In an interview with Multichannel News, AT&T Executive Vice President Dan Work was asked how many HD channels the company would offer at the end of 2008 and 2009.
York said the telco would provide 100 HD channels "in the near-term," but would not elaborate on what that meant.
"We haven’t announced our long-term HD ramp plans, although north of 100 is clearly in our near-term sights," York said. " We provide more HD linear channels than our cable competitors in almost every market. And we’ll soon be launching HD video-on-demand."
Telco rival Verizon recently launched a 100-HD channel lineup in New York, but has apparently retreated from an earlier commitment to offer 150 high-def nationwide by year's end.
Likewise, York seemed reluctant in the Multichannel News interview to commit to a future high-def lineup, noting that contracts must be worked out with the programmers.
"Bear in mind that, unfortunately, content providers want to be paid for their programming. So we have to offer something with good value to our customers," York said.
York also refused to say when U-Verse would offer HD VOD service.
"We haven’t announced that, but it eventually will be across the entire footprint (in each market)," York told Multichannel News.
York remained committed to AT&T's pledge to obtain 1 million U-Verse TV subscribers by year's end. The company reported 549,000 subs at the end of the second quarter.
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