The satcaster now has offers more 80 national HD channels, but it expected to add 17 high-def channels tomorrow, bringing its total to 100.
But to keep pace with DIRECTV, which says it will offer 150 HD channels by year's end, Dish says it will expand the lineup to 150 by the end of the year.
The satcaster also said it will be the first TV provider to offer high-def movies in 1080p resolution, the same resolution offered on Blu-ray high-def discs.
DIRECTV earlier this week said it would air some movies in 1080p, but did not give a launch date other than to say "later this year."
Dish said its 1080p resolution will be offered when it unveils a new subscription package next month. The company said that starting August 1, a new system upgrade will be rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers.
The upgrade will activate a feature in the set-top that improves the current standard of high-def delivery used by pay TV providers, such as the ability to output 1080p programming.
By early August, Dish said in a press release, all Dish customers with MPEG-4 HD DVRs will have set-tops that can display 1080p.
Dish said that starting August 1, Will Smith's movie, I Am Legend, will be available in 1080p resolution on Dish's VOD service.
DISH Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Insalaco told Reuters that the satcaster plans to start promoting more of its high-end products, such as high-def , even with the economy sagging.
"Television is still a huge part of people's lives, and with rising gas prices the whole home video experience is more important than ever," she told the wire service.
A recent study found that DIRECTV and Comcast customers spend more money per month on their TV service than Dish customers.
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