TBS Launching HD Channel Sept. 1

DirecTV Will Carry Feed

By James Hibberd

Turner Entertainment Networks has set Sept. 1 as the planned launch date for its TBS HD simulcast channel.

The arrival of TBS’ HD Channel was announced in January by DirecTV at the Consumer Electronics Show, where the satellite TV service trumpeted its plans to add more than 100 HD channels. Ever since, September has been the oft-cited target month for many HD simulcast launches.

DirecTV hasn’t specified which day in September it plans to launch a TBS HD feed or any of its new HD channels. A Turner representative said the network doesn’t yet have any carriage agreements other than the one with DirecTV. Given the number of service providers seeking to expand their HD channel lineups, that’s probably going to change.

Like TNT HD, the TBS HD feed will present all of its programming (including promotional content and commercials) in widescreen, though not all of it will be in native HD.

TBS currently runs its original series “My Boys” and “The Bill Engvall Show,” as well as first-run series “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” in HD. “Seinfeld” and “Sex and the City” will be upconverted from standard definition, while some later seasons of “Friends” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” will be in HD.