DISH Network unveils 100 HD channels and 100 markets

Although we're still waiting to start our live coverage of the DISH Network press event on Engadget (not to be confused with Engadget HD) at 11am PST, the releases are already starting to flow. With DirecTV stealing all the limelight at last year's show, many have great expectations for DISH this year and it appears DISH is up for the challenge. According to the release, DISH has plans to launch three new birds in 2008, which will help it maintain the status as the "top HD provider." Marketing department wars aside, DISH plans to extend the national HD channel count from 76 to 100 and expand the local HD service from 65 markets to 100. The first eleven local markets to get HD includes: Austin, TX; Baltimore; Cleveland; Columbia, S.C.; Flint, Mich.; Greenville, S.C.; Huntsville, Ala.; Jackson, Miss.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla.; and Richmond, Va. After these are online, DISH will be providing local HD to 80% of the US. Unfortunately, it's not all good news, as there will be changes to the pricing structure as well, with the HD packages starting at $10 a month.

[Via SatelliteGuys.us]

[Ryan @ Jan 7th 2008 11:51AM]

I hate dish...period. Get DirecTv.

[ericdrum @ Jan 7th 2008 12:27PM]

I hate DirecTv...period. Get dish.

[Ryan @ Jan 7th 2008 12:39PM]

DirecTV has more channels in HD and will always have more channels since DirecTV wants to stay ahead of the competition. True, DirecTV didn't always and they played catch up with Dish, but now they are the market leader. They have more satelites in the air then DISH, which means that you have better coverage area and stronger signal strength.

I have 85 channels in HD, including all locals. Yesterday, all 4 NFL playoff games I watched in HD on a Sony Bravia, which looks amazing in 1080i.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirecTV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dish_Network

[skoochy @ Jan 7th 2008 2:03PM]

@Ryan "They have more satelites in the air then DISH, which means that you have better coverage area and stronger signal strength."

Umm... I am not sure that DTV has more satellites in orbit than Dish (they wouldn't help much in the air), but even if they did, it's absolutely untrue that you would have better coverage area than the USA (because that's all that matters in this discussion) nor would it mean you have stronger signal strength, at least stronger than what you need. Both providers started out with one bird each and were able to blanket the whole country with no problems, maybe using a 24" dish instead of an 18" dish in some places. Going to more birds gives more channel capacity, but I am not sure who wants to have dishes pointed at 8 satellites (Dish currently has 8 in operation, but mostly for local coverage, as nearly all programming can be handled by pointing at 4-5 sats).

[rv @ Jan 7th 2008 2:09PM]

Here is something awesome- I saw all 4 playoff games in hd too- except for free using the qam tuner on my tv, and my provider doesn't encrypt local hd channels. Sweetness.

[Jim @ Jan 7th 2008 12:07PM]

a big screw you to Tulsa DMA, removing us from their list of next cities (last published in 2006!!!)

[Rboyett @ Jan 7th 2008 12:08PM]

I really really really want to get DirecTV but my wife INSISTS that she be able to watch the ONE Japanese channel that Dish Network offers.

Oh, and that damn channel costs $25 a month. $25 a month for one freakin' channel. Geez.

[mmguru @ Jan 7th 2008 12:20PM]

Yep, TV Japan $25. AFAIK it's not even available in HD even though virtually 100% of the source content is HD. They know they've got a monopoly and screw every cent they can out of it.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jan 7th 2008 12:29PM]

If your wife is Japanese, then I guess that's pretty cool of you.

If she's an otaku/Japanophile. . . Good luck with that.

[Tim Comolli @ Jan 7th 2008 12:13PM]

Does anyone know if Direct TV has a comparable receiver to my Dish 722? I love the unit but my loyalty to Dish is waining. I get locals OTA but use the 722 as the tuner.

[Bret @ Jan 7th 2008 1:22PM]

now all the markets around me will have locals in hd, but i still won't

[KenC @ Jan 7th 2008 1:36PM]

What's the big deal about getting the four NFL games in HD? It's on the big 4 broadcast networks, meaning that in most places, it's being broadcast OTA in HD, uncompressed for free! In fact, I live in a rural area, but my local cable company broadcasts the big 4 broadcast networks unencrypted, meaning most new HD tvs can use their ATSC/QCAM tuners to get the signal.

About the TV Japan cost, has anyone considered trying to Sling the program? You know, get a family relation to setup a Slingbox in their home in Japan. I setup a Sling in my home here in the US, and Sling it to my house in China.

[KC @ Jan 7th 2008 1:44PM]

I don't care what they do in the HD world. Just as long as they improve the picture quality of the SD channels, I'm happy. From what I've noticed, SD picture quality seems to be getting worse over time. I thought it was my tv, and then when I watched a DISH commercial about HD, the picture quality of that very same channel improved like 200 times!

I hate it. It's all a ploy to drive us to "purchase" a HD subscription.

[Jamus @ Jan 7th 2008 2:52PM]

Dish and Direct can both keep their HD packages as long as they charge extra for them. I refuse to pay more. Just another way to claim a low subscription price and then tack on the extras (like that stupid DVR fee).

[Daniel @ Jan 7th 2008 5:02PM]

Unfortunately both Dish and DirecTV broadcast in HD Lite and the experience is rather terrible compared to over-the-air HD. That's not totally accurate- some channels are not even HD, and are upconverted/zoomed/stretched SD signals and those look even worse.

[Will @ Jan 8th 2008 1:36AM]

actually i dont know where you got your info from, but now that Directv is using their new satellite and got all their new channels up it's no longer hd lite...get with the times man

[Carla Neuenschwander @ Jan 14th 2008 10:28PM]

We have a cabin in Northwest Wisconsin. We want to put Dish Network in but the local channels come out of Minnesota. With the new birds they talk about, will we be able to get Wisconsin Local channels. I want to watch the Packers, not the Vikings.

[Robert @ Jan 17th 2008 8:58PM]

I can't wait to change to Directv, problem is all these promises of hundreds of new HD channels haven't materialized, atleast in my area (San Jose CA). Either way the best hd picture comes from World Sport HD (Spanish-Football exclusively for DISH), next to Planet Earth (on Discovery Channel HD) these shows push your TV's HD capabilities to its limits.

[michael tucker @ Mar 14th 2008 4:07AM]

I had direct for about 10 years and then I got a HD tv and was blown away,great pic and clour,then I called them to send me a HD reciver ,great HD but I hate the hell out of the SD channels,I love the scheen to be full,now ,ol and i only had 8 HD ch,so I switch to dish network,ol well now directv has more HD channels,,I wish I had just waided, michael