TNT HD came to DirecTV in MPEG2 after MPEG4 HD channels were rolling out. To me, this speakes volumes of DirecTVs desire to cater to their customers. They could either make it an MPEG4 channel 24/7 that few could see, or MPEG2 that goes dark on Sundays until 5PM for half the year.

Although the programming on channel 101 is aimed at teeny boppers (I think), it is stuff that's produced exclusively for DirecTV (for the most part). The addition of this channel (and CD USA in HD) is welcome in my book.

PPV is a huge bandwidth hog, but I'm sure it's worth it to them. The attached slide from a DirecTV investor day in February should demonstrate that DirecTV is interested in taking the PPV burden off their satellites. I wasn't at this event, nor am I an investor in DirecTV, but that's how I read it.

I don't understand the NFL Sunday Ticket thing either, but my father seems to like it. He pays hundreds of dollars a year for that package and I'm sure DirecTV is happy to take that money vs. no extra income for broadcasting TNT HD.