Last Update: 5/28/2008

Digital Cable

If you currently have cable television, you are likely already receiving digital cable signals into your home. Being able to see these signals requires a digital converter box. This box is capable of decoding the digital signal and sending it to your television. For high-definition signals, a special cable converter box is needed. The cable converter box will have HDMI, DVI, and/or component video outputs that send the video signal to your television, and will also support leading digital audio standards. Availability of high-definition programming depends on your individual cable system.

Current programming availability is listed in the table below for the major metro cable systems. If a channel or network is not listed, that channel or network is not providing it's high definition signal to any local cable company at this time.

Twin Cities Digital Cable HDTV Programming Chart

Programming

Comcast - St. Paul

Comcast - Mpls.
Mediacom
Charter
KTCA-DT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
KARE-DT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
KSTP-DT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
WCCO-DT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
KMSP-DT
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
WUCW-DT
Yes
Yes
No
No
A&E HD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
AMC HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
Animal Planet HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
Cinemax HD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
CNN HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Discovery Channel HD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
ESPN HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ESPN2 HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Food Network HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
FSN HD (part time)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Golf/Versus HD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
HBO-HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HD PPV/VOD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HD Theater
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HDNet Movies
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
HDNet
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
HGTV HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
History Channel HD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
MHD
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
MOJO
Yes
Yes
No
No
National Geographic HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
NFL Network HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
Sci-Fi HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
SHO-HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Starz HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
TBS HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
TLC HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
The Movie Channel HD
No
No
Yes
Yes
TNT-HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Universal HD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
USA HD
Yes
Yes
No
No
Weather Channel HD
No
No
No
Yes

See the Local Channels page for more information on KTCA-DT, WCCO-DT, KSTP-DT, KARE-DT, WUCW-DT and KMSP-DT.

Satellite

DIRECTV

Getting high-definition programming from DIRECTV requires either a 3 or 5 LNB multi-satellite dish. To receive HDTV from DIRECTV, it will be necessary to have a DIRECTV enabled high-definition receiver or HD-DVR.

DISH Network

DISH Network offers the ViP211 receiver as well as the ViP622 HD DVR for reception of HD programming.

Beginning on May 1, 2005, DISH Network made available the VOOM satellite service networks. These currently include Rush HD, Gallery HD, Rave HD, Ultra HD, Equator HD, Monsters HD. Animania HD, Treasure HD, Family Room HD, Film Fest HD, Game Play HD,Kung Fu HD, WorldSport HD and World Cinema HD. In order to receive these networks, which are carried by the Rainbow 1 satellite, it is necessary to have a dish pointed at the 61.5 degree orbital position.

Programming available from the Digital Broadcast Satellite (DBS) providers is listed in the table below. If a channel or network is not listed, the channel or network is not providing high-definition programming to any DBS provider at the present time.

Satellite HDTV Programming Chart

Programming
DIRECTV
DISH
KARE-DT
Yes
Yes
KSTP-DT
Yes
Yes
WCCO-DT
Yes
Yes
KMSP-DT
Yes
Yes
ABC Family HD
No
Yes
Animal Planet
Yes
Yes
A&E HD
Yes
Yes
BigTen Network
Yes
Yes
Bio HD
Yes
Yes
Bravo HD
Yes
Yes
Cartoon Network HD
Yes
Yes
Cinemax HD
Yes
Yes
CMT HD
Yes
No
CNBC HD
Yes
Yes
CNN HD
Yes
Yes
CSTV HD
Yes
No
Discovery HD
Yes
Yes
Disney Channel HD
Yes
Yes
ESPN HD
Yes
Yes
ESPN2-HD
Yes
Yes
ESPN News HD
Yes
Yes
Food Network HD
Yes
Yes
Fox Business HD
Yes
No
FSN HD (part-time)
Yes
Yes
Fuel HD
Yes
No
FX HD
Yes
No
Golf Channel/Versus HD
Yes
Yes
Hallmark HD
No
Yes
HBO HD
Yes
Yes
HD Theater
Yes
Yes
HDNet
Yes
Yes
HDNet Movies
Yes
Yes
HGTV HD
Yes
Yes
History Channel HD
Yes
Yes
MGM HD
Yes
No
MHD
Yes
Yes
MLB Extra Innings HD