemax is great but it's the other channels (not the majors) that need to step to the plate.
Bert @ Jul 28th 2008 1:20PM
Great,
I'm sure all of those "crisp" HD channels are going to look over compressed and crappy just like the majority of my Directv high definition channels.
Big Sam @ Jul 28th 2008 1:23PM
Mine look great. But then again I'm comparing them to the horrible HD I got when I was on TW.
kcmurphy88 @ Jul 28th 2008 2:50PM
Apparently this guy read they were "crappy" someplace. Back in the day, when only a few MPEG2 channels were jammed onto an old satellite, maybe they were. But if you see them on a modern DirecTV DVR and a good set, the MPEG4 channels are excellent.
Galley @ Jul 28th 2008 1:23PM
Death to stretch-o-vision!
gus @ Jul 28th 2008 1:24PM
no new receivers are needed as long as you have your current B band device that goes between the coaxial cable. 1080p is still mpeg resolution, EXAMPLE**** Even if they made everything from 1080i to 1080p you would NOT need new equipment. ****
but that wont happen due to not enough space but im glad i have directv.
UltimateX @ Aug 14th 2008 6:00AM
Well there is a big difference here. If your 1080P plasma is fed a 1080i Signal it means that it has to CONVERT The signal to 1080p. wich means that it only looks as good as the Tv's software. If its fed a 1080p Signal it does not upscale anything using de-interlacing or anything like that. Panasonic uses Ati's Deinterlacing when fed a 1080i signal.
Point is that It is important to have a 1080p receiver even if programing is not 1080p .
gus @ Jul 28th 2008 1:25PM
and im looking foward to the same quality but still would take directv over any cable provider!.
Dan @ Jul 28th 2008 1:34PM
I have DirecTV and the so called HD is painful to watch. It is so over compressed, it's a joke. So now we will have 30 more over compressed channels.
just because it is 720p, 1080i or 1080p doesn't mean it's HD.
tony @ Jul 28th 2008 1:36PM
You might want to check your TV then. DirecTV's MPEG-4 offerings are better than ANY cable companies MPEG-2 stuff and it rivals OTA-HD these days.
Dan @ Jul 28th 2008 1:35PM
So what, I have DirecTV and most of what I watch is over compressed junk. so now we will have 30 more over compressed junk channels.
kcmurphy88 @ Jul 28th 2008 2:54PM
ALL HDTV IS COMPRESSED!!! Even blu-ray discs are compressed. It's part of the spec. As far as what DirecTV provides on the two new sats (D11 and D10), the compression is pretty much in line with what it should be. At least HD. Now, with their SD you may have a point. DirecTV SD is crap -- even as SD.
gus @ Aug 14th 2008 10:16PM
dan then STFU and get Cable LMAFO and you will really have POS service. Check your equipment if its OLD and not current. OR better yet what kind of tv do you have? if you have a panasonic or a samsung or sony thats fine but if its a No name brand Olevia and such LMAO
Dan @ Jul 28th 2008 1:36PM
Sorry, you can disregard one of the comments above.
Chad @ Jul 28th 2008 5:06PM
Don't worry, we'll disregard both as you have no clue what you're talking about.
pete @ Jul 28th 2008 1:48PM
We really going to believe that DirecTV, the company that brought us "HD Lite", is going to serve up proper 1080p video?
Last I checked, 1080p 24fps AVC encoded video on Blu-Ray averaged about 23megs/sec. Good luck.
Dan @ Jul 28th 2008 2:04PM
I have DirecTV and the so called HD is painful to watch. It is so over compressed, it's a joke. So now we will have 30 more over compressed channels.
just because it is 720p, 1080i or 1080p doesn't mean it's HD.
Chad @ Jul 28th 2008 5:06PM
We'll disregard this one as well
imonit @ Jul 28th 2008 2:28PM
Wow - I wonder if everyone is blaming their Vizio's poor performance on DirecTv. I know there are the stretcho-vision channels that are trying to be passed off as HD, but the actual HD content on DirecTv is 100x better than I ever got from cable. I agree w/tony, it rivals my OTA channels. Anybody with a Pioneer plasma (any model) agree that DirecTv's true HD channels are crap?
In any case, this is big news. I'm, unfortunately, strapped to DirecTv b/c of NFLST, so anything to sweeten the pot is welcome.
Bert @ Jul 28th 2008 2:39PM
FYI,
I'm watching Directv on a Samsung Series 6 Touch of Color lcd television and not a Vizio. Results are still the same, Directv's high definition offerings a highly compressed and crappy compared to my previous cable television providers' signals (TWC in San Antonio and Cox Cable in New Orleans). Directv is all about quantity and not quality in my opinion.
kcmurphy88 @ Jul 28th 2008 2:59PM
Sorry, Bert, you need to fix something. Other people get far better images than you report. Most people cannot tell the difference between network broadcast and DirecTV retransmission of network broadcast.
