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2009 NBA Draft is the first broadcast in HD

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 24th 2009 at 11:11PM


There's less than 24 hours to go before the 63rd Annual NBA Draft, and as NBA fans watch a procession of incredibly tall human beings walk across the stage and shake the commissioner's hand on their way to becoming multimillionaires, they'll be doing it for the first time in high definition (though the WNBA beat them to it.) ESPN HD will also have all the draft info filling up side columns on both sides of the screen, among the rest of the coverage planned. Of course, high definition can't keep your team from blowing a pick, but at least when your squad drafts yet another skinny, soft Euro big that will probably never come over, you'll be doing it in HD.

Mark Cuban promises the first 1080 NHL & NBA arena next season

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 9th 2009 at 9:16PM


It should be no wonder Mark Cuban (got some Jerry Jones envy?) is promising the first NHL & NBA arena with 1080-line digital scoreboards. While 1080p has been well entrenched in scoreboards for the outdoor sports (like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees) it appears the winter brethren has been slacking, but with the Mavericks and Stars not competing in tonight's finals action, plans to upgrade American Airlines Center ahead of the 2009-10 seasons are already underway, with four 18- by 30-foot video scoreboards coming to the center display and two 24- by 72-foot video walls at the north and south ends. If that's not enough, the sounds are getting a makeover too, with a "state-of-the-art concert quality sound system" bring a digital six speaker linear system to next years attendees, though we should all get a (3D?) look during the 2010 NBA All-Star Game next February.

[Via Dallas Observer & Mark Cuban]

NBA TV follows NFL Network to Comcast's digital classic tier

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 4th 2009 at 10:56AM

It doesn't appear to be coming in time for everyone to enjoy C-Webb and The Glove's studio antics during the NBA Finals, but now that Comcast closed a deal to bring NFL Network to its many digital classic subscribers, working out an agreement to add NBA TV (home of the pioneering all-SkyCam broadcasts & silent game) as well was the only logical followup. No word on exactly when the switch will happen, but hoops fans should keep an eye on their (soon to change drastically) channel lineup with the long term deal slated to shift the channel off the sports tier and into mass availability ahead of the 2009-10 season, bringing along plenty of VOD and streaming content to Comcast.net. Unfortunately, NBA League Pass is still a pay add-on, but we guess that would be asking for just a bit too much, right?

2009 WNBA Draft will be the first in HD

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 8th 2009 at 4:16AM

With the women's NCAA basketball season concluded it's time for the WNBA Draft, and we might have found a reason for you to watch, since this is the first time it will be broadcast on high definition. Covered as usual on ESPN, things get started with the first round on ESPN2 HD at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, followed by the second and third rounds on ESPNU HD and NBA TV. No word on any 720p regular season games, we'll tune in for the Atlanta Dream's #1 pick, but with very little dunking and HD on the schedule we make no promises after that.

Even the NBA's Shawn Marion thinks Blu-ray Discs are too expensive

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 28th 2009 at 8:48AM


You think it's tough pulling the trigger on a few new Blu-ray Discs each Tuesday on a "middle-class" budget? Try being a millionaire. In a recent interview with The National Post, when asked about transitioning his massive DVD collection to Blu-ray, the recently traded Shawn Marion of the NBA had this to say: "Hell, no! Blu-ray [Discs] cost too much. They cost like 35, 40 bucks apiece. I'm going to stick with the $19.99s. $14.99, $19.99, widescreen, I'm good." He then followed that up with a quip that "high-definition" was "all that he needed," further suggesting that an HD DVR and an upscaling DVD player was good enough for even the most wealthy among us. We know this guy isn't representative of the masses, but seriously, you studios should take a listen.

[Image courtesy of NikeBasketball]

Reminder: win Valentine's Day tickets for NBA All-Star Weekend in 3D!

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 9th 2009 at 11:58AM


Still undecided on Valentine's Day plans? Bad news, Fred -- because every event worth its salt is already booked up by now. Don't panic just yet, though, because we've got 25 pairs of tickets (courtesy of Cinedigm) for this weekend's NBA All-Star Weekend in 3D to giveaway. If you and your lover would love to go, hit up the read link for all the official details including a way to see if it's showing near you. If so, enter your name over there and cross your fingers for a Cupid miracle.

Valentine's Day Giveaway: tickets for NBA All-Star Weekend in 3D!

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 6th 2009 at 12:27PM


Remember when we told you that Cinedigm, Turner Sports and the NBA would be broadcasting TNT's coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night in 3D? Remember just how bad you wanted to go? We've excellent news -- for those still scrambling to firm up their Valentine's Day plans, we've got 25 pairs of tickets to this here showing in live 3D HD, and we're giving every last set to you readers. 80 digitally equipped theaters in 35 states will be showing the event (and giving away freebies!), which kicks off at 8:00PM ET on February 14th. Enter your ZIP code here for a list of cinemas in your area, and if one's nearby, feel free to drop a comment below to consider yourself entered. Your honey / manly man will love you for it.

Special thanks to Cinedigm for the tickets!

