While Verizon already secured TBS HD for its FiOS TV customers prior to the start of the MLB playoffs, Charter Communications subscribers may or may not be so fortunate. Particularly for Brewers fans in Wisconsin, the desire need to land this station in short order is crucial to their well being, and according to corporate spokeswoman Anita Lamont, the carrier is working hard to make it happen. Currently, the station isn't slated to go live until October 14th, but that's obviously far beyond the date baseball fans are hoping for. In somewhat related news, Charter Wisconsin is also scheduled to launch Animal Planet HD, Movie Channel HD and Smithsonian HD in mid-October, so even if the whole TBS thing doesn't happen on time, not all joy is lost.

[Image courtesy of DiamondHoggers]

FSN Wisconsin has kept Brewers fans happy all summer long, and now that the NBA season is just around the bend, it's about time we heard from the channel on that front. When the Milwaukee Bucks hit the hardwood this year, FSN Wisconsin will be there to broadcast 25 of its matchups in glorious high-definition. The HD fun gets going on November 8th when the team takes on the Phoenix Suns, and you can check out the full schedule in the read link below. Now, if only the club could find some talent...

FSN's been all over HD in the last year, rolling out MLB broadcasts and even 3D NBA games, but according to President Randy Freer, HD telecasts will "skyrocket" in '09 as the network rolls over to 24/7 HD broadcasting. Wth the capability to produce all of its 3,000 MLB, NBA, NHL, college football and basketball games in HD would give it more than any other sports provider (read: CBS Sports & ESPN) in the U.S. All this HD will be made possible by the new Fox Network Houston, a 184,000 sq ft facility that it claims can handle more signal traffic than any other similar facility, with up to 40 live games in one day. HD rollouts will vary in each region based on distribution agreements, and team telecast rights, but if there was ever a time to avoid Big Ten Network-type squabbles, we'd say all this sports action in HD is one of them. We've come a long way from just 31 college games.

Looks like the Padres and Diamondbacks aren't the only MLB clubs out west with lots of HD comin' up, as the Joe Torre-led Los Angeles Dodgers will be seen quite clearly in nearly every single game this season, too. Apparently 100 of the team's games will be broadcast in HD on FSN Prime Ticket, while 50 more will be aired in high-definition on KCAL 9 (CBS). And just think -- we figured the Blue Jays were doing something special.

[Image courtesy of Frederic J. Brown / ESPN, thanks Pete]

For those who tuned in to the start of the 2008 MLB season (on US soil, that is) last night, you can already see we're in for a good one. Better still, the matchups we are presented with will be doled out in HD more so than any year prior. According to a new report from The Sports Video Group, over 3,000 MLB games during this season will be aired in high-definition, including 100-percent of the tilts shown on ESPN and Fox Sports. Breaking it down by team, the Chicago White Sox will have the most games in HD with 155, while the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs follow suit with 153 and 151, respectively. So much for having to go to the ballpark to enjoy the freshly groomed grass, eh?

[Image courtesy of Pablo Martinez Monsivais / ESPN]

[Thanks, Bill]

With the start (on US soil, at least) of the 2008 MLB season right around the corner, the Texas Rangers are making darn sure their in-state rivals don't steal the HD limelight. Although a few less Rangers games will be produced in high-def compared to the Astros, there's still a healthy selection coming up. This season, a record-setting 86 tilts will be aired in HD, with 65 of those to show on FSN Southwest, 20 on KDFI (MyNetworkTV 27) and 1 on KDFW (FOX 4). Fortunately, fans in the area can get a glimpse of what they're in for when the season opener against the Seattle Mariners gets served up on FSN HD this coming Monday. For channel slots on various carriers as well as the entire 2008 HD schedule, you know where to head.

[Image courtesy of DeadCode, thanks Joe]

Another day, another realization that this year's baseball season will be covered with HD. On the docket today are the Houston Astros, which have announced that every last home game (and "select" road matchups) will be presented in high-definition and carried on FSN Houston or KTHX 20 (the local MyNetworkTV affiliate). All in all, 130 tilts (4 Spring Training telecasts notwithstanding) will be shown on FSN Houston, while My 20 "takes over as the new broadcast home for Astros baseball with a 31-game package." As for FSN HD, citizens of Houston can locate it on Comcast (302), DirecTV (639-1) and DISH Network (336), while KTHX HD is only available OTA and on DirecTV (20-1).

