Poll: which sport looks best in HDTV?
by Kevin C. Tofel 
posted Oct 6th 2005 at 3:22PM
Now that the NHL is back, it's a good time to ask which sports programming looks best in high-def. Frankly they all look great; especially the 1080i broadcast events. What if all sports HDTV programming was going away except for one major sport? Which one looks the best to you?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Buzzcut @ Oct 6th 2005 4:18PM
Football is THE killer app for HD. There is just no contest.
Baseball is next, mostly for the crowd shots (well, at least for Cubs games, lots of hotties out at Wrigley).
I watched my first HD Nascar race last weekend on NBC. Very cool.
Interestingly, I'm not so hot on the NBA in HD. I don't like how it looks on ABC, it looks kind of washed out to me, or maybe its not as sharp. And the Bulls games are on WGN, which is 1080i, overcompressed, so that the wast breaks are all pixelated.
I've never seen hockey or golf in HD.
Mike @ Oct 6th 2005 6:04PM
I have to agree, football is king!
But (and I may be the only one that feels this way) golf is fantastic in HD. There's just not too many tournaments broadcast in it. I watched the Masters one year in HD (commercial free too!) and you just find yourself noticing so many details - the spike marks on the greens, the dimples on the ball, each blade of grass, not to mention the beautiful landscaping and scenery that Augusta is known for. It really makes you feel like you're there.
Chuck Browne @ Oct 6th 2005 8:07PM
Can't ever seem to find golf in HD. Why?
Baseball would look fantastic in HD, if they would change their camera positions to show more of the field, rather than close-ups.
Kevin C. Tofel @ Oct 6th 2005 8:32PM
Looks like Football has the early lead. I'm a NASCAR guy myself, but the NFL rocks in HD.
Chuck, golf is limited partially because of the "on course" cameras. They are wireless and the HD pic requires a good amount of bandwidth. I think Augusta is basically wired all over the course, so the HD cameras can be connected. The Masters always looks great!
Dave @ Oct 7th 2005 8:47AM
I'd say football and racing are at the top of my list. I'm an open-wheel guy, so I look forward to (hopefully) watching some IRL races in HD next year, but the NASCAR broadcasts have been great, the car designs just look so much better. Wonder if teams will use that as a reason to ask for more cash?
I'm even tuning into ESPN's Thursday night coverage because of the allure of football in HD.
Shawn @ Oct 7th 2005 8:57AM
#3 I would have to agree that they need to back those camara shots out. Show more of the feild, show more of play. Where the shortstop is standing for this perticular batter, how the pitcher reacts after the ball is hit.
Golf is absolutly awesome in HD but there is not enough of it! Like said before, every blade of grass can be seen. NBA, not a fan so can't answer that.
I am a big nascar fan but I think for that we may have to wait for 1080p. It is almost too fast.
But my vote was and always will be for Hockey. Check it out all. It is just amazing, the clarity, the hits, the goals, the jerseys, the brightness.
Sorry football fans it just doesn't trip my trigger like hockey.
Brad @ Oct 7th 2005 11:10AM
Football???!!!! Come on guys; this is not a poll to see which sport is most popular. I hate watching golf on tv but tournament broadcasts in HD are absolutely stunning!
Why do you think that Discovery HD is so popular??? It is because most of their programming involve shots that display beautiful landscapes. Golf is the only sport that has beautiful landscapes of their own to display. Golf is the handsdown number 1 sport to appreciate HD in.
JB @ Oct 10th 2005 7:44PM
My 2 cents...
I heard all this hype about hockey in High Def. I watched the Flyers/Devils game on Saturday night on Comcast Sportsnet HD, I wasn't too impressed. Sure the picture was clearer and crisper, but nothing mind blowing about it at all.
Golf is the best high def sport, especially the closeup, ground-level putting shots on the green. You can practically see the grass growing as you watch ;)
danny @ Oct 10th 2005 9:40PM
agreed that this isn't a popularity contest...i love football as much as the next guy, but there's no contest that hockey is most improved sport in HD. it becomes so much easier to follow for those who aren't familiar with the intracacies of the sport. football is great, but i could see the pigskin in SD just fine. hockey? wow, who needs the glowing puck! check out HDNet's coverage for some creative camera angles too.