HBO HD part of HD Package

They are wrong. If you subscribe to HBO, you get HBO HD as part of the HBO subscription; same for Showtime. The HD Package is not required.

Just ignore what they say; the computer handles it; they don't. Cancel the HD Package, and you'll still have HBO HD and/or Showtime HD if you subscribe to HBO and/or Showtime, respectively.

 

DirecTV has always been (and probably always will be) tight-lipped about new channels. You will almost never see or hear anyone give any hint of new channels coming until a press release is issued. Believe me, I've tried ;-)

It comes down simply to dollars (as does everything). With channel contract negotiations, it is much better for both DirecTV and their customers if negotiations are kept secret until everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. Keeps the subscription costs down.

And related to your HBO-HD discussion, dswallow has hit it on the head. The HD package is completely separate. Related to your question, I asked their director of PR while at CES why I couldn't get HBO-HD separate from the other HBO channels, and the simple answer is that HBO doesn't allow it to be sold that way. It's the bundle or nothing.

Cheers,

- Shane

 

Same goes for the Center Ice channels. I do not subscribe to the HD channels but I can see the games on Channel 97 when they have a HD broadcast on it.

Funny thing is that I sometimes get the NBA games on 94 & 95 as well...