Trying to outdo cable’s HD offerings, AT&T Monday said it was adding more than 30 new HD channels to its U-verse TV lineup, as well as new international programming packages for Chinese, Polish, Russian, French and European-sports audiences.
Beginning Nov. 3, U-verse TV customers will receive up to 30 new HD channels at no additional charge as part of their existing HD service subscription, depending on their programming package. With the additions, U-verse TV offers more than 75 HD channels—exceeding the HD channel lineups offered by the major local cable providers in every U-verse market.
The newly added HD channels include several regional sports networks, premium movie channels, and popular national sports, news, women's, shopping and lifestyle networks. HD service is available for $10 a month with any U-verse TV programming package.
U-verse TV is also introducing more HD options on Nov. 10 with a new HD Premium package. Featuring Universal HD, MGM HD and Smithsonian Channel HD, the new tier can be added to an HD service subscription for an additional $5 a month. More channels will be added to the HD Premium package in the future.
“Our U-verse HD channel expansion comes as consumer demand for HD content reaches an all-time high and cable companies fall further behind," Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming, AT&T Converged Services, said in a prepared statement. "We're again expanding our channel lineup so AT&T U-verse TV customers can always find the content they enjoy—whether that's HD, SD or in-language networks—and watch that content when and where they want."
AT&T is also expanding the ethnic programming available on U-verse TV with several new packages for its diverse customer base including:
-- Mandarin Package, featuring CCTV-4, CTI-Zhong Tian Channel, Phoenix InfoNews and Phoenix North American Chinese Channel, for $35 a month. CTI-Zhong Tian Channel can be ordered a la carte for $12 a month, and CCTV-4, Phoenix InfoNews and Phoenix North American Chinese Channel are available a la carte for $10 a month.
-- Polish Package, featuring TV Polonia and TVP Info, for $25 a month. TV Polonia can be ordered a la carte for $20 a month.
-- Russian Package, featuring RTR Planeta and Channel One Russia, for $25 a month. Each channel is available a la carte for $15 a month.
-- TV5MONDE, featuring programs from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and Quebec, for $10 a month.
-- Setanta Sports, featuring exclusively live European and international soccer, rugby and other sports, for $15 a month.
The new international packages are available starting Nov. 10 and can be added to any U-verse TV core programming package.
As part of this month's expansion, U-verse TV customers also gain access to several new standard definition channels: The Outdoor Channel, NASA TV and, as part of Paquete Espanol, WAPA America and V-me. Paquete Espanol features 24 Spanish-language channels for $10 a month with any U-verse TV core programming package.
AT&T’s HD additions include Encore HD, Fox Business Network HD, Fox News Channel HD, Hallmark Movie Channel HD, Lifetime Television HD, Outdoor Channel HD, Planet Green HD, QVC HD, Speed HD, The Travel Channel HD and Weather Channel HD.
