DISH Expands HD Lineup in a Big Way

DISH today embarked on a major expansion of its high-def lineup, adding 17 new national HD channels. Additionally, two regional sports networks -- Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and Comcast SportsNet New England -- will be added in high-def on Wednesday. The new national channels, which join CNN HD, Sci-Fi HD and USA HD (added last week) are listed below. Notable additions are Travel Channel HD, which rival DIRECTV still does not offer, and World Fishing Network HD, which just sounds funny. 

DIRECTV and DISH are getting closer to parity now in terms of national HD channels offered, although 15 of DISH's are the VOOM HD channels, which aren't exactly brand-name. And DIRECTV still has the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket package in high-def. But all things considered, DISH suddenly became quite a bit more competitive in the HD arena. Which is good for them considering that their quarterly earnings report filed with the SEC today showed only 35,000 new net subscribers in the Q1, compared to 275,000 for DIRECTV.

New DISH HD Channels 

• ABC Family HD
• Biography HD
• Bravo HD
• Cartoon HD
• Cinemax 5-Star HD
• Cinemax West HD
• CNBC HD
• Disney HD
• ESPNEWS HD
• Hallmark Movie Channel HD
• MGM HD
• Smithsonian HD
• Tennis Channel HD
• Toon Disney HD
• Travel Channel HD
• Weather Channel HD
• World Fishing Network HD