How many HD Channels are there? How many HD channels does DISH Network or Directv actually offer?

DISH Network is now offering new and existing customers FREE HD for LIFE!

Yes, you are reading that correctly. If you do not have DISH Network already, you can now order DISH and get FREE HD service for LIFE! This is a huge promotion. If you are a current DISH Network customer, don't worry, this offer is good for you as well!

But the actual number of channels that you will get, or that you even care about can differ drastically from what TV ads may indicate. This article is going to break down a list of channels that you'll get to watch in HD with either provider. Who has more? What is the 'real' channel count?

[UPDATE: DISH has launched 8 new HD channels, bolstering their line-up even more.]

[UPDATE: 5/12/2010 - DISH Network becomes the first TV provider to offer Univision HD, Telefutra HD, and Galavsion HD! Plus they just launched DIY HD, EPIX 2 HD, and Investigation Discovery HD]

Read on to find out where the HD really is...

HD Channel counts, via TV ads, are competitively written.

It is important to note that they are competitive numbers because that usually means there is some tricky business going on somewhere. So, before we get into exactly how many HD Channels DISH Network and how many HD channels DirecTV really have, a very quick lesson in industry terminology is required. I'm going to address this in very simple and basic terms.

Types of Channels (terminology)

• Local Channels - ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, CW, etc are extremely popular channels and operate view 'local affiliates'. What I mean by this is that ABC in Tampa, Florida is called WFTS, while ABC in New York, NY is called WABC. So, WFTS and WABC are different channels, but no one customer will have both of those channels, just what is available in their local area.
• National Channels - This is the bulk of the channels carried by both DISH and DirecTV. These channels are broadcast nationally all over the country. So, the TNT or USA you watch in Florida will be exactly the same as the one you watch in New York. Hence the term, National Channel. Some national channels have two feeds, East and West coast feeds. So, they are considered two channels, but only because they modify their programming for the west coast time zones on one of the channels.

• Sports Channels - In my list I'm going to separate national channels into two categories "General" and "Sports". If the channel is listed as "Sports" then it is a national sports channel, like ESPN.

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) - FOX Sports Network, Comcast Sports Network, the Big Ten Network, and so on are all regional sports network (RSNs). There are a lot of them. RSNs are only available to people who live in specific geographic areas, and only cover events in that local market. PPV or Video on Demand (VoD) - Everyone knows what PPV or Video on Demand is, however, both DISH Network and DirecTV consider each PPV and VoD option a "channel", and technically they are correct. Most people do not conceptualize these services as "channels" though, hence the elaboration. Premium Movie Packages - HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz are all considered premium movie packages (commercial free) by both DISH Network and DirecTV. They are generally added to one's programming package via a la carte pricing.

Let's take a look at just how many HD channels DISH Network and DirecTV really have in their channel lineups

This is what everyone wants to see, so let's just jump right into the list.I'm going to explain how the list is formatted first, though.

Example HD channel listing

• Channel name - [carrier] - [category]
  So, for the carrier it could read "Both", "DISH", or "DirecTV". If it does not say "Both" then only the carrier listed offers that channel in High Definition (HD). If there is an [X] next to the carrier name that channel is exclusive to that provider. The category just helps you see what type of channel is (see terminology above).

The HD Channel Line-up for DISH Network and DirecTV

I'm going to actually have three lists: National channels, Regional Sports Channels, and Premium Movie Channels / PPV / VoD. The first list is for the National Channels.

