Picked up the following article from this thread at AVS: HDTV Study: HD Channel Availability in the U.S.
Source
As part of our first in-depth look at HD channel availability in the U.S., we analyzed the data that we collect in the top 25 markets. We were specifically interested in how the various cable companies are carrying high-definition channels and the discrepancies that exist both among different companies and geographically. A synopsis of our findings is below, followed by the actual data.
HDTV - Channel Carriage
BuyingHDTV.com also found that HBO and NBC are the most-carried channels in high-definition, with 98% of the cable companies in the top 25 U.S. markets offering those two channels in HD. ESPN HD is carried on 82% of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, while Discovery HD Theater is on 86%. Several channels available in high-definition are carried on fewer than half of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, including Bravo HD+ (4%), Cinemax HD (48%), Encore HD (0%), HDNet and HDNet Movies (42% each), TNT HD (18%) and The Movie Channel HD (2%), indicating that the industry still has considerable work ahead of it in delivering a full slate of HD channels to its customers.
HDTV is rapidly growing in consumer adoption, and with over two-thirds of U.S. television households subscribing to cable TV service, cable company carriage of HDTV channels is a critical factor in the government-mandated transition from analog to digital transmission of broadcast television signals.
HDTV - Geography
Residents of Seattle have the highest number of HD cable channels available to them – 15. Chicago is next at 14, followed by Boston at 13.7, and Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Miami and Tampa at 13. St. Louis is last among the top 25, at an average of 8 high-def channels available to local cable subscribers.
HDTV - Cable Provider
Cablevision offers the most channels in HD, 16, while Bright House Networks is second at 13.0 per market. Comcast averages 12.8 high-def channels per market. Charter offers the fewest, at 9.0 on average.
HDTV via Satellite
A similar BuyingHDTV.com survey of satellite HDTV channel availability shows that VOOM is far and away the nationwide leader in the number of high-def channels it offers, at 37 (not including local over-the-air channels). It is somewhat difficult to directly compare satellite and cable providers’ HD channel availability, as satellite companies provide their customers with digital tuners that can receive local over-the-air digital channels with an antenna. Reception of these channels varies widely based on a customer’s location.
HD Channel Cable Carriage %
NBC 98%
HBO 98%
ABC 92%
Showtime HD 92%
CBS 86%
Discovery HD Theater 86%
ESPN HD 82%
PBS 74%
FOX 70%
INHD 70%
INHD2 70%
Starz HD 52%
Cinemax HD 48%
HDNet 42%
HDNet Movies 42%
Regional Sports 28%
TNT HD 18%
WB 10%
HD VOD/PPV 8%
UPN 6%
Bravo HD+ 4%
Other 4%
NBA TV HD 2%
The Movie Channel HD 2%
NFL TV/Sun. Ticket HD 0%
Encore HD 0%
Adult 0%
Top 25 U.S. Markets
Avg. HD Cable Channels
Seattle 15.0
Chicago 14.0
Boston 13.7
Baltimore 13.0
Cincinnati 13.0
Denver 13.0
Houston 13.0
Miami 13.0
Tampa 13.0
Pittsburgh 12.5
New York City 12.3
Washington D.C. 12.3
Atlanta 12.0
Detroit 12.0
Portland 12.0
Minneapolis 11.5
Cleveland 11.3
Philadelphia 11.3
Dallas 11.0
Phoenix 11.0
San Francisco Bay Area 11.0
Los Angeles 10.8
San Diego 10.3
Sacramento 9.0
St. Louis 8.0
Avg. Cable 11.8
Cable Provider
Avg. HD Channels
Cablevision 16.0
Bright House 13.0
Comcast 12.8
WideOpenWest 12.0
Time Warner 11.7
Cox 10.6
Adelphia 10.2
RCN 9.7
Charter 9.0
Avg. Cable 11.7
Satellite Provider
Avg. HD Channels
VOOM 33.0
DIRECTV 11.0
DISH Network 10.0
Source
As part of our first in-depth look at HD channel availability in the U.S., we analyzed the data that we collect in the top 25 markets. We were specifically interested in how the various cable companies are carrying high-definition channels and the discrepancies that exist both among different companies and geographically. A synopsis of our findings is below, followed by the actual data.