Gallery: Valentine's Day Giveaway: tickets for NBA All-Star Weekend in 3D



The rules:
  • Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, though we'd prefer to hear who you think will win this year's Slam Dunk contest.
  • You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  • If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  • Contest is open to anyone in the 48 continental US States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • Winner will be chosen randomly. 25 winners will receive two (2) tickets to the Live 3D HD showing of the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend in cinemas. Approximate value is $18 to $22 per ticket.
  • Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, February 10th, 11:59AM ET. Good luck!
  • Full rules can be found here.

Cuban invests in Carmike Cinemas, clearly expects 3D sporting events to thrive

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 31st 2008 at 6:40AM


Mark Cuban may be up and down on the future of internet video, but he's evidently quite confident in the future of 3D cinema -- or 3D sporting events in cinemas, at least. The internet / media / basketball tycoon has put his money where his mouth is by acquiring a 9.4% stake in Carmike Cinemas. Only Cuban himself fully understands the nearly $3 million investment, but he was quoted as saying that he is "trying to expand" the live 3D broadcast-to-a-theater business. Looking back over the course of 2008, we're astounded at the amount of traction that 3D has gained, and while many may assume that live 3D sporting events in cinemas is nothing more than a gimmick, we guess we can't possibly be surprised if it ends up taking off.

Cinedigm to bring NBA All-Star Saturday Night live in 3D to theaters nationwide

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 10th 2008 at 8:00AM


It won't be the first 3D NBA experience of all time, but it will be the first of this magnitude. Cinedigm is teaming up with the league and Turner Sports to showcase the 2009 All-Star Saturday Night in Live 3D HD to some 80 theaters across the US. Hailed as the "first-ever marketed and commercially viable (open for sale to public) live movie theater broadcast of a major sporting event," the spectacle will be available on over 160 screens in 35 states. As of now, pricing information remains fuzzy, but you'll have to either roll solo or hope your lady friend(s) really loves Kobe given the terrible, terrible February 14th show date. Way to think that one through, NBA. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Cinedigm to bring NBA All-Star Saturday Night live in 3D to theaters nationwide

TSN to broadcast all of its NBA games in HD

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 23rd 2008 at 1:30PM

While Raptors TV is still pushing for some HD love in the Great North, powerhouse TSN is gearing up to deliver every single one of its NBA broadcasts in stunning high-definition. As of now, the station is planning to air 78 regular season tilts (including 48 Toronto Raptors matchups) in HD, and as part of the deal, it will also broadcast the NBA All-Star game, a minimum of 17 games throughout the post-season and exclusive Canadian coverage of the NBA Finals. The Raptors action gets going on TSN on November 1st at 8:30PM ET, and fans of the club can check out their entire TSN schedule in the read link below.

Every single 2008 - 2009 LA Lakers game to be aired in HD

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 29th 2008 at 8:16PM


Getting to the NBA Finals has its perks. 'Course, being situated in Los Angeles, California doesn't hurt either. Either way, LA Lakers fans who can't get enough of HD sports are really in luck, as the club's entire 2008 - 2009 season (we're talking preseason, regular season, the whole shebang) will be aired in crystal clear high-definition. Between KCAL HD, FSN HD, TNT HD, ESPN HD and ABC HD, every last Lakers game, home and away, will be available (at least in the greater LA area) in HD. C'mon NBA -- how about we make this the norm rather than the exception?

[Thanks, Pete]

[Image courtesy of BBallOne]

FSN Wisconsin airing 25 Milwaukee Bucks games in HD

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 28th 2008 at 10:09PM

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...

Raptors TV pushing for HD signal in Canada

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 28th 2008 at 5:09AM

It's not easy to light up an HD channel in the Great North, but what is typically the biggest hurdle has apparently been overcome by Toronto Raptors Network. Amazingly, the CRTC approved an application by the aforementioned company to offer a high-def signal of Raptors TV in Canada. Conditions require that the HD version carry 95% of the same content as the SD flavor, while the other 5% must also be high-definition material. Now, TRN must persuade cable and satellite companies that Raptors TV HD is worth the bandwidth, but it seems that industry analysts are pretty bullish on its chances. We can't say our hopes are that high yet, but we've definitely got our fingers tightly crossed for you NBA-lovin' Canucks.

[Via National Post]

Oklahoma City's Ford Center upping HD abilities

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 7:12AM


Haven't you heard? The Seattle SuperSonics are packing up and heading down to Oklahoma -- er, sort of, anyway. Said franchise will have to be renamed once situated in Oklahoma City's Ford Center, but whatever they end up being called, they'll surely be looking sharp on television. Reportedly, said arena will be getting an overhaul that will focus on improving the lighting and "capabilities for broadcasting games in high-definition." Eventually, management is hoping to pour some $100 million into renovating the venue, with the project mentioned here to suck up around $450,000 of that. There's no mention of details just yet (they're still waiting for bids), but fans of the to-be team will certainly want to tune in to see just how impressive the end results are.

[Image courtesy of S2N Blog]

Verizon lassoes Kevin Garnett in to push FiOS

by Darren Murph, posted May 24th 2008 at 4:13AM


Merely months after Verizon managed to secure Michael Bay's talents to campaign for FiOS, the carrier has now snagged Celtics superstar Kevin Garnett to push its fiber-based services. The NBA big man is now starring in a 30-second spot for Verizon's FiOS, showing off just how much he adores the innovative Home Media DVR with multi-room recording playback capabilities (its words, not ours). First Frank Caliendo, then Mr. Bay, now KG -- who's next, Don King?




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