• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, November 8, 2007

In the wake of competitor Verizon announcing that it plans to have 150 HD channels by the end of next year, Cablevision said Wednesday it's up to 42 with the addition of CNN HD.

For the moment, that actually places the cable operator ahead since Verizon stands at about 30, although the telco TV provider says it will be at about 60 in the spring.

Verizon, with its FiOS service, has launched in multiple Cablevision markets and peeled away some subscribers.

Satellite, cable and telco TV operators all believe at some level that viewers will increasingly hunger for more high-definition channels--especially as the number of HD-enabled sets proliferates--and they are eager to win the PR battle to be perceived as the leader in the area. DirecTV may have accelerated the battle with its aggressive marketing campaign promising 100 HD channels by Jan. 1.

"We are pleased to add CNN HD to our high-definition lineup, which has nearly doubled in size over the last year," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management.

CNN HD simulcasts the cable network's linear feed in the more pristine format.

Verizon is only in 717,000 homes so far, which is considerably fewer than Cablevision and significantly less than DirecTV, though it is growing at a notable clip.