HD Showdown: Who Really Has the Most HD Channels?
It seems that every cable, satellite, and FiOS commercial out there claims that their service has “More HD than” the competition. So who is the true HD leader? We researched the full HD lineups for DirecTV, Dish Network, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Cable, and Time Warner Cable to get to the real truth behind these claims. The cable companies make it difficult to know which HD channels are available and the HD channel lineups vary greatly by service area. Turns out the cable companies are lagging, so maybe they prefer we don’t know.
The Comcast Cable HD lineup is based on availability in Sarasota, FL and the Time Warner Cable HD lineup is based on availability in New York City (Manhattan). Follow the links to lookup the exact channel lineup in your area. Luckily the satellite providers, along with Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse have consistent national HD channel availability across all their service areas.
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HD Channel Availability (updated 11/20/2008)
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| DirecTV | Dish Network | Verizon FiOS | AT&T U-verse | Comcast | Time Warner | |
| Tested Service Area | Nationwide | Nationwide | Nationwide | Nationwide | Sarasota, FL | Manhattan, NY |
| Link to HD Channel Listings | DirecTV | Dish Network | Verizon FiOS | AT&T U-verse | Comcast | Time Warner |
| Non-Premium Nat’l HD Channels | 43 | 39 | 52 | 36 | 26 | 14 |
| Total National HD Channels | 66 | 65 | 93 | 68 | 31 | 22 |
| NATIONAL HD CHANNELS | ||||||
| A&E HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| ABC Family HD | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | ? |
| AMC HD | N | N | N | N | Y | N |
| Animal Planet HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Big Ten Network HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | Y |
| Biography Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | N | ? | ? |
| Bravo HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | N |
| Cartoon Network | Y | Y | N | N | N | ? |
| CBS College Sports Network HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | ? |
| Cinemax HD East | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* |
| Cinemax HD West | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | N |
| Cinemax More Max HD East | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax More Max HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Cinemax Action Max HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax Action Max HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Cinemax Thriller Max HD East | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax Thriller MaxHD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Cinemax WMAX HD | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax At Max HD | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax Five Star Max HD | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Cinemax OuterMax | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| CMT HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| CNBC HD+ | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | N |
| CNN HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Discovery Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| Disney Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | ? |
| Encore HD East | N | Y* | N | Y* | ? | ? |
| ESPN HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ESPN2 HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ESPNews HD | Y | Y | Y | N | ? | ? |
| ESPNU HD | N | N | Y | N | N | ? |
| Food Network HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Fox Business Network HD | Y | N | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| Fox News Channel HD | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| Fuel TV HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| Fuse HD | N | N | N | N | ? | ? |
| FX HD | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| Hallmark Movie Channel HD | N | Y | Y | Y | ? | Y |
| HBO HD East | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* |
| HBO HD West | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | N |
| HBO 2 HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO 2 HD West | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | N |
| HBO Comedy HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO Comedy HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| HBO Family HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO Family HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| HBO Latino HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO Latino HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| HBO Signature HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO Signature HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| HBO Zone HD East | N | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| HBO Zone HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| HD Theater | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| HDNet | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y* |
| HDNet Movies | Y* | Y* | Y | Y | N | Y* |
| HGTV-HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| History Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| IFC HD | N | N | N | N | ? | N |
| Lifetime HD | N | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Lifetime Movie Network HD | N | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| MavTV HD | N | N | Y | N | N | N |
| MGM Channel HD | Y* | Y* | Y | Y* | ? | ? |
| MOJO HD | N | N | N | N | Y | Y* |
| MTV HD | Y* | N | N | N | N | N |
| National Geographic Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| NBA.TV HD | Y* | Y* | N | N | ? | ? |
| NFL Network HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y* | N |
| NHL Network HD | Y | Y* | N | N | ? | ? |
| Nick HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| Outdoor Channel 2 HD | N | N | Y | N | ? | ? |
| Palladia HD/MHD | Y* | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| Planet Green HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| QVC HD | N | N | Y | Y | ? | N |
| Science Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| Sci-Fi Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | N |
| Showtime HD East | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* |
| Showtime HD West | Y* | N | Y* | Y* | N | N |
| Showtime 2 HD East | Y* | N | Y* | Y* | ? | ? |
| Showtime 2 HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Showtime Extreme HD East | Y* | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Showtime Extreme HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Showtime Showcase HD East | Y* | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| Showtime Showcase HD West | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| Smithsonian Channel HD | Y* | Y* | Y | Y* | N | N |
| Speed Channel HD | Y | N | Y | N | Y | ? |
| Spike HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| Starz HD East | Y* | Y* | Y | Y* | Y* | Y* |
| Starz HD West | Y* | Y* | N | Y* | N | N |
| Starz Comedy HD | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? | ? |
| Starz Edge HD | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | ? | ? |
| Starz Kids & Family HD | Y* | Y* | Y* | Y* | ? | ? |
| TBS HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Tennis Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | N | N | ? |
| The 101 Network HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| The Movie Channel HD | Y* | N | Y* | Y* | ? | Y* |
