Regarding more HD channels on DirecTV I don't think we'll see anything added until the new satellites are up and DirecTV is transmitting MPEG4. DirecTV has stated that any current MPEG2 transmissions would continue for several more years until all the new satellites are up in 2007. If DirecTV added a new HD channel now they would have to show it in MPEG2 until at least 2007. I would think any new HD channels they would launch will wait until MPEG4 is ready to go, so I don't think we'll see anything until summer time when the new HD boxes start coming out.
I'd love to see more HD channels today, but I'm guessing DirecTV will wait until MPEG4 is ready and add them at that time.
Chris