Dish adds EPIX HD and eight more to crack 200 HD channels, depending on how you count to 200
By Richard Lawler 
posted April 19th 2010 10:11AM
posted April 19th 2010 10:11AM
Dish hasn't let the TiVo case hanging over its head stop the ball from rolling, first launching the Sling-powered ViP922 DVR and now announcing it will add eight new HD channels including EPIX HD (coming in May), G4 HD, Headline News HD, History International HD, Nat Geo Wild HD, ShortsHD, Style HD and Turner Classic Movies HD. However the libations may be flowing a bit too heavily around the Englewood, Colorado headquarters since the company claims this puts it over the 200 HD channel mark -- an odd statement since just a few weeks ago it was only at 160 or so, even including PPV feeds. The trend towards HD VOD has certainly changed the channel (or "choices" as the latest trend has become) counting game, but we'll have our eyes pinned to the guide to figure out how this latest bit of funny math went down once these channels are actually on the air.Update: Looks like the new channels are live according to a post on SatelliteGuys:
- 375 Shorts
- 380 Epix
- 115 Style
- 202 HLN
- 191 G4
- 132 TCM
- 121 History International
- 190 Wild
EPIX Marks Its Sixth Distribution Deal;
Will Reach 30 Million Homes by May 2010
New York, April 19, 2010 – EPIX™ today announced its launch on DISH Network, making its content available to the distributor's more than 14.1 million customers around the nation. This is the first national distribution deal for EPIX and will accelerate significantly its reach to millions of American consumers.
EPIX is the premium entertainment joint venture formed by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), which provides consumers the latest Hollywood movies, 15,000 films from three of the top motion picture libraries and cutting-edge original programming and special comedy and concert events, exclusively in HD and SD. Specific terms of the agreement with the DISH Network were not disclosed.
"Partnering with EPIX underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver the very best in HD entertainment to our customers," said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. "EPIX is an important part of our increased HD channel offering and strong expansion of our movie lineup. DISH Network subscribers will now have access to exclusive programming and movie content in HD that can be found only on EPIX."
Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX, said, "Teaming with DISH Network to make EPIX available to its more than 14 million satellite TV customers is a major step forward for us as we expand our national footprint. DISH Network is committed to delivering the very best in HD entertainment, and recognizes that EPIX is an important part of that experience ."
EPIX has concluded carriage agreements with six distributors. In addition to DISH Network, EPIX has reached agreements with Verizon FiOS, Cox, Charter, Mediacom and NCTC, carriage that will make the service available to consumers in over 30 million homes by May 2010.
EPIX offers a linear channel, on demand service and online service at www.EpixHD.com, offering consumers over 200 films and original programming each month on TV and on demand. EpixHD.com is the leading online destination for movies, with the most HD films plus studio exclusives, behind the scenes footage, movie extras and access to an innovative online screening room feature which enables consumers to invite friends anywhere to watch movies while they chat online in real time. Additionally, the enhanced service, EPIX Megaplex, will deliver over more than 3,000 films at anytime and anywhere.
Will Reach 30 Million Homes by May 2010
New York, April 19, 2010 – EPIX™ today announced its launch on DISH Network, making its content available to the distributor's more than 14.1 million customers around the nation. This is the first national distribution deal for EPIX and will accelerate significantly its reach to millions of American consumers.
EPIX is the premium entertainment joint venture formed by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), which provides consumers the latest Hollywood movies, 15,000 films from three of the top motion picture libraries and cutting-edge original programming and special comedy and concert events, exclusively in HD and SD. Specific terms of the agreement with the DISH Network were not disclosed.
"Partnering with EPIX underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver the very best in HD entertainment to our customers," said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. "EPIX is an important part of our increased HD channel offering and strong expansion of our movie lineup. DISH Network subscribers will now have access to exclusive programming and movie content in HD that can be found only on EPIX."
Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX, said, "Teaming with DISH Network to make EPIX available to its more than 14 million satellite TV customers is a major step forward for us as we expand our national footprint. DISH Network is committed to delivering the very best in HD entertainment, and recognizes that EPIX is an important part of that experience ."
EPIX has concluded carriage agreements with six distributors. In addition to DISH Network, EPIX has reached agreements with Verizon FiOS, Cox, Charter, Mediacom and NCTC, carriage that will make the service available to consumers in over 30 million homes by May 2010.
EPIX offers a linear channel, on demand service and online service at www.EpixHD.com, offering consumers over 200 films and original programming each month on TV and on demand. EpixHD.com is the leading online destination for movies, with the most HD films plus studio exclusives, behind the scenes footage, movie extras and access to an innovative online screening room feature which enables consumers to invite friends anywhere to watch movies while they chat online in real time. Additionally, the enhanced service, EPIX Megaplex, will deliver over more than 3,000 films at anytime and anywhere.
EPIX SUCKS ANYWAYS
Epix sucks? Are you a DirectTV customer bitter because the HD leader hasn't added any HD channels other than Versus? (That's that sports channel they took away for half of college football season then gave it back to you four months later.)
Dish may be using the same fuzzy math that all MSO's use. But, they still have well over 100 real HD channels excluding PPV locals and RSN's.
Any provider that adds more HD is a cause for celebration. It keeps the pressure on their competitors. (Come on, D*. Time to add some more.)
Lets focus at HD programming in those channel, many are simply stretch out those SD content..
Oooo, TCM HD. Now that sounds nice.
I agree, DirecTV launches a new satellite in December, here it is April, and for 4 months we have seen ads on how they now have the "capacity" for 200 HD "channels", so there are they? They have re-arranged the Premiums, eliminated one shopping channel, Gems, added Channel 1, a customer service channel and that's it. NOT ONE WORD about Turner Classic HD, MSNBC HD, Lifetime HD, History Intl HD, RFD HD (which has NO actual HD content by the way), or any of the other real HD channels that are available. They're going to lose me as a customer in another month if nothing changes.
yeah i woke up today, and was surprised to see G4 in my HD channel list, didnt notice History International though.
This is awesome, G4, Epix and TCM, all in the same update, and last time it was reteroplex, indeplex, BBC America, ect...I have been a customer of Dish for 5 years and will stay for a long time to come. I don't even see most of those on Direct which we have had on Dish for months(the previous update). Plus Dish has had my HD locals for 9 months now, DirecTV doesn't offer them. I keep getting letters to switch to DirecTV but NO WAY! Dish has always come through.
I am not anti-DirecTV, but I am saying I am extremely happy with Dish and won't change because Dish gets the channels long in advance.