[CPanther95]

FAQ

Courtesy of: mx6bfast

When will the new HD channels go live?

The title and thread will be updated with new info as it occurs, so please check here on a regular basis for the latest news on the new DirecTV HD channels.

What new HD channels are they planning to broadcast?

See the list below.

What kind of hardware do I need to receive these new HD channels?

You will need MPEG4 capable receivers and a 5 LNB dish. You will also need to connect the BBC's to the receivers. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=690198

Are the previous HD channels available in MPEG4?

Yes, as of 7/31/08, all legacy HD channels are also available in MPEG4.

What is channel 498, D-10 test channel?

This is a transmission from D*'s newest satellite D-10. This channel contains a slide show to confirm that your entire system/setup is correct and ready for the D-10 transmissions. If your test is successful you will see this message. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0#post11686280

What is channel 499, B-band converter test channel?

If your BBC's are connected and working, you will see a 771 Searching for Satellite signal on this channel.

What if the test is not working?

Check out this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=690198

What resolution and bit rate are the new MPEG4 HD channels being delivered at?

Unfortunately, hard data is not available at this time. See comments in this topic, and this poll www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=918830 for AVS member opinions. In general, the consensus is they look pretty good.

How much will the new HD channels cost?

DirecTV HD access for non-premium channels is currently $9.99 per month. Premium HD access (HBO, Showtime, Starz!, etc.) is included with premium channel subscription. A new HD programming package, the 'HD Extra Pack' contains HDNet Movies, MHD, Universal HD, The Smithsonian Channel HD, and MGM HD. It was free as part of the new HD rollout in September, but since 12/15/07 the cost is an additional $4.99 per month. The reason given is these channels do not have an SD counterpart. HDNet and DirecTV have resolved their law suit over the HD Extra Pack. HDNet will remain in the standard HD tier and HDNet Movies will now be included in the HD Extra Pack. Details can be found here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=935780

Where can I post comments on these new HD channels?

AVS members can post initial comments in this topic. Also look for individual channel topics in the HDTV Programming Forum. If they don't already exist, feel free to create them.

Current HD Channels

* = not a simulcast of the SD channel (if available), programming will vary.

Pre-existing MPEG2 Channels

1. ESPN HD (206/73)
2. ESPN2 HD (209/72)
3. (Discovery) HD Theater (76)
4. HDNet (79)
5. HDNet Movies (78)
6. TNT HD (245/75)
7. Universal HD (74)
8. The 101 (101)
9. HBO HD East (70/501/509)
10. Showtime HD (71/537/543)
    
    MPEG4 RECENT ADDITIONSAdded 9/26
11. A&E HD (265)
12. Animal Planet HD (282)
13. Big Ten HD (220)
14. CNN HD (202)
15. Discovery HD (278)
16. History Channel HD (269)
17. TLC HD (280)
18. NFL Network HD (212)
19. Science Channel HD (284)
20. Smithsonian HD (267)
21. TBS HD (247)
22. Versus HD / Golf Channel HD (604)
23. Weather Channel HD (362)
24. The Movie Channel HD (544)
25. SHO Too HD (538)
26. Showtime HD West (540)
27. Starz Comedy HD (519)
28. Starz HD East (520)
29. Starz HD West (521)
30. Starz Edge HD (522)
31. Starz Kids and Family (518)
    Added 10/3 & 10/4
32. Bravo (273)
33. MHD (332)
34. SCI FI (244)
35. USA Network (242)
36. Cinemax-E (512)
37. Cinemax-W (514)
38. HBO-W (504)
    Added 10/10
39. CNBC (355)
40. Food HD (231)
41. MGM (255)
42. National Geographic (276)
    Added on 10/15
43. Fox Business Network (359)
44. HGTV HD (229)
45. FX HD (248)
46. Speed Network HD (607)
47. Fuel HD (612)
48. The Cartoon Network (296)
    Added on 10/29
49. NBA HD (601)
    Added on 10/31
50. NHL Network HD (215)
    Added on 11/14
51. Nickelodeon HD East (299)
52. Spike HD (initially 325, moved to 241)
53. Country Music Television (327)
54. MTV HD (331)
55. VH1 HD (335)
    Added on 11/28
56. Biography HD (266)
    Added on 12/28
57. CSTV (610)
58. Tennis Channel HD (217)
    Added on 4/2/08
59. ESPNews (207)
60. Disney HD (290)
61. ToonDisney HD (292)
    Added on 8/14/08
62. Planet Green HD (286)
63. ABC Family (311)
64. Showtime Showcase HD (539)
65. Showtime Extreme HD (542)
    Added on 1/21/09
66. Comedy Central (249)

Regional Sports NetworksAvailable nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.