1. A&E HD - Both - General
2. ABC Family HD - Both - General
3. Animal Planet HD - Both – General
4. Altitude HD – Both – Sports
5. AMC HD – Both – General
6. AXS TV HD – Both - General
7. Azteca HD – Both - General
8. BBC America HD - DISH - General
9. BeIN Sports HD – Both - General
10. BET HD - Both – General
11. Big Ten Network HD – Both - General
12. Bloomberg HD - Both - General
13. Bravo HD - Both - General
14. Cartoon Network HD - Both - General
15. CBS Sports Network HD - Both - Sports
16. Centric HD - DISH - General
17. CMT HD - Both - General
18. CNBC HD - Both - General
19. CNN HD - Both - General
20. Comedy Central HD - Both - General
21. Crime and Investigation HD - Both - General
22. CW HD – Both - General
23. Destination America HD – Both - General
24. Discovery Channel HD - Both - General
25. Discovery Family HD - Both - General
26. Disney Channel HD - Both - General
27. DIY HD - DISH - General
28. E! Entertainment Television HD - Both - General
29. Encore HD - DISH - General
30. EPIX HD - DISH - General
31. EPIX 2 HD - DISH – General
32. EPIX 3 HD – DISH – General
33. ESPN HD - Both - Sports
34. ESPN Alternate HD - Both - Sports
35. ESPN2 HD - Both - Sports
36. ESPN2 Alternate HD - Both - Sports
37. ESPN Bases Loaded HD - Both - Sports
38. ESPN Buzzer Beater HD - Both - Sports
39. ESPN Goal Line HD – DirecTV [X] - Sports
40. ESPN NEWS HD - Both - Sports
41. ESPNU HD - Both - Sports
42. Food Network HD - Both - General
43. Fox Business Network HD - Both - General
44. FOX News Channel HD - Both - General
45. Fox Sports 1 HD - DISH - Sports
46. Fox Sports 2 HD - DISH - Sports
47. Fuse TV - DirecTV - General
48. FX HD - Both - General
49. FXX HD - Both - General
50. FYI HD - Both - General
51. G4 HD - DISH - General
52. Golf Channel HD - Both – Sports
53. GSN HD – DirecTV [X] – Sports
54. Hallmark Channel HD – Both – General
55. Hallmark Movie Channel HD - DISH - General
56. HDNet Movies - Both - General
57. Headline News (HLN) - DISH - General
58. HGTV HD - Both - General
59. History HD - Both – General
60. History 2 HD - Both – General
61. Indieplex HD - DISH - General
62. Investigation Discovery HD - DISH - General
63. IFC HD - Both – General
64. ION HD - Both – General
65. Lifetime HD - Both - General
66. Lifetime Movie Network HD - DISH - General
67. Logo - DISH - General
68. MAV TV - DISH - General
69. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network HD - Both – General
70. MGM HD - Both - General
71. MLB Network - Both – Sports
72. MLB StrikeZone HD – DirecTV – Sports
73. MoviePlex HD - Both – General
74. MSNBC HD - Both - General
75. MTV HD - Both – General
76. My Network TV HD - Both – General
77. National Geographic Channel HD - Both - General
78. Nat Geo WILD HD (National Geographic) - DISH - General
79. NBA TV HD - Both - Sports
80. NBC Sports Network HD - Both – General
81. New England Sports Network HD - Both – General
82. NFL Network HD - Both - Sports
83. NHL Network HD - Both - Sports
84. Nickelodeon HD - Both – General
85. OWN – DISH - General
86. Pac-12 HD - Both – General
87. Palladia - Both - General
88. PBS HD - Both - General
89. Pixl HD - Both – General
90. Retroplex HD - DISH - General
91. RFD TV HD - Both – General
92. Science Channel HD - Both - General
93. Sony Movie Channel - Both - General
94. Spike HD - Both - General
95. Sportsman Channel HD - DISH - Sports
96. SportSouth HD - DISH - Sports
97. Sportstime Ohio Channel HD - DISH - Sports
98. Sun Sports HD - DISH - General
99. Sundance Channel HD - DISH - General
100. Syfy HD - Both - General
101. TBS HD - Both - General
102. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) HD - DISH - General
103. Telefutura HD - DISH - General
104. Tennis Channel HD - Both - Sports
105. TLC HD - Both - General
106. TNT HD - Both - General
107. Travel Channel HD - Both - General
108. truTV HD - Both - General
109. Universal HD - Both - General
110. Univision HD - DISH - General
111. USA Network HD - Both - General
112. Velocity HD - Both- Sports
113. Veria HD - Both- Sports
114. VH1 HD - Both - General
115. Weather Channel - Both - General
116. WE HD - Both- Sports
117. WGN America - Both - General
118. World Fishing Network HD - DISH [X] - Sports

So that's that. That is the HD channel listing for National customers right there. Without Local affiliates, RSNs, premium movies, PPV, or VoD, those are the HD channels that you have available to you with DISH Network and DirecTV. So, who has more? What are my sources? How do I know which provider is right for me?