| The Movie Channel West HD | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| The Movie Channel Xtra HD | N | N | Y* | Y* | N | ? |
| The Movie Channel Xtra West HD | N | N | Y* | N | N | N |
| TLC HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? |
| TNT HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Toon Disney HD | Y | Y | Y | N | ? | ? |
| Travel Channel HD | N | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| Universal HD | Y* | Y* | Y | Y* | Y | Y |
| USA Network HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Versus/Golf Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| VH1 HD | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| WE HD | N | N | N | N | ? | N |
| Wealth TV HD | N | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| The Weather Channel HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| WGN America HD | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| World Fishing Network HD | N | Y* | Y | N | N | N |
| LOCAL HD CHANNELS1 | ||||||
| ABC HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| CBS HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| CW HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| FOX HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ION HD | N | N | Y | N | ? | ? |
| My TV HD | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y |
| NBC HD | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| PBS HD | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| HD REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS2 | ||||||
| Altitude HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | ? |
| CSN Bay Area HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| CSN Chicago HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| CSN Mid-Atlantic HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | N |
| CSN New England HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | N |
| CSN Philadelphia HD | N | N | Y | N | ? | N |
| CSN West HD | N | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| FSN Arizona HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | N |
| FSN Cincinnati HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | ? |
| FSN Detroit HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| FSN Florida HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | N |
| FSN Indiana HD | N | N | Y | N | ? | N |
| FSN Midwest HD | Y* | Y | N | Y | ? | ? |
| FSN North HD | Y* | Y | N | Y | ? | ? |
| FSN Northwest HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | ? |
| FSN Ohio HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | ? |
| FSN Pittsburgh HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| FSN Prime Ticket HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | ? |
| FSN Rocky Mountain HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | N |
| FSN South HD | Y* | Y | N | N | ? | ? |
| FSN Southwest HD | Y* | Y | Y | Y | N | ? |
| FSN West HD | Y* | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| Mid-Atlantic Sports Network HD | Y* | N | N | N | N | N |
| MSG HD | Y* | N | N | N | N | Y |
| MSG PLUS HD | Y* | N | N | N | N | Y |
| New England Sports Network HD | Y* | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? |
| SportsNet New York HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | Y |
| SportSouth HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | N |
| SportsTime Ohio HD | Y* | Y | N | N | N | ? |
| Sun Sports HD | Y* | Y | Y | N | ? | ? |
| YES HD | Y* | N | Y | Y | ? | Y |
| HD SPORTS PACKAGES | ||||||
| NFL Sunday Ticket | Y* | N | N | N | N | N |
| ESPN College GameDay | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| MLB Extra Innings HD | Y* | N | N | N | N | Y* |
| NHL Center Ice HD | Y* | N | Y* | N | Y* | Y* |
| NBA League Pass HD | Y* | Y* | Y* | N | N | Y* |
| Y = Channel available in the tested service area. Y* = Channel available in the tested service area, but requires additional programming costs. N = Channel not available in the tested service area. ? = Channel not available in tested service area, but may be available in other service areas. 1Local channel availability varies. Check with your local provider for details. |
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Who’s Winning
At the time of this article, its clear Verizon FiOS has the advantage for the number of available HD channels. In the past Verizon seemed to be lying low on HD, but not any more. DirecTV has the advantage when it comes to sports channels in HD. The problem is that the game is changing very fast. Almost every week, some provider is adding HD channels, so the results may change from month to month. We’ll do our best to keep the chart updated (and we’d appreciate your help too if you see something that’s not accurate).
Of course Verizon did make a claim for 150 HD channels in 2008. It doesn’t look like they’ll reach that number, but its getting very close. FiOS is actually getting close having all HD channels currently possible. Many channels still do not have an HD feed, but that is likely to change over the next year or two.
Counting Channels
In our comparison we used the number of national high definition channels. The local channels and RSN channels make it a little tricky to compare providers. ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC local affiliates are available in HD from most providers in most areas. That should be expected. Sometimes additional local channels will be available in HD.
RSN’s (Regional Sports Networks) are another story. Most fiber and cable providers have no more than a few RSN channels available in HD. They’re intended to provide coverage of local sports teams. That’s why there so many different channels. Satellite providers, on the other hand, supply many RSN’s to everyone, and they count them as individual HD channels. That’s how DirecTV gets to their claim of 130+ HD channels. The problem is that most of the extra channels will never have any unique programming. For one, most of the HD RSN’s show HD content only, which may prevent certain programs and/or games from showing. Secondly, most games that are not local to your area will be blacked out.
Regarding premium content, some providers like Verizon FiOS are able to broadcast both the east and west feeds on separate channels, i.e. HBO, Showtime, etc. These are separate channels and count as such, however most of the time, the programming on the west channel is exactly the same, just 3 hours behind.
HD on Demand
All of the providers compared here also provide HD programming on Demand. In general the cable and fiber providers offer much more HD content on demand than the satellite providers. This is due to the technical bandwidth limitation of satellite. This is how some cable companies can claim more high definition choices that satellite. In fact, Comcast, advertises that they have more HD choices than satellite. They trying to remove the emphasis on “the number of HD channels” because they’re clearing lacking in that department.
Future of HD
Now that FiOS has moved to the fron of the pack, they’ll be hard to keep up with. Fiber technologies like Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse make it really easy to add additional HD channels. Cable and satellite companies have to figure how to squeeze more channels onto their networks before they can add many more. Some cable companies are even reducing the quality of their HD channels just so they can fit more (see Comcast HDTV compression).
If you haven’t upgrade to HDTV, what are you waiting for? HDTV prices are falling across the board, and HD channels are popping up like crazy!
G wiz
December 15, 2008 @ 9:40 pm