Holy crapola, I did a double take when I saw it. A new hd channel on directv is a rare event indeed.
I still wonder where they plan to put most of the new hd channels later this year, as the 70s are full. Most likely this channel has been in the works for months and is one of the few that will go live anytime before late this year. Foodtv hd and hgtv hd would have been likely candidates for a new channel too.
Keep in mind in this location, the channel is probably mpeg 2 and the new channels later this year are supposed to be mpeg 4.