Source: DISH’s and DirecTV's official public websites.

Total HD channels possible: 160
Total DISH HD Channels: 118

• Exclusive to DISH HD: 7 channels!

Total DirecTV HD Channels: 110

• Exclusive to DirecTV HD: 1 channels

National Channels you will find in HD only on DISH

1. BBC America HD

2. Centric HD

3. DIY HD

4. EPIX HD

5. EPIX 2 HD

6. EPIX 3 HD

7. ESPN Alternate HD

8. ESPN2 Alternate HD

9. G4 HD

10. Galavision HD

11. H2 HD

12. Headline News (HLN) HD

13. Hub HD

14. Indieplex HD

15. Investigation Discovery (ID) HD

16. Logo HD

17. MAVTV HD

18. NatGeo WILD HD

19. Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) HD

20. Retroplex HD

21. Sportsman Channel HD

22. Style HD

23. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) HD

24. Telefutura HD

25. Univision HD

26. World Fishing Network HD [X]

National Channels in HD you will only find on DirecTV

1. 3Net HD [X]

2. Audience Channel HD [X]

3. Fuel TV HD

4. GolTV HD [X]

5. MLB StrikeZone HD

6. N3D HD [X]

7. Smithsonian HD [X]

Okay, so what about the Locals, RSN's, Premium Movies, and PPV / VoD HD services?

This can all be viewed very easily by a prospective customer, or an existing customer of either DISH Network or DirecTV who consider High Definition (HD) services to be paramount. So, let's take a closer look at these other types of HD channels that are not available to a national audience, but have regionally specific customers (with the exception of Premium Movie channels, which are nationally available)

Local Channels
Both companies offer HD locals in most markets. DISH Network advertises HD Locals in 94% of Markets, DirecTV advertises HD Locals in 91% of markets. So, you'll probably get your locals in HD with either company. So this is basically a wash.

Regional Sports Networks
This is where there could be some significant differences per provider as far as which is available in your area and which each provider carries. General rule of thumb is that the RSN will most likely be in HD, as that seems to be the trend for most sports networks. No matter how you dice it, you're only going to get a handful of these RSNs in your package anyway.

HD Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video on Demand (VoD)
Both companies count these as channels in their advertised HD channel lineup counts. For the purposes of this article I find it very insignificant. Both companies have these services, and if you're a frequent patron to these types of pay-video services then you'll likely be able to purchase these services in HD. So that's a wash.

Premium Movie Packages, like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz in HD
This is also a wash in my opinion. Both DISH Network and DirecTV carry a sufficient number of these channels in HD. Both offer these channels for free to new customers and then charge a premium for customers who wish to keep these services. Why is it like that? Because the premium movie package networks require it like that.

The televised ads, HD channel counts are hyped, and largely useless to you, the customer!

Both companies have different HD Channel Packages, each with their own price points. Both companies have special deals on HD equipment. So, what it really comes down to is this: Which company carries the HD content you want to watch. If they both have the content, then which is the overall better bang for your buck?

Hopefully this helps alleviate some of the confusion surrounding the topic. Any given night you'll see a DirecTV commercial claiming they have more HD channels (or in a few instances promising that they'll have more in the future), or you'll see a DISH Network commercial claiming they have more. But, now you know. You can look at the list and see for yourself. At this point, it is undisputed: When considering the lists above, DISH Network has more HD channels than DirecTV does.

Please feel free to post any questions in the comments. We'll be happy to answer them for you.

This is what everyone wants to see, so let's just jump right into the list.I'm going to explain how the list is formatted first, though.

Example HD channel listing

• Channel name - [carrier] - [category]
  So, for the carrier it could read "Both", "DISH Network", or "Directv". If it does not say "Both" then only the carrier listed offers that channel in High Definition (HD). If there is an [X] next to the carrier name that channel is exclusive to that provider. The category just helps you see what type of channel is (see terminology above).

The HD Channel Line-up for DISH Network and Directv

I'm going to actually have three lists: National channels, Regional Sports Channels, and Premium Movie Channels / PPV / VoD. The first list is for the National Channels.

