Time Warner Expands HD Offerings

Time Warner Cable is starting to make strides in their HD channel deployment. The company today added 11 HD channels to some subscribers in Texas.

The areas receiving more HD include Dallas, Plano, Mesquite and Richardson, with additional deployment planned over the next 9 months.

The addition of the 11 channels include CNN HD, TBS HD, History Channel HD, Food Network HD, A&E HD, HGTV HD, Discovery HD , Animal Planet HD, National Geographic HD, Versus/Golf HD and Fox Sports SW HD. That brings the total number of HD channels on the North Texas system to 31.

While the number is far short of those currently offered nationwide by DISH Network and DIRECTV, it does represent progress for the cable operator. The company expects to expand to 50 HD channels by year-end.

Time Warner claims network investments of more than $100 million in the area are finally beginning to pay off, allowing the extra capacity needed to expand their HD offerings. Customers of Time Warner wanting to view channels in HD do need a specific HD converter box.

The cable operator continues to face strong competition in the North Texas market. In addition to satellite operators DIRECTV and DISH Network, Verizon FiOS continues to expand its offerings in the Dallas/Fort Worth markets.