Are you still using the (MPEG2) DirecTV HD Tivo? Its output was badly overprocessed and it only got the original super-compressed channels on the old satellite. That's so 2005.
Andrew Marvick @ Jul 28th 2008 3:05PM
Bert, I agree with kcmurphy88. DirecTV's HD pictures are better than anything I've seen on cable, and on my 46-inch Samsung LCD it is extremely satisfying. Obviously Blue-ray is even better, but if you're getting a "crappy" HD picture from DirecTV, you need to check your system.
Bert @ Jul 28th 2008 4:14PM
Thanks for the advice. I called Directv today and they are going to send someone out to check my setup.
Dubldown @ Jul 28th 2008 3:30PM
The only channels I see "stretch-o-vision" on DirecTV are TBS/TNT, but that's the channel's fault, not DirecTVs. Everything else looks amazing compared to other HD provider's I have seen in person.
If DirecTV looks bad on your TV, it may be your system and/or cables doing you wrong.
imonit @ Jul 28th 2008 4:05PM
@Dubl - There is also stretcho on Food Network, Animal Planet, etc. But you're right, that's the fault of the networks.
I'm actually shocked that they will be offering 1080p content. Everything I've read up to this point was that this was years away. I wonder how much faster that 320 hd will fill up.
chop @ Jul 28th 2008 5:56PM
how about they work on improving the HD quality before they increase the amount of HD channels they have. tbs, tnt, fx hd all suffer from being so highly compressed its terrible. any fast action scene just ends up in total blockiness
Mote @ Jul 28th 2008 6:52PM
Can't wait for this! I don't know why some people here are complaining about DirecTV's HD offerings. Their MPEG4 signal is fantastic now.
Perhaps some of you guys need to upgrade equipment.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 28th 2008 6:58PM
Folks, DirectTV doesn't have to compress their existing channels more to add new channels, as they just launched a new satellite a few months ago and didn't put it into play yet. These new channels will likely just slot onto new frequencies instead of putting more compression on current ones.
But next time around, it'll likely mean more compression, as they don't have a new satellite launch for some time.
kcmurphy88 @ Jul 28th 2008 9:33PM
The new sat (D11) is now in its slot and powered up for final test. DirecTV prefers to add channels on Wednesdays (2 days to set up, and 2 days to fix if need be). DISH has something planned for 8/1 and most folks expect DirecTV to try to go first. So, I'd be on the new sat going live 7/30.
Note that this sat has fully operational spot beams for HD locals, unlike D10 which had a spot beam failure. MANY more HD locals coming soon.
Jason @ Jul 28th 2008 7:20PM
In all reality they are adding probably 5-6 channels in HD that all subscribers will get to enjoy. The rest will be regional sports networks, PPV, and Showtime HD channels. DirecTV can "Boast" about 130 HD channels, but in actuality it is closer to around 60 for the average user that doesnt want to pay $120 a month for one receiver with 130 HD channels.
Don't take the above comment as a complaint, that is still 47 more HD channels than my local cable company offers and I love my DirecTV. I just wanted to point out a little "truth" in advertising.
Chris @ Aug 5th 2008 11:39AM
Must agree totally, DTV advertises like this all the time, they should not be counting the PPV channels as an addition it's not not like you can watch them day in and day out. You have to pay for those channels in addition to your normal cost and also more than a SD broadcast of the same PPV. As for counting RSN's same holds true, shouldn't be counted because once a game starts unless you live in the demographic area it's blocked so how can you call that an addition! It's more and more smoke and mirrors advertising on DTV's part they perfected that terminology since back in 94' when they came on the scene.
DenverBob @ Jul 28th 2008 8:18PM
I appreciate the channels going live in HD. Sadly, though, I wanted to see The Travel Channel, BBC America, and AMC in HD. I really wanted to see Mad Men in HD this year.
Comcast carries in as a FREE ONDemand HD offering. Why can't D* do the same?
Wake up, D*. The real interest is in HD programming, not just HD channels. And that is a BIG difference.
kcmurphy88 @ Jul 28th 2008 9:35PM
AMC HD is on my list, too. Mad Men windowboxed into in DirecTV's sub-480i "SD" isn't very appealing. Torrent.
Jeff N. @ Jul 29th 2008 12:49PM
I agree DenverBob. I am very disappointed in these new HD Channel offerings. AMC HD is high on many lists and I even sent an email to DirecTV about it and they said they have no plans in offering that channel.