1. A&E HD - Both - General
2. ABC Family - Both - General
3. Animal Planet HD - Both - General
4. BBC America HD - DISH Network - General
5. BET HD - Both - General
6. Biography Channel HD - Both - General
7. Bravo HD - Both - General
8. Cartoon Network HD - Both - General
9. CBS College Sports HD - Both - Sports
10. Centric HD - DISH Network - General
11. CMT HD - Both - General
12. CNBC HD - Both - General
13. CNN HD - Both - General
14. Comedy Central HD - Both - General
15. Crime and Investigation HD - Both - General
16. Discovery Channel HD - Both - General
17. Disney Channel HD - Both - General
18. Disney XD HD - Both - General
19. DIY HD - DISH Network - General
20. E! Entertainment Television HD - DISH Network - General
21. Encore HD - DISH Network - General
22. EPIX HD - DISH Network - General
23. EPIX 2 HD - DISH Network - General
24. ESPN HD - Both - Sports
25. ESPN2 HD - Both - Sports
26. ESPN 3D HD - Directv [X] - Sports
27. ESPNEWS HD - Both - Sports
28. Fashion HD - DISH Network [X] - General
29. Food Network HD - Both - General
30. Fox Business Network HD - Both - General
31. FOX News Channel HD - Both - General
32. Fox Soccer Channel HD - DISH Network - Sports
33. Fuel TV - Directv - General
34. FX HD - Both - General
35. G4 HD - DISH Network - General
36. Galavision HD - DISH Network - General
37. Golf Channel HD - Both - Sports
38. Hallmark Channel HD - DISH Network - General
39. Hallmark Movie Channel HD - DISH Network - General
40. HD Theater - Both - General
41. HDNet - Both - General
42. Headline News (HLN) - DISH Network - General
43. HGTV HD - Both - General
44. History HD - Both - General
45. History International HD - DISH Network - General
46. Indieplex HD - DISH Network - General
47. Investigation Discovery HD - DISH Network - General
48. Lifetime HD - DISH Network - General
49. Lifetime Movie Network HD - DISH Network - General
50. Logo - DISH Network - General
51. MAV TV - DISH Network - General
52. MGM HD - Both - General
53. MLB Network - Directv [X] - Sports
54. MSNBC HD - DISH Network - General
55. MTV HD - Both - General
56. Nat Geo WILD HD (National Geographic) - DISH Network - General
57. National Geographic Channel HD - Both - General
58. NBA TV HD - Both - Sports
59. NFL Network HD - Both - Sports
60. NHL Network HD - Both - Sports
61. Nickelodeon HD - Both - General
62. Palladia - Both - General
63. Planet Green HD - Both - General
64. Retroplex HD - DISH Network - General
65. Science Channel HD - Both - General
66. Shorts HD - DISH Network - General
67. Smithsonian HD - Directv [X] - General
68. SPEED HD - Both - Sports
69. Spike HD - Both - General
70. Sportsman Channel HD - DISH Network - Sports
71. Style HD - DISH Network - General
72. Syfy HD - Both - General
73. TBS HD - Both - General
74. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) HD - DISH Network - General
75. Telefutura HD - DISH Network - General
76. Tennis Channel HD - Both - Sports
77. The 101 Network HD - Directv [X] - General
78. TLC HD - Both - General
79. TNT HD - Both - General
80. Travel Channel HD - DISH Network - General
81. truTV HD - DISH Network - General
82. Universal HD - Both - General
83. Univision HD - DISH Network - General
84. USA Network HD - Both - General
85. Versus HD - Both- Sports
86. VH1 HD - Both - General
87. Weather Channel - Both - General
88. WGN America - DISH Network - General
89. World Fishing Network HD - DISH Network [X] - Sports

So that's that. That is the HD channel listing for National customers right there. Without Local affiliates, RSNs, premium movies, PPV, or VoD, those are the HD channels that you have available to you with DISH Network and Directv. So, who has more? What are my sources? How do I know which provider is right for me?

Source: DISH Network's and Directv's official public websites.

Total HD channels possible: 89
Total DISH Network HD Channels: 84

• Exclusive to DISH HD, 34 channels!

