http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/ Engadget HD Comments for 2006 World Cup HD Schedule http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/Jun 8th 2006 12:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/Jun 8th 2006 2:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/
The worst part about this is that when they're showing the game in HD on ESPN2-HD, there's only SD content on ESPN-HD. I've seen the folks in Bristol, CT flip a switch and have content from their various channels (ESPNEWS, ESPN2, ESPN) appear on the others, so it seems unlikely there's a technical issue here. Come on, ESPN, show the games on ESPN-HD!]]>Jun 8th 2006 2:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/Jun 8th 2006 5:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/Jun 8th 2006 7:01PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/08/2006-world-cup-hd-schedule/
But here's my take on it:

ESPN2 is not considered a lesser network. Most people aren't watching in HD to start, so just taking in number of households [SD] - ESPN2 is in over 90 million HH. ESPN is in something like 90.8M. Very little difference in people able to view the matches.

ESPN tries not to brand ESPN2 as a "lesser" or "spillover" network. [For example, all the tennis on ESPN2, the grand slam network] Why? One reason is to create value. If you only have a few events on it then cable companies will a) not be as likely to carry it and b) not see it as worth as much. So if they only used it when there was another event on ESPN, many fewer people would have it in the first place.

ESPN is thinking of the future, too, when pushing for distribution of ESPN2HD (and putting high-profile events on ESPN2 in HD is one way). More and more of their content is going to be HD in the coming years. If they don't get carriage now, it may be harder in the future. So in order to get on the cable/satellite systems, they're acting early.

That's my take on it, at least..

Disclaimer: My views are my own and not my employer's, who will remain nameless. Etc.]]>Jun 10th 2006 9:18AM