Starz to Launch 3 HD Channels

[Sean Mota]

http://www.tvpredictions.com/starz050107.htm

 

[Poke]

http://www.tvpredictions.com/starz050107.htm



The new networks are expected by the end of summer.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2007) -- Starz, the premium movie channel, today said it will launch three new High-Definition channels by the end of summer.

Starz already has one high-def channel, a simulcast of its flagship channel, and a on-demand HD service.

The new HD channels will be east coast feeds of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge and Starz Kids & Family.

Starz did not say if any cable or satellite provider has agreed to carry the new channels. However, Starz is owned by Liberty Media, which is scheduled to take ownership of satcaster DIRECTV later this year.

With DIRECTV promising to offer 100 national HD channels by year's end, the new trio from Starz would seem to be likely additions.

"Starz has always been a leader in terms of offering our customers more ways to enjoy our great movies," said Starz COO Bill Myers said. "We pioneered in digital transmission, multiplex, on demand and online. We will now be able to offer the largest package of HD movie channels of any widely distributed programming service, and the only one featuring first-run hit movies."

Myers said that many high-def owners are not using their sets to watch cable or satellite programming. The additional HD channels should encourage them to upgrade to high-def subscriptions, he said.


The Illusionist with Scarlett Johansson will be in HD on Starz.

"Our new channels meet the needs of the marketplace with movies, the top genre consumers are interested in for HD," he said.

Myers added that Starz will launch more high-def channels in the coming years.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Ok Echostar, this would be a great announcement at Team Summit - increasing Starz HD by a factor of three...

 

[dimi1963]

Dream On!!!! It took *E a very long time to add StarzHD, what makes you think that they will add these new channels as soon as they come out? I would not hold my breath.

 

[long_time_DNC]

An, of course, put them on 129 where many of us can enjoy the drop-outs too...

 

[riffjim4069]

I have to agree with Swanni on this one...the only place you're going to see these anytime soon is on D*.

 

[bigthrust]

An, of course, put them on 129 where many of us can enjoy the drop-outs too...

I don't have any problems with drop outs.

Check your line of sight or maybe your Dish is not "tuned".

 

[cebbigh]

I don't have any problems with drop outs.

Check your line of sight or maybe your Dish is not "tuned".

It all depnds on where you live. The west coast and especially the NW have long standing and well documented problems with 129 drop outs.

 

[digiblur]

An, of course, put them on 129 where many of us can enjoy the drop-outs too...

Get a bigger dish.

 

[hbk409]

I will believe it when I see it, Malone still owns Liberty Media and Starz if I am not mistaken, and someone can correct me if I am wrong, but he was the one who was in charge of shutting down EncoreHD. Why not bring that back before starting 3 new StarzHD channels??

 

[DWS44]

I guess this is one for D*'s new owners to start filling their promised "HD Capacity". Four specialized Starz channels in HD seems like overkill to me. (see: Voom)

 

[abricko]

The Illusionist with Scarlett Johansson will be in HD on Starz.

I wish she was in this movie, but it was Jessica Biel (who's also not bad).

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Dream On!!!! It took *E a very long time to add StarzHD, what makes you think that they will add these new channels as soon as they come out? I would not hold my breath.

Hey, we don't always have to be pessimists.

 

[bigthrust]

I wish she was in this movie, but it was Jessica Biel (who's also not bad).

You're right... it is Jessica Biel. She has a body that will not stop! (Especially her hiney... )

 

[TheForce]

I have to agree with Swanni on this one...the only place you're going to see these anytime soon is on D*.

ROFLMAO!

 

[long_time_DNC]

Even a 1000.2 won't fix the drop-outs here in the NW, as Chuck said: the problems here with 129 are severe and well-documented...

 

[kstuart]

Even a 1000.2 won't fix the drop-outs here in the NW, as Chuck said: the problems here with 129 are severe and well-documented...

Although I am not as far north as Washington, I'm pretty close (near Oregon) and getting 80 on Transponder 30 (ESPN2-HD ) with:

http://sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Dishnetwork/Dishes/winegard_ds4061_24_inch_dish.htm

(24 inch Dish Network dish)(that's a SatelliteGuys Gold Sponsor)
If you nag the right person (with specifics of your real problems), you can probably get Dish to send you one free with the Dish logo.

There even exists 30-inch Dish Network dishes, although I haven't seen any for sale at major dealers like Sadoun (you would have to modify one of their FTA 30-inch dishes).

BTW, I think I could get better than 80 if I did not have it under a roof eave as partial snow protection...

 

[long_time_DNC]

Oh, I've looked at a 2-dish solution, several times, and the problem is I don't have any other location to put another dish, except on the roof, which won't work for me.

Thanks though.

 

[kstuart]

Oh, I've looked at a 2-dish solution, several times, and the problem is I don't have any other location to put another dish, except on the roof, which won't work for me.

Thanks though.

Then it sounds like you should go with the Dish 1000.2 which gets better signal on 129 than the Dish 1000. $99 from stores in the links above, if you can't get Dish to upgrade it for you due to problems.

 

[long_time_DNC]

I've discussed the Dish 1000.2 with a local retailer who has tested it extensively and told me that while it does help with the frequency and duration of the drop-outs, it doesn't eliminate them...you still get about 1 per hour, lasting (on average) 1-3 minutes.