Total Directv HD Channels: 51

• Exclusive to Directv HD, 5 channels ...

National Channels you will find in HD only on DISH Network

1. BBC America HD - DISH Network - General
2. Centric HD - DISH Network - General
3. DIY HD - DISH Network - General
4. E! Entertainment Television HD - DISH Network - General
5. Encore HD - DISH Network - General
6. EPIX HD - DISH Network - General
7. EPIX 2 HD - DISH Network - General
8. Fashion HD - DISH Network [X] - General
9. Fox Soccer Channel HD - DISH Network - Sports
10. G4 HD - DISH Network - General
11. Galavision HD - DISH Network - General
12. Hallmark Channel HD - DISH Network - General
13. Hallmark Movie Channel HD - DISH Network - General
14. Headline News (HLN) - DISH Network - General
15. History International HD - DISH Network - General
16. Indieplex HD - DISH Network - General
17. Investigation Discovery HD - DISH Network - General
18. Lifetime HD - DISH Network - General
19. Lifetime Movie Network HD - DISH Network - General
20. Logo - DISH Network - General
21. MAV TV - DISH Network - General
22. MSNBC HD - DISH Network - General
23. Nat Geo WILD HD (National Geographic) - DISH Network - General
24. Retroplex HD - DISH Network - General
25. Shorts HD - DISH Network - General
26. Sportsman Channel HD - DISH Network - Sports
27. Style HD - DISH Network - General
28. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) HD - DISH Network - General
29. Telefutura HD - DISH Network - General
30. Travel Channel HD - DISH Network - General
31. truTV HD - DISH Network - General
32. Univision HD - DISH Network - General
33. WGN America - DISH Network - General
34. World Fishing Network HD - DISH Network [X] - Sports

National Channels in HD you will only find on Directv

1. Fuel TV - Directv - General
2. MLB Network - Directv [X] - Sports
3. Smithsonian HD - Directv [X] - General
4. The 101 Network HD - Directv [X] - General

This can all be viewed very easily by a prospective customer, or an existing customer of either DISH Network or Directv who consider High Definition (HD) services to be paramount.So, let's take a closer look at these other types of HD channels that are not available to a national audience, but have regionally specific customers (with the exception of Premium Movie channels, which are nationally available)

Local Channels
Both companies offer HD locals in most markets. DISH Network advertises HD Locals in 93% of Markets, Directv advertises HD Locals in 91% of markets. So, you'll probably get your locals in HD with either company.So this is basically a wash.

Regional Sports Networks
This is where there could be some significant differences per provider as far as which is available in your area, and which each provider carries. General rule of thumb is that the RSN will most likely be in HD, as that seems to be the trend for most sports networks. No matter how you dice it, you're only going to get a handful of these RSNs in your package anyway.

HD Pay Per View (PPV) and Video on Deman (VoD)
Both companies count these as channels in their advertised HD channel lineup counts. For the purposes of this article I find it very insignificant. Both companies have these services, and if you're a frequent patron to these types of pay-video services then you'll likely be able to purchase these services in HD. So that's a wash.

Premium Movie Packages, like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz in HD
This is also a wash in my opinion. Both DISH Network and Directv carry a sufficient number of these channels in HD. Both offer these channels for free to new customers, and then charge a premium for customers who wish to keep these services. Why is it like that? Because the premium movie package networks require it like that.

Both DISH Network and Directv charge $10 per month for HD Access, which can be added to most of their packages. Both companies have different HD Channel Packages, each with their own price points. Both companies have special deals on HD equipment. So, what it really comes down to is this: Which company carries the HD content you want to watch. If they both have the content, then which is the overall better bang for your buck?

Hopefully this helps alleviate some of the confusion surrounding the topic. Any given night you'll see a Directv commercial claiming they have more HD channels (or in a few instances promising that they'll have more in the future), or you'll see a DISH Network commercial claiming they have more. But, now you know. You can look at the list and see for yourself. At this point, it is undisputed: When considering the lists above, DISH Network has more HD channels than Directv does.

Please feel free to post any questions in the comments. We'll be happy to answer them for you.

Thank you, all,

~A DISH Network Retailer

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