DirecTV Adds GolTV HD

DirecTV strengthened it’s position as the HD sports leader by adding GolTV HD to its lineup this morning. The English-language version of the network is on channel 620, and the Spanish-language simulcast is on channel 426. The network is available to Premier subscribers, or customers who add the Sports Pack. It is also available in the Optimo Más and higher Spanish-language packages.

DirecTV is the national’s first television provider to make the HD feed of GolTV available. The HD simulcast debuted this past weekend.

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.

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.

FLN Becomes Cooking Channel

Fine Living Network, which had come to be called FLN, has been replaced with the new Cooking Channel by its owner Scripps Networks Interactive. The change took place at sign on yesterday, May 31st. Unlike the recent transition of Fox Reality Channel to Nat Geo Wild, the change from FLN to Cooking Channel actually took place on all Jackson-area TV providers.

The new network was created to complement the successful Food Network. It will be geared more toward instructional cooking shows, whereas Food Network has leaned more on reality-based competitive programming over the past several years. Along with a host of new programs, the network will also feature many shows from familiar faces on the Food Network, and some popular cooking shows from years past including Julia Child, Galloping Gourmet, and Two Fat Ladies.

HD and on-demand versions of Cooking Channel are planned, but have not yet launched. The new network can be found in the same channel location where FLN was previously located on all Jackson-area providers: Comcast channel 122 (Digital Classic/Preferred or higher), DirecTV channel 232 (Choice and above), Dish Network channel 113 (America’s Top 250 or Dish Family), and U-Verse channel 456 (U200 and above).

ACSI Posts Subscription Television Customer Satisfaction Ratings

In a press release yesterday, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) announced scores for the nation’s major subscription television companies. Topping the list was fiber-optic provider Verizon FIOS with a score of 73. FIOS is not currently available in the Jackson area, and there are no plans for it to be added in the near future.

The highest rated company that is available in the area is AT&T U-Verse, which came in as a close second with a rating of 72. Among other providers available in the area, Dish Network topped DirecTV for the first time since 2005 with a score of 71. The change was attributed to Dish’s new aggressive marketing campaign and recent price increases by DirecTV. Although earlier in the year Dish Network also raised prices, and a second price hike is planned for next month. DirecTV scored a 68. Comcast received the lowest score of the local subscription television providers with a 61, though this was a 3% improvement from last year’s results.

DirecTV Launches 5 New HD Channels

DirecTV launched five new HD channels this morning, including ESPNU HD, Hallmark Movie Channel HD, MSNBC HD, Travel Channel HD, and WGN America HD. Hallmark Movie Channel is a new addition to the DirecTV lineup, and will only be offered in high definition in the satellite carrier’s “HD Extra Package”. The other four channels were previously offered in standard definition, and will remain in their current package. ESPNU, MSNBC, and Travel Channel are offered in the Choice package and above. WGN America is offered in the Choice Xtra package and above.

DirecTV becomes the third Jackson-area provider to offer ESPNU HD. Now only Dish Network does not offer the network’s HD feed. They also become the third to offer Hallmark Movie Channel HD, MSNBC HD, and WGN America HD, with Comcast being the only provider to not offer those three networks. DirecTV was the last area TV provider to add Travel Channel HD, making it now available from all Jackson-area content providers.

The five new HD additions are part of a larger roll out of new HD thanks to a new satellite in DirecTV’s fleet. Over the past week, testing was completed on DirecTV 12, and the new satellite was handed over from Boeing to DirecTV. As part of the initial wave of new channels, another 15 national HD channels and a handful of 3D channels are expected to launch later on this summer. A second wave of HD channels is anticipated for later on in the year.

More DirecTV Premium Channel Moves: Starz This Week

DirecTV continued a series of premium movie channel moves yesterday, as the Starz movie channels were duplicated from the channel 518-523 range to the channel 525-530 range. The Encore movie channels were removed from their old locations, and now exist only in the channel 535-542 range.  Moves will continue next week as the Cinemax channels and channels in the satellite provider’s “HD Extra” package are moved.

The moves are being made to make room for new movie channels, which will be added once the newest satellite in DirecTV’s fleet reaches it’s final orbital location. The “HD Extra” channels, which are currently located at varying channel numbers, are being organized into a single range of channels in the 500s.

MLB Extra Innings Free Preview Begins Today

Baseball fans rejoice! Major League Baseball is back. Before the season gets into full swing, a free trial of MLB Extra Innings is being offered from today through April 11th. MLB Extra Innings is the only way to see out-of-market games (that aren’t otherwise being carried nationally on FOX, ESPN, TBS, or MLB Network).

MLB Extra Innings is available to Jackson area subscribers of Comcast and DirecTV. Dish Network and AT&T U-Verse do not currently offer this package.

On Comcast, MLB EI is available through iN DEMAND on channels 771-784. Though iN DEMAND distributes HD simulcasts of some of these games, they don’t appear to be available on Comcast in the Jackson area.

On DirecTV, a much wider variety of games is available on channels 720-749. The extra channel slots allow DirecTV to provide dual feeds (both home and away feeds) of most games. Also, most games are available in HD.

DirecTV Channel Shuffle Continues, Encore Channels Move Today

As part of a continuing effort to reorganize its premium movie channels, DirecTV will be moving several movie channels today. Showtime East, Showtime 2, Showcase, Showtime West, and Showtime Extreme will no longer be available at their original locations in the channel 537-542 range. They will now be solely located in the channel 545-549 range.

With the Showtime channels out of the way, Encore channels will be moving from the channel 526-533 range to the channel 535-542 range. Affected channels include Encore East, Encore West, Encore Love, Encore Westerns, Encore Mystery, Encore Drama, Encore Action, and Encore WAM. As has been the case through this premium channel moving process, the channels will be duplicated at both the new channel number and the old channel number for one week to allow viewers to acclimate to the changes. The old channel locations will provide a reminder to viewers that the channels are moving. Thankfully for DVR users, recording settings should automatically move to the correct new channel numbers, thus previously scheduled DVR recordings should continue to function after the channel migrations are complete.

DirecTV’s premium movie channels are being reorganized to make room for new premium movie channel additions which will be made once the DirecTV 12 satellite reaches its operational orbital location. Currently, the satellite is parked at a different orbital location for testing, though it is expected to begin moving to the operational orbit within the next few weeks. This could allow for new channel launches by late April or early May. Until then, weekly channel moves will continue each Wednesday. Next week, several Starz channels will move as the old Encore channel numbers are freed. Then two weeks from now, three Cinemax channels and all channels in the HD Extra package will move.