Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2008) -- Dish Network said today that it will have up to 114 High-Definition channels starting tomorrow, more than any other TV provider.

The satcaster is scheduled to add 17 national HD channels on Friday. However, until now, Dish was only counting around 80 HD channels, which would seem to put its total at 100 at best.

But in a press release issued today, Dish Network said:

"As previously announced, (we) will also launch 17 new national HD channels tomorrow, surpassing its goal of reaching 100 national HD channels five months ahead of schedule. Dish Network now offers up to 114 national HD channels and plans to expand that lineup to 150 channels by the end of 2008 made possible by the recent launch of Echo XI, the most powerful satellite in the company's fleet."

DIRECTV says it now has 95 national HD channels, but will increase that number to 130 on August 14.

Asked how Dish is able to reach the 114 mark, Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez said the total includes 14 Video on Demand channels, six 'HD PPV' channels and 25 regional sports channels.

Here is a list of the 114 channels that Dish Network says it will offer by tomorrow:
 

A&E HD

ABC Family

Cartoon Network

CNBC

CNN HD

Discovery Channel HD

Disney (E)

ESPN HD

ESPN2 HD

ESPNews

Food Network HD

HD Theater

HDNet

HGTV HD

History Channel HD, The

Lifetime

MHD

SCI FI Channel HD

TBS in HD

TLC HD

TNT HD

Travel Channel

USA HD

Weather Channel

Animal Planet HD

Big Ten Network HD 2

Bravo

CBS College Sports

Lifetime Movie Network

NFL Network HD

Toon Disney

WGN America

Biography

Encore (E)

Golf Channel/Versus HD

Hallmark Movie Channel

National Geographic Channel HD

Planet Green

Science Channel HD, The

Tennis Channel

5StarMAX HD

Cinemax HD (E)

Cinemax HD (W)

ActionMAX

HBO HD (E)

HBO HD (W)

HBO2 HD

HBO Signature HD

HBO Comedy

HBO Family

HBO Zone

HBO Latino

Showtime HD

Starz HD (E)

Starz HD (W)

Starz Comedy HD

Starz Edge HD

Starz Kids and Family HD

HDNet Movies

MGM

NBA TV

NHL Network HD

Smithsonian

Universal HD

World Fishing Network DISH Network HD PPV – 6 Channels Regional Sports Networks – 25 Channels VOD – 14 Channels Locals – 4 Channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) TOTAL 114

The satcaster also said today 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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