I hope everyone reading this will send DirecTV an email complaining about there NEW offerings in HD.
cypherstream @ Jul 28th 2008 11:48PM
Time to move and get DirecTV and dump Comcast! Comcast's Motorola box doesn't even correctly switch output resolutions when going from 720p to 1080i and back. It stays in one mode, and ONE mode only.
tyba @ Jul 29th 2008 12:50AM
The new Motorola boxes Comcast are giving out are pure crap. They freeze up frequently, they take a noticeable amount of time switching channels, and my friends have had problems with their recordings. This is the first I heard of them not changing output resolutions when changing between HD channels, but it doesn't surprise me. Comcast in my area has a really hard time with their signal, the HD feed frequently gets all blocky and the audio cuts out, admittedly some channels are worse than others. I'm moving into a new house at the end of the month and am making the move to DirecTV, but I'm keeping Comcast for internet till FIOS is available in my part of Pittsburgh.
I was hesitant to make the jump to DirecTV because of all the talk around the internet about their crappy HD feed, but I was able to put my fears to rest last month when I visited my uncle. He has a 52" LCD in his den and has DirecTV. I felt that the HD feed was just as good, if not better, than my Comcast feed and he didn't suffer from the frequent blips in service that I mentioned above. He was pretty happy that I liked his setup. We'll probably never be completely happy with any of our choices, but I think DirecTV offers more than the competition.
lucyfan62 @ Jul 29th 2008 1:50AM
I can compare any of the DirecTV HD channels to my local HD OTA channels and I don't see any difference in quality. They both look stunning. I do notice some compression issues from time to time, especially if there is a lot of motion in the video (National Geographic HD had problems with its recent EARTH THE BIOGRAPHY), but is that the fault of DirecTV or the provider that they get the signal from? Maybe NGHD is to blame. Just seems DirecTV is an easy target (and if you don't like it then switch to another provider). Stretch-o-vision is rampant on the HGTV/Food Netowrk HD channels. Why is it so hard to correct the aspect ratios? SciFi HD doesn't have any older programs airing stretched out. And DirecTV DOES carry A&E HD. The addition of new HD channels is great, but if all but 3 out of 30 are premium/sports/PPV channels then big whoop. I'd like to get my local CW channel in HD, or Chiller (which was promised way back when), or TCM or AMC or Fox Movie Channel. I don't want something I'm expected to pay even more for! It was bad enough when they bumped MGM HD and the HDNet channels to a new tier that added an additional charge to the bill!
Dan @ Jul 29th 2008 11:34AM
Slam me all you want but my reference is Blu-ray. there are exceptions but most OTA and DirecTV HD is over compressed, creating a soft picture. the larger the screen the more this becomes an issue.
jp @ Jul 31st 2008 10:32AM
Dan,
Where do you get your information from? How can you compare Bluray to HD sat or cable service or OTA?? You are highly misinformed, prolly have a Vizio, and just disappointed you have a crap set up!!
Joe @ Jul 31st 2008 3:34PM
@JP and all others who say DirecTV isnt compressed....
I will say a few channels look great (discovery, Big 3 networks etc..) but some channels are real crap. ESPN and any live sports program especially football have alot of compression. Now if you don't want me to "ruin" your experience then stop reading...otherwise any QUICK action will cause huge pixelization on your screen. Watch any ESPN quick graphic and all you see are large blocks. Also pay attention to any scene that is very dark and the dark background will become block-y. Overall its much much better than cable but those of us complaining just want it to be even better. And yes Blu-Ray will look much better than any DirecTv signal since its LESS compressed than DirecTV. I have a 70" Sony XBR, no visio here....
Jacob @ Aug 1st 2008 10:12AM
Well said.
gus @ Aug 14th 2008 10:24PM
Dan That is Not true Please dont give missleading information. For HD any size doesn't matter FOR Standard defintion SD it DOES. Check your tv and your settings and equipment.
Pingmeister @ Jul 29th 2008 11:36AM
To put this in perspective we recently chose DirecTV as our HD provider when our local Charter Cable service told us they had NINE HD channels.
Not 90....but 9.0!
Even if 75% of DirecTVs are pay channels (they're not -- just exaggerating) we still got a great deal, especially when you consider that we are paying the same monthly price as Charter would be charging us.
The Fuzz 53 @ Jul 29th 2008 12:13PM
When the hell are Comedy Central and G4 going HD?
longhairbilly @ Jul 29th 2008 3:11PM
I read this on the G4 forums last week.
Q. Do you plan to broadcast G4 in High-Def any time soon? If so, is is part of Comcast's recent announcements regarding expanded High-Def content coming to subscribers? ?user: Joseph
A. We would really like to be in HD and are always looking at ways to make this a reality. It seems so natural for us given the technology roots of G4 as a network. However, the cost to convert our control rooms and infrastructure to be HD capable has prohibited this up until this point. We?ve had to prioritize our resources and have chosen to direct them toward developing and acquiring programming and utilizing marketing albeit in the SD format. Stay tuned though as it?s something we really want to make happen.
Hooterman @ Jul 29th 2008 1:01PM
I want my WGN-HD plz!