Non HD Specialty Channels

[CDN Viewer]

While the vast majority of specialty channels have now launched an HD feed, there are still several that only broadcast in SD. With the start of a new year, I thought it would be interesting to look at the channels that have not launched in HD and to get people's thoughts on which channels they think might be next to launch in HD?! Here are the specialty channels that only broadcast in SD:

Action
BBC Canada
BBC Kids
Biography Channel
Bite
Book Television
bpm:tv
Comedy Gold
Dejaview
DIY Network Canada
ESPN Classic Canada
Fashion Television
G4 Canada
GameTV
i Channel
IFC
Juicebox
MTV2 Canada
MuchLoud
MuchRetro
MuchVibe
Mystery TV
NHL Network
One
Silver Screen Classics
Teletoon Retro
The Pet Network
Twist TV
VisionTV

Out of these channels, I think Action, BBC Canada, DIY Network, IFC, MTV2 Canada and Mystery TV will likely launch in HD next.

NHL Network I believe has not launched in HD because it is majority owned by the NHL (specifically a consortium consisting of the Oilers, Flames and the league itself) and thus that decision probably rests with them and not Bell who operate the channel but only own a minority stake. Another reason is the possibility that the channel might shut down next year when Rogers takes over NHL rights.

[musimax]

There's a number from the list missing like Bite, Salt + light, Grace TV, Cult Movie Network, IDNR-TV, HPItv, EuroWorld Sport, CPAC, and the porn channels.

But, I think Action will most likely go HD and even DIY. And I think ZoomerMedia during the mandatory carriage hearings mentioned that they planned on launching Vision TV in HD. I'm not sure the date but I'm assuming 2014. I think Mystery is just too much of a rerun channel for them to bother launching it in HD yet. And I don't see MTV2 launching yet either as it's really a worthless channel. They've even given up maintaining a decent website for it.

But I think if any of the channels above owned by a large vertically integrated company rebrands, that will be the point when they may launch an HD channel. And I think Fashion and Bio are good candidates for that this year. I would have said Book, but since Bell was denied allowing more scripted content, they may take a little while longer to try to figure out what to do with it.

[CDN Viewer]

There's a number from the list missing like Bite, Salt + light, Grace TV, Cult Movie Network, IDNR-TV, HPItv, EuroWorld Sport, CPAC, and the porn channels.

I am not sure how I missed Bite but it has been added to the list. I didn't bother with the religious channels or adult services as my focus was on the more mainstream specialty channels. As for Cult Movie Network, IDNR-TV & EuroWorld Sport, these channels barely have any carriage and I would question whether they will be around long term. I cannot believe that EWS is still on the air without any having any significant programming- why haven't Rogers & MTS dropped this channel?! The recent announcement that beIN Sport has partnered with Ethnic Channels should, IMO, be the final nail in the coffin for EWS?!

I think Mystery is just too much of a rerun channel for them to bother launching it in HD yet. And I don't see MTV2 launching yet either as it's really a worthless channel. They've even given up maintaining a decent website for it.

You make a good point about Mystery but if the channel has a lot of viewers then they just might go ahead and launch a HD feed. The music channels probably don't have high enough viewership to warrant launching in HD and the retro channels (Dejaview, Comedy Gold, ESPN Classic & Silver Screen Classics) air content that might not be available in HD so it probably isn't worth the expense to launch an HD feed of these channels.

Realistically then, the channels most likely to launch in HD are Action, BBC Canada, DIY Network and possibly IFC & VisionTV.

[PokerFace]

BBC Canada. Shameful it's not in HD already ... although the channel itself is often quite useless. Thankfully, the Internet is the true home of UK content.