Who's Got the Most HD Channels?
Today, Cablevision (a.k.a. Optimum) became the latest cable company to announce a huge boost in the number of HD channels it will offer. By the end of this year, the company says it will offer 500 channels (starting on Monday, it will up its current lineup of 23 channels to 40 on Tuesday, June 26). This joins the Cox announcement for 50 channels by the end of this year and the Comcast announcement promising 400 channels by the end of 2007, and 800 channels by 2009 (not to mention DirecTV's 150-channels-by-2007 boast back in January).
Sounds great, right? But don't be fooled – most of these channels will most likely be pay-per-view channels – so it's more like these companies are saying they'll be offering 500 to 800 pay-per-view HD movies. Not a terrible proposition, either, but TV addicts hoping to see every one of their favorite channels in HD may have to wait a little longer.
The sad reality is that these promises have been made time-and-time-again. How DirecTV, for example, will have 150 channels this year remains a mystery, since half the channels it cited as offering don't even offer HD feeds yet.
The good news is that plenty of HD programming is out there today, if the 22 or so average of channels most providers offer can be considered enough (it sure beats the handful of channels that used to suffice back in the early days of cable, VHF, and UHF).
But claims and predictions aside, who offers the most HD channels TODAY? Check out our lineup of HD providers below, along with approximately how many HD channels each offers (it can vary by locality).
Time Warner: 22
Cablevision (Optimum): 23 (goes up to 40 starting Tuesday, June 26)
Comcast: 22
Cox: 17
DirecTV: 13
DISH Network: 33
Verizon FIOS TV: 28
AT&T U-verse: 25
For HD hounds, it looks like the one to beat is currently Cablevision (Optimum). No surprise, considering Cablevision was the company behind the doomed VOOM HD satellite network. Unfortunately, Cablevision isn't available everywhere, so our recommendation for HD hounds who don't live in a Cablevision/Optimum area is to go with DISH Network, which has been doing the HD thing well for quite some time.
Related Links:
- Cox Ups Its Broadband Speeds
- Blockbuster Goes Blu-ray -- Should You, Too?
- Dell Exits the HDTV Business
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:28PM
Yes, Cablevision does have the most channels over 40 of them in HD. More than Verizon which only has 25, more than satellite.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:28PM
Cablevision is the winning game in town.
They've been around since 1973 with Cable TV svc
and you can't say that about Verizon FIOS. Cablevision has also been around with a Fiber Optic Network Cabling since 2003 40,000 miles of Fiber. Only difference is Verizon goes Fiber by digging a nasty trench across your lawn and burying the Fiber, Where as Cablevision runs copper from pole to house. But once it gets inside the home the two are the same copper.
Mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:29PM
Cablevision has more HD channels because they're ahead of the competition. Fiber Cabling has been around with Cablevision since 2003.....40,000miles of Fiber in their footprint.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:34PM
Cablevision Optimum Online is just as fast as FIOS , FIOS 20mb download, Cablevision is 15mb download, and for only $9.95 more boost optimum up to 30mb download. Try and get that with Verizon you'd have to pay at least $79.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:34PM
Verizon has a habit of cutting the customer's cable TV lines when they come to the house to install FIOS, trapping the customer.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:41PM
Verizon does not tell customer's about all the taxes and added fees. Cablevision is not regulated by FCC so there are no taxes with the Optimum Online or Optimum Voice. Cablevision is by far a better Value !!!!!!!!!
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:45PM
With Cablevision, no contracts, no early termination fees. With Verizon - "they lock you in to a one year contract and charge you an early termination fee if you try and back out"
Once again Cablevision has superior service, and a customer service deptartment that's open 24/7.
Verizon Customer Service takes the weekend off...lol...
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:49PM
People who have dish always complain of poor service because the Dish is susceptible to bad weather etc. And just try and call them to come out sometimes you'll be told you have to wait weeks for a technician. Cablevision is right there all the time providing excellent level of service. Cablevision in my eyes is number 1.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 6:55PM
Those nasty remarks about the cable boxes are untrue. They're not going up in price $2+ dollars. What a lie. They've always been a nominal fee of $6.25 per TV per month and go up pennies a year. Cable Cards are becoming more popular but lack some of the features of the cablebox. And your TV has to be cablecard ready to accept the card. No ondemand with cablecards!
that's about it. But you still get your HD and all the other regular programming. Renting a box is the way to go, other Companies make you pay up front hundreds of dollars for equipment, then when it's time to upgrade the technology, they make you throw it away and choke up hundreds of dollars more. Again, Cablevision is the way to go, just rent their boxes and cablecards and you'll always be up to speed with the latest technology.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 7:00PM
If it wasn't for the Cablevision Company coming onboard with Optimum Voice back in 2003, Verizon never would have launched FIOS and they'd still be charging their customer's $80 plus per month for phone service full of taxes. Cablevision has forced these big Giants into becoming more competitive. It's about time. But Cablevision is still by far the better Company to go with for your TV/Phone/Internet if you live in the NJ/NY/LI/CT footprint of Cablevision. Cablevision is far superior to all of the other Competitor's hands down!!!!!!! Optimum is the way to go.
mike @ Jul 12th 2007 7:11PM
Cablevision Optimum Voice phone is far superior as well with over 13 "free" features and "free" 411, and unlimited calling anywhere in U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada and NO TAX !!!!! Try and get that with Verizon only 3 features U.S. only and about $12 in tax adds up to over $40 just for the comparable phone service.
Chris @ Dec 20th 2007 9:21PM
Buddy, shut up. You obviously don't know what you're talking about. FiOS' network expands far beyond the tri-state area, and instead of running a copper cable into your house, the fiber optic cable runs into an optical network terminal on the side of your house. Then a CAT5 line runs into the router inside. Nothing is buried underground unless your existing cables are already. FiOS is available in much faster speeds than any cable service, and your speed isn't slowed by your neighbors. If you look at the small, hidden print on the Optimum Triple Play website, you will see this: Depending on where you live, some or all of your service and equipment rates, plus certain additional charges, may be subject to state and local fees of 0-5.25% and an FCC user fee of 5 cents, which will be added to your monthly bill. FiOS boxes are rented for a monthly fee; you don't pay for them up front. Cablevision also had nothing to do with FiOS; it was first launched in Keller, Texas, a few thousand miles from the tri-state area. Perhaps you didn't consider the other cable companies that exist, and their monopolistic practices that they force onto their subscribers. FiOS will also have 150 HD channels by next year, so while you're stuck with your antiquated cable services, FiOS subscribers will be enjoying their TV a lot more.
rick @ Feb 4th 2008 3:27PM
I'd say Mike works for cablevision