More new HD channels on the way from Discovery, CNBC and Chiller

You know times are good when we are surprised when it is more than a week between new HD channel announcements. This week we have a few more channels for you, but not as many of details as we would like on any of them. Discovery will be launching what they are calling four new channels, but one of them is an HD simulcast of the Discovery channel. We're not sure if this will replace the Discovery HD Theater that we have all come to love, or just add even more HD content, but they will also be launching HD simulcast versions of TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel. These new channels from Discovery will be carried at launch by at least DirecTV this September. Also mentioned in the press release as coming this year is CNBC and Chiller (who?). While it is still questionable if DirecTV will carry 100 HD National channel this year, -- at least without counting sports packages -- this will certainly be remember as a big year in the transition of cable TV channels to HD. A full list of the channels announced to date after the break.

These are the channels that have been announced that will beadded to the HD lineup, which currently includes 9 national HD channels. While 44 HD channels is certainly impressive, it is not even half way to 100 -- yet.

1. A&E

2. National Geographic

3. Bravo

4. NFL Network

5. Cartoon Network

6. SciFi Channel

7. CNN

8. Speed

9. Food Network

10. TBS

11. Big Ten Network

12. The History Channel

13. HGTV

14. The Weather Channel

15. MTV

16. USA Network

17. Disney Channel

18. Versus HD

19. Toon Disney

20. TLC

21. ABC Family

22. Animal Planet

23. ESPNNEWS HD

24. The Science Channel

25. Starz E/W feeds

26. Discovery Channel

27. Starz Edge

28. The Tennis Channel

29. Starz Comedy

30. Showtime West

31. Starz Kids & Family

32. The Movie Channel

33. CNBC

34. Chiller