Here's an update from DIRECTV on the channel changes:
Beginning March 17, the following groups of channels will be moving to new channel ranges: SHOWTIME®, Starz®, Encore®, Cinemax® and HD Extra Pack. The move will take place over a six–week period, ending on April 21.- Each week during this transition, one group of channels will be available on both the old channel numbers and their new channel numbers.
- At the end of that week they will be removed permanently from the old range.
- For example, from March 24 to 31, you will be able to see SHOWTIME® channels in the new range (chs. 545–549) as well as the old range (chs. 537-542).
- After March 31, you will no longer see these channels on the old range – you'll see an on–screen message directing you to the new channels.
On April 22, the transition will be complete.
Here is an overview of the new channel ranges once the transition is completed.
- Cinemax® channels will start on ch. 515 (currently ch. 512)
- Starz® channels will start on ch. 525 (currently ch. 518)
- Encore® channels will start on ch. 535 (currently ch. 526)
- SHOWTIME® channels will start on ch. 545 (currently ch. 537)
- HD Extra Pack channels will be consolidated into one channel range starting at ch. 560
For more details on specific channels, please view the table below.
| Old Channel Number |
New Channel Number |
Channel Name | Change Date |
| 544 | 554 | The Movie Channel East/The Movie Channel East HD | March 24 |
| 545 | 555 | The Movie Channel West | March 24 |
| 547 | 557 | FLIX | March 24 |
| 549 | 558 | Sundance | March 24 |
| 550 | 559 | Independent Film Channel | TBD |
| 537 | 545 | Showtime East/Showtime East HD | March 31 |
| 538 | 546 | Sho2/Sho2 HD | March 31 |
| 539 | 547 | Showtime Showcase/Showtime Showcase HD | March 31 |
| 540 | 548 | Showtime West/Showtime West HD | March 31 |
| 542 | 549 | Showtime Extreme/Showtime Extreme HD | March 31 |
| 526 | 535 | Encore East | April 7 |
| 527 | 536 | Encore West | April 7 |
| 528 | 537 | Encore Love | April 7 |
| 529 | 538 | Encore Westerns | April 7 |
| 530 | 539 | Encore Mystery | April 7 |
| 531 | 540 | Encore Drama | April 7 |
| 532 | 541 | Encore Action | April 7 |
| 533 | 542 | Encore WAM | April 7 |
| 512 | 515 | Cinemax East/Cinemax East HD | April 12 |
| 514 | 516 | Cinemax West/Cinemax West HD | April 12 |
| 518 | 525 | Starz Kids & Family HD | April 14 |
| 519 | 526 | Starz Comedy HD | April 14 |
| 520 | 527 | Starz East/Starz East HD | April 14 |
| 521 | 528 | Starz West/Starz West HD | April 14 |
| 522 | 529 | Starz Edge/Starz Edge HD | April 14 |
| 523 | 530 | Starz in Black | April 14 |
| 552 | 561 | HDNet Movies HD | April 21 |
| 255 | 562 | MGM HD | April 21 |
| 259 | 564 | Universal HD | April 21 |
| 267 | 565 | Smithsonian HD | April 21 |
| 289 | 566 | Crime and Investigation HD | April 21 |
| 332 | 567 | Palladia HD | April 21 |
