They’re calling it EchoStar XIV, but for most DISH Network viewers, it simply means more channels. More specifically, more high-definition channels, which HD junkies like myself cannot seem to get enough of.

The brand-new satellite has been shipped from its manufacturer, Space Systems/Loral, and is on its way to Kazakhstan, where it will boosted into orbit atop a Proton Breeze M rocket. Yeah, I know. What the heck is that? I’ll just assume – safely I believe – that it is a big old rocket that is going to deliver the new satellite to its new home, some 23,000 miles above planet Earth.

The new satellite is being described as “a direct broadcast satellite designed to provide expanded high definition (HD) services and flexibility for DISH Network’s more than 14 million direct-to-home (DTH) television subscribers. The satellite is based on SS/L’s 1300 platform, a decades-proven modular bus with the world’s highest power capability and the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances.”

Yeah. OK. As long as it means I’ll be getting more HD channels to watch, I’m a happy camper.

I didn’t see any indication of the planned launch date, but I know that DISH Network likes to run various tests on new satellites when they are safely in orbit, so it will probably be a while before we can actually view programming from EchoStar XIV.

While the war of words, and the courtrooms (more on that later) continues between the nation’s two largest satellite TV broadcasters, the smaller of the two, DISH Network has launched 9 new HD channels.

While none of these new channels are particularly exciting to me, it’s good to see that DISH is continuing to roll out new HD channels.

The new channels that have been introduced are Fox Soccer Channel HD, Sportsman HD, Hallmark Channel HD, IndiePlex HD and RetroPlex HD, truTV HD, E! HD, BBC America HD and ShowTime HD. The first five on the list are available only on DISH Network as of this writing.

On second thought, I might actually take a look at the Sportsman HD channel from time-to-time, so I guess I am not completely uninterested in these latest editions to DISH Network’s high definition offerings.

A new addition to DishLATINO packages is aimed at viewers who enjoy programming from Central America. Centroamerica TV features programming that includes original programming as well as top-rated soccer games from Central America.

A special feature of this new addition is the airing of Centroamerica TV’s La Liga (Spanish soccer league) game of the week, which airs every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Centroamerica TV is available in the U.S. only via satellite and can be found on DISH Network Ch. 832. The new channel comes at no extra charge to subscribers of DishLATINO Clasico and above programming packages. The channel will  provide Central Americans living in the United States with a solid connection to their home countries using informative and entertaining programming that includes "Viva la Manana" from Guatemala, "Hola El Salvador," "Noticias 12" from Nicaragua and "Telenoticias" from Costa Rica.

The channel will also air live soccer games each week and sports highlights programs like "El Pizarron Deportivo" from El Salvador, "Resumen Deportivo" from Costa Rica and "Gol a Gol," a thorough recap of the week’s highlights from La Liga.

"DISH Network is the leader in Spanish-language programming because we continue to bring new and exciting programming like Centroamerica TV to the wide variety of Latino communities in the U.S.," said Dave Shull, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. "We are very pleased that the millions of Central Americans who live in the U.S. now have access to Centroamerica TV at a value unmatched by any other pay-TV provider in the country."

"We continue with our commitment to serve the Central American community in the U.S., and we are thrilled Centroamerica TV is now available through DISH Network’s DishLATINO suite of packages," said Antonio Briceno, general manager for Centroamerica TV and vice president of Distribution and Channels for Imagina U.S. "This reaffirms our standing as the leading channel for Central Americans living in this country."

DISH Network has formed a new partnership with NeuLion, Inc. a company that offers IPTV service that features live and on-demand international sports and other programming that is access via high-speed internet.

The new agreement will allow NeuLion to distribute some DISH Network international channels over their IPTV service. More and more people are getting TV entertainment on the internet these days and companies and networks are moving to satisfy the demand.

DISH Network offers the most international programming in the business with more than 180 international channels in more than 28 different languages.

Although “satellite TV on your PC” has been a common theme used by scammers selling various lists of web sites that carry TV programming, this partnership looks to make “satellite TV on your PC” a reality – at least some of the programming anyway.

The lines appear to be blurring more and more between television entertainment and the internet. With TV networks making some of their most popular programs available to watch online and new developments like the one between DISH and NeuLion, it appears that we can expect to see more partnerships like this in the future.

Personally, I’m most happy in my recliner in front of my 51-inch HDTV when I want to watch some television, but I have actually caught some of my favorite programs online after missing them on my DVR due to some error on my part, and it’s really quite handy in those circumstances.

