100 HD Channels in 2007

DIRECTV sent shock waves through the industry in January of 2007 when it promised 100 HD channels by the end of the calendar year. Throughout 2007, DIRECTV hit endless milestones with deploying a new satellite and countless releases of premier channels in HD. Unfortunately at years end, they were only able to produce 85 channels in high definition. 85 HD channels is still nothing to squawk at. DIRECTV is still the leader when it comes to programming options for the high end televisions. With %100 digital quality on all stations, 85 high definition channels and another year of HD releases there is no doubt that it will keep its title as the HD champion.

NFL Network to Simulcast Historic Game

The NFL announced today that the historic game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will be simulcast on both NBC and CBS.  This will allow customers without DIRECTV or the Dish Network to see the game.  This game holds the opportunity for the New England Patriots to reach a perfect season of 16-0 as well as break Peyton Manning’s single season touch down passing record and Jerry Rice’s single season touch down reception record.  This game was scheduled to be broadcast exclusively on the NFL network but because of the historic implementations and the interest of the fans, the league made the game available to all fans.

Perhaps this game will act as a catalyst for the cable providers to jump on the NFL Network bandwagon.  Currently, the NFL Network is only available to satellite subscribers of DIRECTV (channel 212) and Dish Network (channel 154).  Both DIRECTV and the Dish offer both a pure digital feed of the NFL Network as well as an HD feed for subscribers with their HDTV package.

DIRECTV Kids Programming Grows Up.

Starting on December 31st 2007, the N and Noggin will broadcast for a full 24 hour day.  The N will now be hosted on channel 303 and Noggin will be staying where it is on channel 298.  Currently Noggin (TV’s closest thing to preshcool) caters to 2-5 year olds from 6am to 6pm and helps children build skills needed for early development.  The N takes over at night time and is geared more to teenagers from 9 to 14 years old and battles all those issues we remember from middle school.  With both of these channels moving to a 24 hour rotation, perhaps parents will have another trusted source for educational TV to distract their children at any time of day.  For some of us it means less burned dinners and the ability to get the night time routine in gear with less of a headache.

DIRECTV HD Programming Keeps Getting Better

DIRECTV’s HD programming is leading the pack when it comes to high definition broadcasting. As the number of high definition television in homes increases so do the number of HD channels available through DIRECTV. Currently there are over 70 HD channels available with an expected 100+ by years end. These aren’t just your average local channels either, they also include some of the bigger channels like Spike, the NFL Network, Starz, Discovery, CNN, MTV and Animal Planet (just naming a few).

In July 2007, DIRECTV launched one of the most technologically sophisticated satellites it has ever launched. The satellite, DIRECTV 10, was deployed without complications orbiting just south of Kansas (the best position for national coverage). Next year, D11 will join D10 in orbit and add an additional 150 national HD feeds (and 1,500+ local HD feeds). It is no wonder there is such a demand for the new DIRECTV HD receivers.

NFL Network Only on Satellite

This time of year me and most of my friends live and breath football. Our lives are consumed with constant competition from our fantasy teams which force us to watch games that would previously draw viewers from only die hard fans. Fans of the NFL have been addicted to the NFL Sunday Ticket on DIRECTV for years. We got a bigger fix when they released Superfan for the HD junkies. Around the same time Superfan came out the NFL launched its own channel, the NFL Network (Channel 212 on DIRECTV). Just like the Sunday Ticket, NFL Network is currently only available on satellite. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, DIRECTV is in the process of releasing over 100 new HD channels before the end of 2007. Included in the list of new high definition channels is the NFL Network.

It gets even better for the satellite TV subscribers. The NFL Network will air 8 live games starting on week 12 all of which will be available in HD thanks to the latest DIRECTV updates. Owning satellite TV may be the only way to see the Patriots finish off their perfect season against the NY Giants on Saturday December 29th. In fact there are a bunch of amazing games that are available for HD viewing without Superfan. Here is the schedule. ENJOY!

• Week 12 - Colts at Falcons - Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 13 - Packers at Cowboys - Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 14 - Bears at Redskins - Thursday, December 06, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 15 - Broncos at Texans - Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 15 - Bengals at 49ers - Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 16 - Steelers at Rams - Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 16 - Cowboys at Panthers - Saturday, December 22, 2007 - 8:15pm
• Week 17 - Patriots at Giants - Thursday, December 29, 2007 - 8:15pm

DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket is here!

NFL Sunday Ticket from DIRECTV is finally here.

NFL Sunday Ticket offers fans the ultimate NFL experience. With the ticket you get:

* Enhanced Games - With your DIRECTV interactive receiver you’ll get detailed player and team stats, real-time scores and live updates from other games without missing any of the live action from the game you’re watching.**

* NFL SUNDAY TICKET Highlights-on-Demand - Will automatically download Monday morning highlights of NFL SUNDAY TICKET games to your DIRECTV® DVR.***

* NFL SUNDAY SNAP - Every Sunday on channel 700 check real-time stats and scores.

* The NFL Network - The NFL Network gives you 24 hours per day, seven days a week of original news and information shows, weekly game preview shows, coaches’ shows, press conferences, fantasy football shows, memorable game replays and live games during the four-week pre-season.

* NFL Europe League - NFL SUNDAY TICKET also brings you action from the NFL Europe League regular season. Over 230 NFL players from all 32 NFL teams play in the NFL Europe League during the 10 week season. (April through June on channel 704).

* Pregame Coaches’ Shows - View pregame coaches’ shows from outside your local area at the start of the NFL SUNDAY TICKET broadcast day.

* Player Tracker - Select your favorite players and follow their performance throughout the day. With your DIRECTV interactive receiver track up to 9 players with up to the minute alerts and stats. With Player Tracker you can:

- Pick or edit up to 9 players 24/7 during the NFL regular season

- Receive live “Big Play” Alerts for your players on all your Sunday Ticket Channels

- Real-time Cumulative Stats available at the touch of a button, whenever you want

- Alerts available on all standard-definition and high-definition Sunday Ticket game channels, Game Mix 1 & 2 and Red Zone Channel

DIRECTV also offers NFL SuperFan. SuperFan can be added to your NFL SUNDAY TICKET package to create the ultimate NFL viewing experience. Perfect for true fans and fantasy football players everywhere!

Links to the 2007 NFL Schedules: NFC Team Schedules; AFC Team Schedules