DIRECTV launches NHL Network in HD. The company will broadcast 50 live regular-season games this season all in HD in addition to its daily live signature show, NHL on the Fly, classic games, documentaries, instructional shows, highlights and more. NHL Network in SD and HD will be available on DIRECTV viewer channel 215.

NHL Network is now available to DIRECTV customers subscribing to DIRECTV CHOICE XTRA and above programming packages, as well as those with a subscription to NHL CENTER ICE.

With the addition of NHL Network HD, DIRECTV now offers 74 full-time national HD channels, including 18 sports networks in HD, significantly more than any other television provider. DIRECTV will continue to expand its national HD lineup throughout the rest of the year and is expected to have up to 100 national HD channels by year-end.

The National Hockey League (NHL) and HDNet have partnered to present INSIDE THE NHL, a new weekly show airing on HDNet. INSIDE THE NHL will feature programming regarding the upcoming game airing on HDNet, in-depth interviews with the biggest stars in the game — both on and off the ice — as well as the latest news from around the League.

“INSIDE THE NHL is a hockey lover’s dream,” said Mark Cuban, president and co-founder of HDNet. “It’s an all-access pass to the NHL and its players that fans never really had – until now.”

The premiere episode of INSIDE THE NHL will air on HDNet at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 4. Following the premiere HDNet will broadcast the Florida Panthers taking on the New York Rangers at 7:00 p.m. ET.