DISH Network has announced that Jus One, a religious channel that originates in India, is now available to subscribers. DISH is the first distributor to bring the channel to television viewers here in the U.S.

Jus One is now showing on channel 581, and carries religious programming, which encompasses a variety of religions that are prominent in  India. Programming is offered for  Hindus, Indian-Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

Included are programs that include daily religious hymns, discourses, prayers, educational features, yoga and live call-in programs.

Jus One is available to DISH Network subscribers for $19.99 per month as part of the Punjabi Pack, which consists of five Punjabi channels. Subscribers can also opt to receive the new channel for $9.99 per month if ordered separately.

Epix, a joint venture movie channel owned by three Hollywood studios is reportedly talking with DISH Network about getting their fledgling channel into the sat caster’s programming line-up.

Currently, Epix, which was launched at the end of October, is being offered only on Verizon’s FiOS service, which means it’s potential audience is currently stalled at about 2 and a half million viewers.

Talks appear to be going well and may result in a deal that could close within weeks. When DISH subscribers could expect to see the channel is still not certain if a deal is reached.

Epix, which is a result of a partnership between Paramount Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is also working to interest other carriers in their new channel. Time-Warner Cable is rumored to be close to a deal with Epix, but cable giant Comcast has not expressed any interest. Perhaps they have bigger fish to fry with their plans to grab a big piece of NBC.

The creation of Epix seems to have been prompted by Showtime’s saber-rattling last year when it said it would like to cut back on the fees they are paying to movie studios to show their films. Apparently, the three big studios figure they can go it on their own and let Showtime find out how things go if a good portion of their library of content goes under lock and key.

The newly-added NFL RedZone channel will be offered up for a free test drive on Sunday, October 4th. DISH Network subscribers who are into football and have not had a chance to check out RedZone and see if it is something worth paying for. That, of course, is up to each individual fan, but it’s likely that DISH will pick up a few new subscribers to the channel after the free preview.

Ira Bahr, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network has said that “Over the past few weeks, our customers have told us their Sunday afternoons have changed forever.” That’s a pretty bold statement, but apparently DISH has been receiving a lot of positive feedback regarding the new channel, which packs the most exciting moments from multiple NFL games on one channel by switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a opportunity to check out every important play.

The NFL RedZone free preview starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and runs until 4:14 p.m. on DISH Network channel 155. The channel is available in both high and standard definition and will cost fans who decide to sign on an additional $5.99 per month. Not a bad deal if you are a serious football fan.

DISH Network customers in six different TV markets can now enjoy more local HD programming as a result of the company’s efforts to expand it’s HD offerings and compete with rival DirecTV and the cable television industry.

Here is a breakdown of the new channels recently added and the markets they were added to:

WTVC (ABC) Ch. 9 in Chattanooga, TN; WBNS (CBS) Ch. 10 in Columbus, OH; WICU (NBC) Ch. 12 in Erie, PA; WWMT (CBS) Ch. 3 in Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI; WTHR (NBC) Ch. 13 in Indianapolis, IN; and WPEC (CBS) Ch. 12 in West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, FL.

Subscribers who live in those areas and already have an HD-capable receiver or DVR and subscribe to HD programming will receive the new programming at no additional cost.

These new additions bring DISH Network’s local HD offerings to 152 markets nationwide.

DISH Network viewers who live in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan can now watch the new FOX UP station that started broadcasting earlier this summer.

FOX UP can be found at channel 35 or 6523, which probably depends on which satellite their system is set up to receive programming from.

A 10:00 p.m. news broadcast appears on FOX UP during the week, but the station also carries FOX prime time shows, NFL football games and syndicated programming such as “Two and a Half Men,” My Name is Earl” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Comments from WLUC President and CEO Rob Jamros welcome the addition of FOX UP to DISH Network’s offerings. “It means our viewers can get the news, entertainment and information they need in parts of Upper Michigan  that can’t receive us over the air,” he said.

DISH Network plans to begin carrying Texas TV station KFDM today. Apparently, DISH has been broadcasting KFDM’s standard-definition signal for a while, but HD viewers will likely appreciate this upgrade.

The channel will show up and not result in any additional costs for customers who already subscribe to the local package that includes KFDM and already have HD service.

The new HD channel is planned to reside right alongside the standard-definition channel in DISH Network’s programming lineup.