1. Comcast SportsNet Chicago (640) added 9/26
2. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (629) added 9/26
3. FSN Arizona (686) added 8/14/08
4. FSN Detroit (636) added 10/15
5. FSN Midwest (647) added 8/14/08
6. FSN New York (624) added 12/5
7. FSN North (668) added 8/14/08
8. FSN Northwest (668) added 8/14/08
9. FSN Pittsburgh (659) added 8/14/08
10. FSN Prime Ticket (653) added 10/15
11. FSN Rocky Mountain (683) added 8/14/08
12. FSN South (646) added 8/14/08
13. FSN Southwest (643) added 10/15
14. FSN West (652) added 10/15
15. MSG (621) added 12/5
16. New England Sports Network (623) added 9/26
17. SportsNet New York (625) added 9/26
18. Sport South (649) added 8/14/08
19. Sunshine Sports (649) added 8/14/08
20. YES (622) added 9/26

Part time RSNs and other specialty sports feeds

1. Altitude (644-1) added 11/14
2. Altitude Alternate feed (661-1)
3. Big Ten Network Alternate feed (218-1) added 10/29
4. Big Ten Network Alternate feed (219-1) added 10/29
5. Comcast SportsNet New England (620-1) added 11/14
6. FSN Bay Area (654-1) added 11/14
7. FSN Cincinnati (638-1) added 11/14
8. FSN Detroit Alternate (669-1) added 10/29
9. FSN Florida (634-1) added 11/14
10. FSN Florida/Sunshine Sports Alternate (635-1) added 11/14
11. FSN Houston(648-1) added 10/29
12. FSN Midwest Alternate (648-1) added 10/29
13. FSN New York Alternate (627-1) added 12/26
14. FSN Ohio (637-1) added 11/14
15. FSN Southwest Alternate (639-1) added 11/14
16. FSN Utah (646-1) added 11/14
17. FSN Wisconsin Alternate (642-1) added 11/14

Distant Network Service (MPEG2)Available nationally, but must meet qualifications

1. CBS East (80) - WCBS New York, NY
2. NBC East (82) - WNBC New York, NY
3. ABC East (86) - WABC New York, NY
4. FOX East (88) - WNYW New York, NY
5. CBS West (81) - KCBS Los Angeles, CA
6. NBC West (83) - KNBC Los Angeles, CA
7. ABC West (87) - KABC Los Angeles, CA
8. FOX West (89) - KTTV Los Angeles, CA

Other HD channels

1. Miscellaneous Events Channel (95)
2. PPV Events (98)
3. PPV Movies (99)
4. PPV Movies (135)
5. PPV Movies (136)
6. PPV Movies (137)
7. PPV Movies (138)
8. PPV Movies (145)
9. PPV Movies (146)
10. PPV Movies (147)
11. PPV Movies (175)
12. PPV Movies (176)
13. PPV Movies (177)
14. PPV Movies (178)
15. PPV Movies (179)

HD Sports Packages

• NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan (700's)
• MLB Extra Innings (700's)
• NHL Center Ice HD (700's)
• NBA League Pass HD (700's)

Announced HD Additions

1. HD channels promoted by DirecTV under "end of year heading" (2007) (source: DirecTV website)
2. BET
3. Chiller
4. MTV2
   Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)
5. Sleuth
6. MoreMax
7. HBO2-E
8. HBO2-W
9. HBO Family-E
10. HBO Family-W
11. HBO Signature
    
    Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement
12. Outdoor
13. Comedy Central

Regional Sports NetworksAvailable nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.

Channels that showed up in Engineering Mode with no official carriage announcement

1. Comcast SportsNet West
2. MASN/SportsTime Ohio

Foreign Language Channels
Previously announced as "Fall 2007" (source: Press releases and/or statements made by one or more of a variety of sources)