HDTV - Channel Carriage
BuyingHDTV.com also found that HBO and NBC are the most-carried channels in high-definition, with 98% of the cable companies in the top 25 U.S. markets offering those two channels in HD. ESPN HD is carried on 82% of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, while Discovery HD Theater is on 86%. Several channels available in high-definition are carried on fewer than half of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, including Bravo HD+ (4%), Cinemax HD (48%), Encore HD (0%), HDNet and HDNet Movies (42% each), TNT HD (18%) and The Movie Channel HD (2%), indicating that the industry still has considerable work ahead of it in delivering a full slate of HD channels to its customers.
HDTV is rapidly growing in consumer adoption, and with over two-thirds of U.S. television households subscribing to cable TV service, cable company carriage of HDTV channels is a critical factor in the government-mandated transition from analog to digital transmission of broadcast television signals.
HDTV - Geography
Residents of Seattle have the highest number of HD cable channels available to them – 15. Chicago is next at 14, followed by Boston at 13.7, and Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Miami and Tampa at 13. St. Louis is last among the top 25, at an average of 8 high-def channels available to local cable subscribers.
HDTV - Cable Provider
Cablevision offers the most channels in HD, 16, while Bright House Networks is second at 13.0 per market. Comcast averages 12.8 high-def channels per market. Charter offers the fewest, at 9.0 on average.
HDTV via Satellite
A similar BuyingHDTV.com survey of satellite HDTV channel availability shows that VOOM is far and away the nationwide leader in the number of high-def channels it offers, at 37 (not including local over-the-air channels). It is somewhat difficult to directly compare satellite and cable providers’ HD channel availability, as satellite companies provide their customers with digital tuners that can receive local over-the-air digital channels with an antenna. Reception of these channels varies widely based on a customer’s location.
HD Channel Cable Carriage %
NBC 98%
HBO 98%
ABC 92%
Showtime HD 92%
CBS 86%
Discovery HD Theater 86%
ESPN HD 82%
PBS 74%
FOX 70%
INHD 70%
INHD2 70%
Starz HD 52%
Cinemax HD 48%
HDNet 42%
HDNet Movies 42%
Regional Sports 28%
TNT HD 18%
WB 10%
HD VOD/PPV 8%
UPN 6%
Bravo HD+ 4%
Other 4%
NBA TV HD 2%
The Movie Channel HD 2%
NFL TV/Sun. Ticket HD 0%
Encore HD 0%
Adult 0%
Top 25 U.S. Markets
Avg. HD Cable Channels
Seattle 15.0
Chicago 14.0
Boston 13.7
Baltimore 13.0
Cincinnati 13.0
Denver 13.0
Houston 13.0
Miami 13.0
Tampa 13.0
Pittsburgh 12.5
New York City 12.3
Washington D.C. 12.3
Atlanta 12.0
Detroit 12.0
Portland 12.0
Minneapolis 11.5
Cleveland 11.3
Philadelphia 11.3
Dallas 11.0
Phoenix 11.0
San Francisco Bay Area 11.0
Los Angeles 10.8
San Diego 10.3
Sacramento 9.0
St. Louis 8.0
Avg. Cable 11.8
Cable Provider
Avg. HD Channels
Cablevision 16.0
Bright House 13.0
Comcast 12.8
WideOpenWest 12.0
Time Warner 11.7
Cox 10.6
Adelphia 10.2
RCN 9.7
Charter 9.0
Avg. Cable 11.7
Satellite Provider
Avg. HD Channels
VOOM 33.0
DIRECTV 11.0
DISH Network 10.0
