Who Has the Most HD Channels Today?

Implications: High definition television broadcasting is at its peak now, with most local stations and virtually all national network stations either already converted or about to fully convert to HD transmission.  The FCC mandated digital conversion is February, 2009, and customers with the older analog sets must obtain a digital conversion box or buy a new digital set.  The bulk of sets being purchased today are HD capable, so the customers are looking for the most HD channels for the money.  So, who has the most HD?

Analysis: The article focuses  on AT&T's high definition (HD) channel situation with some speculation about HD video-on-demand.  The  AT&T executive wouldn't announce their long term plans or VOD availability, but did say that reaching 1,000,000 Uverse video customers was a key to better negotiating with the content providers.  He said that AT&T had 45 HD channels at this point headed to over 100 HD channels at the near term, whatever that means.  Verizon's FIOS FTTP system has the capability of almost unlimited HD channels, as does AT&T's Uverse Internet Protocol video transport system.  The cost of adding HD channels and the content provider costs complicate moving the number of HD channels upward for both RBOCs.  Of course, they will have high numbers of HD channels over.  Looking at the CATV MSOs' HD capabilities, show they have close to the same number of HD channels as the RBOCs, maybe a little less than 45, although it is difficult to tell how many HD channels they have by looking at their websites.  DirecTV and Dish are the dominant leaders of HD channel availability, with both sending up satellites this year, finally getting them in orbit to meet their HD targets just recently.  DirecTV had a bad launch a few months ago, which has now been corrected with a recent launch.  DirecTV is headed toward the 130 HD channel mark at or near the year end, and continues to be the leader.  Folks that are changing sets heading into February, 2009 (the digital conversion deadline for analog sets) will be looking at which service provider can give them the most HD channels.  No doubt about it, DirecTV (and Dish) will see positive growth as the year progresses, from an HD availability perspective.