The big lie of HDTV capacity and satellite/cable providers

Satellite and cable providers promised us a paradise of 100-150 HDTVchannels to be available by the end of this year, and we would be awash in HDTV options.

On July 31, 2008, Dish Network promised to expand its high-def lineup to 150 channels by year’s end. In November 2007, Verizon released a press statement saying it would have 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. Wouldn’t that be great? DIRECTV also promised up to 150 national HD channels before the year was over, in several long glowing press releases.

So now that the year is over, why is it that NONE of those companies kept their promises? That’s right, none of the companies have come close to the 150 channels promised months and years ago.

Here’s the count as of today: Dish Network: 100 high-def channels, including PPV channels which reduce that actual count even more. Verizon: 100 HD channels in several markets, but that’s not close to 150. DIRECTV: 130 HD channels, including PPV and a few rather dubious “channels”.

When asked by a national blog why the companies did not provide the channels, they generally evaded the question and glossed it over with marketspeak, which is what you’d expect.

Cable is guilty too: Comcast last February said most markets would carry between 50 and 60 HDTV channels by year’s end. They’ve expanded a little (Chicago has more than 80 HD channels now), most Comcast markets are still very much under the 50 mark, which is poor given their high prices.

Hopefully, companies will take a loser look at their broken promises and remember that some customers have a longer memory than they give them credit for.