National Geographic Wild Returns to Comcast

National Geographic Wild has returned to channel 108 for Jackson-area Comcast subscribers. Fox Entertainment Group announced last year that National Geographic Wild would launch in the United States for the first time, replacing Fox Reality Channel. When the new network launched on March 29th, Comcast initially carried Nat Geo Wild. However, by late April, the reality channel had returned to channel 108.

National Geographic Wild is now available on all four of the major Jackson-area television providers.

Dish Network Adds Cooking Channel HD

Dish Network became the first content provider to launch the HD simulcast of Cooking Channel on Wednesday. Cooking Channel is available on Channel 113 to subscribers of Dish’s Americas Top 250. The network is available in SD on the three other Jackson-area content providers.

Comcast Adds Ion Life, Qubo

Comcast has added Ion Life and Qubo to its lineup. Ion Life is located on Channel 181. Qubo is on Channel 183. Both channels are part of the Digital Preferred package.

In addition, Ion has been duplicated on Channel 178. It is also located on Channel 82. It was previously located on Channel 60, which is now occupied by AMC. Ion is available in the Expanded Basic and Digital Starter packages and greater.

Dish Network Removes Fuse

Dish Network removed the MSG owned music channel Fuse last Wednesday. In its place, an SD simulcast of the MTV network Palladia has been added for subscribers with America’s Top 200 and above on Channel 158 where Fuse was previously located. For Palladia HD, customers still must subscribe to the Platinum HD package. According to MSG Media spokesmen, Dish Network walked away from the negotiating table. Dish Network has been largely mum on the topic, but the company does have a long history of contentious negotiating.

Currently, four HD feeds from networks owned by the Walt Disney Company are unavailable on Dish Network due to carriage disputes. The same dispute is keeping ESPN U HD off of Dish. A separate fee dispute caused The Weather Channel to be briefly removed from the satellite provider’s lineup.

Comcast Adds Logo

Comcast has added Logo to its lineup on Channel 163. Comcast is the last area provider to add the LGBT-themed network. It will be available to subscribers with the digital preferred package or higher.

DirecTV Replaces Fox Reality with Nat Geo Wild

Three months after Fox Reality was officially replaced by National Geographic Wild, DirecTV came to an agree with the Fox Entertainment Group to provide the nature-themed network. Fox Reality Channel, which was on Channel 250 on the DirecTV channel lineup, went away on the morning of June 30th. National Geographic Wild is now located on Channel 283, next to Animal Planet.

DirecTV was the third area provider to switch from Fox Reality programming to Nat Geo Wild programming. Comcast, which had originally carried Nat Geo Wild at launch then flipped the switch back to Fox Reality, is the last area provider still offering Fox Reality Channel. Though Channel 108 continues to be labeled FRLTY and the channel continues to show Fox Reality programming, the channel guide listings are now National Geographic Wild programs. In addition, the company’s channel guide also indicates Nat Geo Wild has replaced Fox Reality. We’ll pass along more information as it becomes available.

DirecTV Adds 14 New HD Channels, More 3D

DirecTV added 14 HD channels to its lineup on June 23rd, bringing its full-time HD channel count to 122, which now surpasses Dish Network as the second highest total among Jackson-area TV providers behind AT&T U-Verse. Including part-time HD feeds, DirecTV is now up to 127 HD channels, which is third among Jackson-area TV providers behind U-Verse and Dish. Most of the new HD additions were premium channels, including nine movie channels and three regional sports networks. The new full-time HD channels include Lifetime HD, Hallmark Channel HD, HBO 2 East HD, HBO Zone East HD, Starz Cinema HD, Starz in Black HD, Encore East HD, Showtime Beyond HD, Showtime Next HD, Showtime Women HD, The Movie Channel Xtra HD, Fox Sports Florida HD, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area HD, and Comcast SportsNet California HD.

Five of the new HD additions were launching for the first time on any provider, including the HD feeds of Starz Cinema, Starz in Black, Showtime Beyond, Showtime Next, and Showtime Women. DirecTV is the third area provider to offer HBO 2 East HD, HBO Zone HD, and Encore East HD. The networks were previously available in HD on U-Verse and Dish Network. They are the second area provider to offer The Movie Channel Xtra HD. That network was previously available in HD on AT&T U-Verse. Though the additions bolster DirecTV’s HD movie lineup, the satellite provider still remains in 3rd place in HD movie channel offerings behind U-Verse and Dish Network. Comcast remains in a very distant fourth place. Of the new additions, six were not previously available in standard definition on the DirecTV lineup and will only be offered in HD. This applies to HBO Zone, Starz Cinema, Showtime Beyond, Showtime Next, Showtime Women, and The Movie Channel Xtra.

The three regional sports networks were previously available in SD, with part time HD feeds providing coverage of many live events. Those feeds will now be in HD around the clock. The additions bolster DirecTV’s commanding lead in full-time HD sports programming to more than twice of the second-place provider U-Verse. Dish Network offers part-time HD feeds of the three channels along with full-time SD feeds. CSN California and FS Florida are available in SD on U-Verse, while CSN Bay Area is not. None of the channels are available through Comcast.

Lifetime HD and Hallmark Channel HD were the only new additions for non-premium subscribers. DirecTV was the last area provider to offer Lifetime HD. They are the second to offer Hallmark Channel HD, which was previously available via Dish Network.

In addition, DirecTV launched several 1080p Cinema pay-per-view channels.

On July 1st, the satellite company launched n3D, the nation’s first full time 3D HD channel, on channel 103. The channel is available to all HD customers with a compatible television. The new 3D network is the result of a partnership between DirecTV and Panasonic. For now, the new network will feature some live sporting events, music programming, nature programming, and some movies. A pay-per-view 3D channel was also launched on channel 104.

Dish Network Drops 4 Disney/ESPN HD Channels

As a result of a carriage dispute, Dish Network has dropped the HD feeds of four Walt Disney Co. networks, including Disney Channel East HD, Disney XD HD, ABC Family HD, and ESPNEWS HD. The SD feeds of these networks remain on the satellite service. The carriage dispute dates back to March of this year when a New York court ruled that Dish owed Disney $65 million for carriage of the four networks. Dish is appealing the ruling. Last year, Dish sued Disney over carriage terms for ESPN U HD. That case is still in litigation, and Dish Network still does not carry ESPN U in HD.

U-Verse Adds The Tennis Channel HD

AT&T U-Verse added a new sports channel for its subscribers today. The Tennis Channel launched in SD on channel 660 and in HD on channel 1660. It will be available to subscribers with U450 and/or the Sports Package. Tennis Channel HD is also offered in the Jackson area on DirecTV and Dish Network. Comcast carries the channel in SD but is the last provider to not carry the channel in HD.

ESPN 3D Launches on DirecTV, AT&T U-Verse

ESPN 3D launched today with a broadcast schedule to feature up to 25 2010 FIFA World Cup matches. The network is currently part time, broadcasting on an event-only basis. ESPN announced the network will carry up to 85 live event, including the Summer X Games and the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.

DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse the new 3D network at launch. Comcast also launched the channel in selected markets, though it wasn’t available to Jackson area Comcast customers at last check. ESPN 3D will be located on DirecTV channel 106 and will be available to customers with a compatible 3D-capable television. The network will be available on U-Verse channel 1610 to customers with the U100 package and above who have a 3D-capable television and who subscribe to the $10/month 3D technology package.