1. HBO Latino

Current HD Channels by DirecTV Channel Number

• 70 - HBO HD East
• 71 - Showtime HD East
• 72 - ESPN2 HD
• 73 - ESPN HD
• 74 - Universal HD
• 75 - TNT HD
• 76 - HD Theater
• 78 - HDNet Movies
• 79 - HDNet
• 80 - CBS East - WCBS New York, NY
• 81 - CBS West - KCBS Los Angeles, CA
• 82 - NBC East - WNBC New York, NY
• 83 - NBC West - KNBC Los Angeles, CA
• 86 - ABC East - WABC New York, NY
• 87 - ABC West - KABC Los Angeles, CA
• 88 - FOX East - WNYW New York, NY
• 89 - FOX West - KTTV Los Angeles, CA
• 95 - Miscellaneous HD Events Channel
• 98 - PPV Events
• 99 - PPV Movies
• 101 - CD USA
• 135 - PPV Movies
• 136 - PPV Movies
• 137 - PPV Movies
• 138 - PPV Movies
• 145 - PPV Movies
• 146 - PPV Movies
• 147 - PPV Movies
• 202 - CNN HD
• 206 - ESPN HD
• 207 - ESPNews
• 209 - ESPN2 HD
• 212 - NFL Network HD
• 215 - NHL Network HD
• 217 - The Tennis Channel HD
• 218-1 - Big Ten Network HD (Alternate)
• 219-1 - Big Ten Network HD (Alternate)
• 220 - Big Ten Network HD
• 229 - HGTV HD
• 231 - FOOD HD
• 241 - Spike HD
• 242 - USA Network HD
• 244 - Sci Fi HD
• 245 - TNT HD
• 247 - TBS HD
• 248 - FX HD
• 249 - Comedy Central HD
• 255 - MGM HD
• 265 - A&E HD
• 266 - Biography HD
• 267 - Smithsonian HD
• 269 - History Channel HD
• 273 - Bravo HD
• 276 - National Geographic HD
• 278 - Discovery HD
• 280 - TLC HD
• 282 - Animal Planet HD
• 284 - Science Channel HD
• 290 - Disney HD
• 292 - ToonDisney HD
• 296 - The Cartoon Network HD
• 299 - Nickelodeon HD East
• 327 - CMT HD
• 331 - MTV HD
• 332 - MHD
• 335 - VH1 HD
• 355 - CNBC HD+
• 359 - FOX Business HD
• 362 - Weather Channel HD
• 501 - HBO HD East
• 504 - HBO HD West
• 509 - HBO HD East
• 512 - Cinemax HD East
• 514 - Cinemax HD West
• 518 - Starz Kids and Family HD
• 519 - Starz Comedy HD
• 520 - Starz HD East
• 521 - Starz HD West
• 522 - Starz Edge HD
• 537 - Showtime HD East
• 538 - SHO TOO HD East
• 540 - Showtime HD West
• 543 - Showtime HD East
• 544 - The Movie Channel HD East
• 601 - NBA HD
• 604 - Versus HD / Golf Channel HD
• 607 - SPEED HD
• 610 - CSTV
• 612 - FUEL HD
• 620-1 - Comcast SportsNet New England
• 621 - MSG
• 622 - YES
• 623 - New England Sports Network
• 624 - FSN New York
• 625 - SportsNet New York
• 627-1 - FSN New York Alternate
• 628-1 - FSN Pittsburgh
• 629 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
• 630-1 - FSN South
• 631-1 - SportSouth
• 632-1 - Sunshine Sports
• 634-1 - FSN Florida
• 635-1 - FSN Florida/Sunshine Sports Alternate
• 636 - FSN Detroit
• 637-1 - FSN Ohio
• 638-1 - FSN Cincinnati
• 639-1 - FSN Houston Alternate
• 639-1 - FSN Southwest Alternate
• 640 - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
• 641-1 - FSN North
• 642-1 - FSN Wisconsin Alternate
• 643 - FSN Southwest
• 644-1 - Altitude
• 645-1 - FSN Rocky Mountain
• 646-1 - FSN Utah
• 647-1 - FSN Midwest
• 648-1 - FSN Midwest Alternate
• 649-1 - FSN Arizona
• 651-1 - FSN Northwest
• 652 - FSN West
• 653 - FSN Prime Ticket
• 654-1 - FSN Bay Area
• 661-1 - Altitude Alternate
• 669-1 - FSN Detroit Alternate

 

[hockeythug]

First impressions to me are that the new channels that are actually showing HD content look great and think it was worth all the waiting.

 

[bonscott87]

If the new HD are not appearing in your guide, be sure to either use the All Channels list or edit your custom favorite list to include the new HD channels (and remove the SD channels as needed).

 

[ParsonsBri]

I still dont beleive that they launched this morning. My prediction is sometime by year end.

 

[Samdari]

I don't see Chiller listed on the new D* page - unless it is the logo at bottom right under "channels coming by the end of the year" which is one I cannot decipher.


Was very excited to see the new channels, but disappointed that no food network or NGC were there.

