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News Analysis
DIRECTV Needs to Add BBC America HD
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (October 18, 2011) -- DIRECTV added AMC HD last month after being swamped with an untold number of subscriber complaints that the satcaster was lax on adding new basic cable channels in high-def.

Prior to the addition, DIRECTV executives defended their decision not to add HD simulcasts for such channels as AMC, Nat Geo Wild, E!, Turner Classic Movies, DIY, BBC America, The Cooking Channel, TruTV, CNN Headline News and many others by saying it was carrying the most popular networks in high-def.

The argument was considered dubious because some of those missing HD channels often air shows found in the Top 20 ratings for basic cable channels. Some people also pointed out that several DIRECTV rivals, such as Dish Network and Comcast, were carrying many of those channels in HD.

So, why not DIRECTV?

That question is being asked again today after BBC America yesterday released some new statistics on how its SD and HD channels are doing in the U.S. According to BBC America, the HD channel has seen its distribution jump by almost 50 percent since April 2011. Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and several smaller cable ops now carry BBC America HD; and the high-def channel is available on cable systems in all top 10 markets.

But DIRECTV doesn't carry it.
 

"We're seeing strong demand from our viewers across the country for BBC AMERICA HD and we’re excited to add BBC World News HD to our offering," the company said in a statement. "This will provide enhanced access to the BBC’s high-quality, impartial international news for U.S. audiences.  Viewer demand is testament to the must-watch, high quality programming on our channels and we’re grateful to all our MSO partners for their continued support in ensuring as many households as possible get access to BBC channels in HD.”

But there's no support from DIRECTV.

It appears that the satcaster is hoping that the addition of AMC HD will appease high-def viewers long enough to allow it save time (and money) by not adding more HD channels. You see, it costs money to pay programmers to carry their channels and DIRECTV is desperately trying to slow its spending on programming acquisition costs.

That's understandable. But DIRECTV's chief rivals obviously see the benefits of BBC America HD to their viewers -- and they have been willing to spend money to deliver those benefits.

DIRECTV should, too -- and the satcaster better not hope that a single morsel of AMC HD is enough to keep its HD subscribers satisfied. It isn't. And if DIRECTV doesn't accept that fact -- embrace that fact -- and soon, it will once again start losing HD enthusiasts to its rivals.

What do you think? Offer your comments below!

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