[Image courtesy of MLBlogs, thanks German]

Under normal circumstances, we tend to give 3D a hard time around here, but it's hard to deny the strides the technology has made of late in an attempt to move beyond being a gimmick and into a desirable product. It seems that hundreds of NBA fans that packed the Magnolia Theater just days ago were quite impressed with the first regular season matchup to be aired in 3D. Those in attendance were able to catch a commercial-free 3D broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks versus the LA Clippers courtesy of two Sony 4K projectors and a set of gaudy glasses. Unfortunately, we're not sure if the one-time event will blossom into something more, but feel free to tap the read link for more opinions and a couple more snapshots.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Behold, the power of high-definition. Just days after FSN Wisconsin announced that it would be airing 65 Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, Charter has acquiesced and decided that it would finally add the channel to its high-def lineup. Prior to this season, the carrier had held back on adding the HD feed of the network because -- according to Charter regional spokesman John Miller -- "over 95 percent of its programming [wasn't] in HD." Mr. Miller recently noted that Charter felt that there would be "significant interest in the Brewers this season, [along with] more HDTVs in the marketplace," which was apparently good enough to land the channel on the "to be launched this summer" list. Catering specifically to the HD crowd? Now that's what we like to hear.

[Image courtesy of RightFieldBleachers]

The good news for MLB fans just keeps on coming. Hot on the heels of a number of regional announcements to broadcast oodles of MLB matchups in high-definition this year comes a similar edict from FSN Wisconsin. The network is gearing up to broadcast 65 of the Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, which is up from 17 last year but still less than half of the club's total games. Fans in the area can catch the first Brewers HD telecast when it opens the season against the Chicago Cubs, but alas, Charter subscribers still won't be able to join in. As it stands, DirecTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and Tri County Cable are all signed on to serve up FSN Wisconsin content in HD, but we can only hope that this pledge to put more high-def material on the channel will convince Charter of its worthiness. Check out the read link for the full HD schedule.

[Image courtesy of New York Times]

Although the Royals were already receiving the "world's largest" HD LED scoreboard in their home stadium, fans having to watch from the comfort of their own couches were yearning for more. Thankfully, FSN Kansas City -- the "new television home of the Royals" -- will be helping you folks out, as it's gearing up to broadcast 88 of the club's games this season in gorgeous high-definition. As you well know, 2008 marks the first year in which the Royals matchups will be aired in HD (regionally, at least), and FSN KC isn't wasting any time in delivering the goods. Starting on March 31st, Royals fans can catch the team's opener at Detroit in HD, and the home opener on April 8th (against the Yankees) will also be shown in high-def. Heck, even the pre- and post-game shows will be seen in HD on HD game nights. Check out the full HD schedule in the read link below.

[Image courtesy of VisitKC, thanks Jim]

While FSN New York became MSG Plus over on the east coast, it looks as if the Bay Area flavor of FSN will be keeping the balance in tact here on the left coast. Effective March 31st, FSN Bay Area will be known as Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and in celebration, a special pre-game ceremony will be aired on said channel to showcase the new outfield signs at McAfee Coliseum on April 1st. The Pregame Live show will commence just 30 minutes prior to the first of 70 Oakland A's games that will be aired on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and for those not up to speed on schedules, it'll be a home opener against the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. For more details on specials slated to hit the network, check out the read link below.

While Ohio residents are certainly getting their fill of local sports in HD, it seems as if Motor City dwellers could be experiencing the same in the not-too-distant future. Reportedly, FSN Detroit has locked up deals with the Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings to "televise nearly all their games -- exhibition, regular season and playoff -- for at least the next decade." Apparently, the revised deals will enable FSN to pick up the rights to all telecasts not claimed by a national network, and we're already told that it'll air 152 Tigers games this season, with 103 being in high-definition. According to FSN senior vice president and general manager Greg Hammaren, the firm is "stepping up its investments and is clearly committed to HD." That's what we like to hear, Mr. Hammaren.

[Image courtesy of mlive]

It's good to see those Brits aren't the only ones getting 3D HD sports action this season, as PACE is back and hooking its Fusion 3D tech to an NBA game yet again. For the first time during the regular season (after last year's All-Star Game and a Finals game) -- and unsurprisingly with a connection to Engadget HD friend Mark Cuban (where's our invite man?) -- the March 25 game between the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers can be viewed live at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, or across town in the Magnolia Theatre with Sony's SXRD 3D projection system beamed onto an 18x42 foot screen for VIPs and 100 lucky fans who can win entry on mavs.com. Now if they could just find a way to simulate buying tickets for way over face value from eBay or StubHub in the theatre, it would be just like going to a real game.