 

[richard korsgren]

Directv is delivering excellent quality (where available). It is just to bad that A and E, TBS, History channel (others) can not deliver good quality in HD. They seem to zoom (heads chopped off, etc.) and distort the picture. In many cases, their non-HD channel gives a clearer and cleaner picture. On the other hand, many programmers (channels) have learned the art of presenting HD and doing an excellent job. It is just a learning curve and will take time for all channels to learn how to do good HD. Check out CNNHD (202) live from studio to see how good HD can look. If HD is not done right, you will see more flaws than on the SD channel. To fill the HD screen with 4 x 3 programming is the worse thing to do unless you like distortion. Some channels are now doing this ..even on 4 x 3 non-HD commercials. As I see it, any future complaints should be directed to the programmers and certainly not toward Directv. When the HD quality is present, Directv is bringing it to us.

 

[SRIBB43]

Wondering if the remaining Braves games this week on TBS will be shown in full hd on TBS-HD?

 

[hockeythug]



Quote:
Originally Posted by richard korsgren /forum/post/11730784


Directv is delivering excellent quality (where available). It is just to bad that A and E, TBS, History channel (others) can not deliver good qualiity in HD. They seem to zoom (heads chopped off, etc.) and distort the picture. In many cases, their non-HD channel gives a clearer and cleaner picture. On the other hand, many programmers (channels) have learned the art of presenting HD and doing an excellent job. It is just a learning curve and will take time for all channels to learn how to do good HD.

I may be wrong, but it is pretty hard to get a good quality HD picture when you are using SD content. Thats all that is on right now on all those channels. Or are you talking about they are doing a bad job up converting the SD content?

 

[jmj713]

When punching in an HD channel it still first goes to the SD channel. I have to channel up to get the HD.

 

[noleintheburg]

CNN must not have many studio HD cameras, Kirian is in HD, but the two dudes talking aren't....yet now when I think about it, they have their priorities straight....

 

[jmck407]

This was posted in a closed thread:


"PQ definitely got better... HBO and Showtime look much better then before...."




have these been moved to mpeg4 also? And if so does it matter which channel you view to get the mpeg4 version?

 

[greenelucky]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jmj713 /forum/post/11730827


When punching in an HD channel it still first goes to the SD channel. I have to channel up to get the HD.

I have had this same problem since I got NESNHD last year in the Boston area. I don't think D* knows it as a problem.

 

[baimo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jmj713 /forum/post/11730827


When punching in an HD channel it still first goes to the SD channel. I have to channel up to get the HD.

not me. I get the HD one first

 

[dacm99]

happiness is..... I thought I had read on Directv's website that the channel will go to the HD listing when keyed in. I too have the same issue with the SD being the default, It does not bother me to hit the up button one more time, but how long until my wife figures it out? All this technology and all I care about is if my wife can use it without yelling at me!

 

[baimo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dacm99 /forum/post/11730887


happiness is..... I thought I had read on Directv's website that the channel will go to the HD listing when keyed in. I too have the same issue with the SD being the default, It does not bother me to hit the up button one more time, but how long until my wife figures it out? All this technology and all I care about is if my wife can use it without yelling at me!

create a favorite list with only the hd versions of those stations. simple

 

[ice_burg]

You guys with the problems with H20 boxes can do a reset and during the initial blue startup screen key in 0 2 4 6 8 on the remote to initiate a software update. I did it last night and found a new version of the software for my box. It does take a while, but my channels started showing up right afterwards. YMMV

 

[greenelucky]



Quote:
Originally Posted by baimo /forum/post/11730895


create a favorite list with only the hd versions of those stations. simple

Even with the favorite list it still goes to the SD channel first.

 

[hockeythug]



Quote:
Originally Posted by greenelucky /forum/post/11730923


Even with the favorite list it still goes to the SD channel first.

Do you have the H20 or the HR20?

 

[richard korsgren]



Quote:
Originally Posted by hockeythug /forum/post/11730808


I may be wrong, but it is pretty hard to get a good quality HD picture when you are using SD content. Thats all that is on right now on all those channels. Or are you talking about they are doing a bad job up converting the SD content to HD content?

I am talking ..a channel like A and E..showing a well done Fox program (HD)..'24' and not re-showing it correctly. It is distorted (zoomed)..not that sharp. It is just not pleasant to view it. Some of these channels are showing everything wide screen when they were producted and filmed (taped) in 4 x 3 format. As I mentioned, some programmers have learned how to present HD and some have not. Some even show 4 x 3 commercials in wide screen format. CNNHD seems to be doing things right.

 

[richard korsgren]



Quote:
Originally Posted by hockeythug /forum/post/11730942


Do you have the H20 or the HR20?

In favorites list, just get rid of any channels you do not want to view. Save the HD channels and any other non-HD channels you may want to view.