While you're kicking back and enjoying some HD content on a lazy Sunday it is easy to give little regard to the economics that make that HD content possible. Most don't care much about what makes the world go around, but if you've always wondered why there aren't more all-HD channels, this recent post over at Multichannel news is worth the read. Most notable is the challenges all-HD networks face including the fact that Nielsen doesn't even provide rating for them. If you're a big Mark Cuban fan you might also find it interesting as a number of his quotes are included like when he says "We really think that as our distribution continues to grow, we can dominate the demographic (13-34 males)."

Read - MTVN Launches Six HD Channels With SES
Read - TiVo takes on Nielsen
Read - Comcast Adds 27 HD Networks in Houston
Read - World Fishing Network: Fully Hooked On HD
Read - Smithsonian Networks(TM) and Time Warner Cable Sign Programming Distribution Deal
Read - Telemundo Leads HDTV Charge
Read - BET HD Now Available on Cox
Read - U-verse TV Starts 2009 With Record Quarter
Read - Comcast adds 27 new HD channels in Portland
Cablevision to add Live Well HD (Thanks LI PC Tech)
Read - Cablevision: High Definition Encore and Starz On Demand added
Read - Ringgold Telephone Company (RTC) is proud to announce the availability of eight additional high-definition television channels
Read - TMJ4 is Now HD (Thanks Paul)
Read - FOX 17: Broadcasting in High Definition (Thanks Alex)

While Smithsonian Channel has been toiling away trying to get its station on more carriers, the time has finally come for it to focus on more original programming for the providers that already have it. This summer, producers of Aerial America will set out to record each of the 50 states from high, high above, while other originals will include "Sound Revolution, a music series hosted by Morgan Freeman; The Vampire Princess, a special on the true inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula; and an ambitious BBC co-production about Stonehenge." For more on what's next on Smithsonian, check out the read link -- looks like the next year or so should be chock full of treats.

While many cable customers stuck with TWC, Charter, Cox or any of the other mega-cable carriers out there can't buy an HD channel, the relatively diminutive ATMC Cable is making sure its tiny footprint of North Carolina subscribers are getting the most for their dollar. Continuing its slow but steady rollout of high-def options, the outfit has just thrown Smithsonian HD into the mix. The channel lands softly on slot 961 and becomes partners with HDNet, HDNet Movies, HD Theater, Universal HD, National Geographic HD and MOJO HD in the appropriately titled HD Suite. Best of all, the company has promised even more offerings in the coming weeks, most notably USA HD and PBS HD.

While The Smithsonian Channel has found a home on most major US-based programming outlets, it's not satisfied just yet. As of this week, Smithsonian Networks has commissioned indie producer and distributor Off the Fence to "represent its catalog of high-definition programming in all international territories excluding North America." The deal covers some 50 titles which will be presented at MIP in Cannes this April, and moreover, the two have even agreed to work together on "packaging co-productions for future Smithsonian Networks projects." Needless to say, we're hoping this newfound partnership will enable Smithsonian Channel to get added to HD lineups abroad in the near future.

Nearly five months after The Smithsonian Channel HD landed on DirecTV, the channel is now well on its way to Charter and FiOS TV systems. Sure enough, Smithsonian Channel has "reached affiliate agreements" with both Charter Communications and Verizon, and yes, the deals do include the SD and HD versions along with Smithsonian Channel On Demand content. Interestingly, no actual launch dates were announced for either carrier, but according to the release, Smithsonian Channel is looking forward to "announcing other distribution agreements over the next few months." Keep an eye on that EPG, you two sects.

The phrase patience is a virtue is what people waiting around tell each other to make themselves feel better. Well the DirecTV fans are no doubt saying this, and while no one seems to know exactly when DirecTV will turn on all the HD channels, we appear to have another slip. According to an article in B&C, the Smithsonian Channel HD will launch this Wednesday on DirecTV. It's totally possible that they'd be ready by then when you consider they did a 3 hour test in the early hours of Sunday morning, but at this point we'll believe it when we see it. As for the channel itself, they say they're launching with 75 hours of HD content. Is it just us, or does this not seem like that much, especially considering there are 168 hours in a week? Who knows what they're going to show the rest of the week, or perhaps they'll just show the same 75 hours over and over again till they bring the number up to 100 by the end of year.