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Posts with tag sports

University of Hawaii games stay SD, for now

by Richard Lawler, posted Jul 5th 2008 at 2:22AM

Warrior football fans will need to watch their next QB to put up incredible college numbers and proceed to a career as practice squad NFL QB in standard def for the next season or two. Local station KFVE/KHNL just doesn't see it being feasible to put its PPV University of Hawaii games in HD yet (although the local cable channel on Oceanic already shows high school games in HD). The good news (we guess) is that HD is on the way, someday, unfortunately the cost of the necessary new facilities -- despite the Hula Bowl managing to go HD -- has put it on the back burner at the moment.

NHL Network HD skates onto IP-PRIME IPTV

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 20th 2008 at 7:56PM

Okay, so maybe this deal is going down a little later than we would have liked (considering the NHL season is over and all), but there's always next year, right? Not quite two months after the NFL Network landed on IP-PRIME's IPTV network, NHL Network has followed suit. For hardcore fans using this service, you can look forward to blowout coverage of the NHL Entry Draft on June 20 - 21, and better still, 75 games during the 2008 - 2009 season will be broadcast in high-definition. The recently inked agreement ensures that each and every IP-PRIME operator in the United States will have access to the SD and HD feeds, and it sounds like the channel should be live as we speak.

Comcast and Big Ten Network finally reach agreement

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 19th 2008 at 4:39PM Breaking News


Whoa, Nelly! After what seems like eons, Comcast and the Big Ten Network have finally put their problems aside and reached an agreement. Of course, we heard yesterday that the deal was close, but we didn't exactly predict that it was this close. Under the terms of the deal, Comcast will "initially launch BTN as part of its expanded basic level of service to promote it to the majority of its customers residing in states with Big Ten universities on August 15th. Next Spring, the carrier reserves the right to "move the network to a broadly distributed digital level of service in most of its systems in these states." As expected, users will have access to all high-definition feeds as well, which is sure to bring a smile to Big Ten fanatics across Comcast's footprint.

DirecTV keeps multi-screen trend alive with Wimbledon Interactive coverage

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 2:19PM


If you enjoy juggling six screens at once, you should seriously considering switching to DirecTV or DISH Network. As the back-and-forth action between the two continues, DirecTV is serving up Wimbledon Interactive in order to provide viewers with a multi-screen montage of grass court action. The satcaster is teaming up once again with ESPN2 in order to "provide nearly 200 hours of live interactive coverage of the first five days of the 2008 Wimbledon Championship." The half dozen screens will include live ESPN2 coverage, a Wimbledon Extra for keying in on crucial matches / highlights, and shots from four other courts which can be expanded to full screen at the touch of a button. As you know, the first fuzzy ball flies on June 23rd.

Big Ten Network and Comcast nearing a deal

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 11:57AM


Could it finally be happening? The bigwigs at Comcast and Big Ten Network are actually closing in on a deal? According to a recent writeup originating in the Chicago Tribune, a long-awaited partnership between the carrier and station is expected to become official at any moment. A BTN spokesperson told the Star Tribune that "while the deal between the sides is close, there is nothing to report at this point." However, the individual did admit that the two parties "remain close to reaching an agreement." Needless to say, quite a few individuals (hundreds of thousands, actually) in the Big Ten footprint would be elated to have their upcoming football season around and in HD, but considering just how long this bickering has been going on, we aren't jotting this one in stone quite yet.

Raycom airing all SEC football, select basketball games in HD

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 16th 2008 at 4:05PM

Well, wouldn't you know it? After assuming that Raycom would follow in the footsteps of the ESPN networks and FSN, along comes a tipster to show that said network already has upped its commitment to HD. This season, Raycom has promised to deliver every single one of its SEC football matchups in high-definition, while "most" of the SEC basketball tilts will also air in HD later this year. Granted, we haven't heard anything further about how it'll handle ACC battles, but we can only hope it treats both conferences similarly.

[Thanks, David]

DISH presenting ESPN's coverage of U.S. Open through Interactive TV mosaic

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 10th 2008 at 8:33PM


Earlier this year, DirecTV showed up everyone else with its interactive, multi-screen coverage of the Masters. Now, however, DISH Network is stepping up to the tee by planning to offer ESPN's coverage of the U.S. Open in a similar fashion. From June 12 through 13, DISH subscribers will be able to view a multiple-screen showcase (dubbed Interactive TV) that will create a mosaic with ESPN's primary feed, a feed focusing on Tiger and Phil, an "Up Close" channel and a number of other specific feeds that hardcore golf lovers will surely be fascinated with. Your turn, DirecTV.

[Image courtesy of ESPN]

Update: Ah, so DirecTV is doing the same! Thanks m.e.

All live 2008 NCAA Football games on ABC / ESPN networks to air in HD

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 10th 2008 at 5:51PM


Not that we're trying to rush the summer away or anything, but August can't get here soon enough. Shortly after hearing that CBS would be producing every single NFL game in high-definition, in flies word that all live 2008 NCAA College Football games shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN U will also be available in glorious HD. Granted, there's a shot you won't even have those four networks in HD before the season begins, but at least your local watering hole will. For a look at the current schedule (which is far from complete), check out the goods in the read link. Rest assured, we'll be geared up for the network opener (August 28, 8:00PM on ESPN HD) as NC State shows South Carolina how it's done down at Williams-Brice Stadium.

MountainWest Sports Network comes to DirecTV on August 27th

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 8th 2008 at 1:04AM


We already knew the MountainWest Sports Network was destined to land on DirecTV eventually, and while we had heard that September was looking like a good candidate for a launch month, fans of the conference will be delighted to know that it'll be going live on the satcaster this August. Beginning on Wednesday, August 27th -- just in time for the BYU opener against Northern Iowa on August 30th -- The Mtn. will go live on channel 616. Notably, it'll be available on DirecTV CHOICE (and higher packages) for Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Dallas / Fort Worth / San Diego, though customers outside of these regions will be required to subscribe to DirecTV's Sportspack. For more on what to expect from the network this football season, head southwest to the read link.

ITV HD set for Saturday launch, just in time for Euro 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 6th 2008 at 9:38AM


ITV HD already poked its head out during FreeSat trials in mid-May, but now it seems the channel is finally set to go. According to reports, the aforementioned channel will go live on FreeSat this Saturday, just in time to head up coverage of the highly-anticipated Euro 2008. The first HD match that will be shown on the station is Portugal vs. Turkey at 7:45PM, which will coincidentally mark ITV HD's first-ever high-def transmission. Here's to hoping for no issues come this Saturday -- if you think Americans get upset with botched SuperBowl broadcasts, you can't imagine the collective rage coming from across the pond when a football event gets mishandled.

Portugal Telecom / ZON expands their HD offerings in Portugal

by Darren Murph, posted May 30th 2008 at 1:40PM


Good news, Portugal. Two of the nation's most prominent DTH providers have just upped their respective antes, so we'll dig right into the former. PT's Meo service already features National Geographic HD, and as of just a few days ago, Eurosport HD. Now, however, the carrier will be offering up TVI to its IPTV / satellite customers in order to broadcast Euro 2008 to its customers. Oddly enough, we're told the addition of TVI (in HD / SD) will be only for Euro 2008, though it should become a regular part of the lineup in 2009. Moving on to ZON, it's planning to launch Mov HD and National Geographic HD on June 1st, and just to make sure Euro 2008 is shown in HD, it'll add Sport TV HD here shortly. In September, you can look forward to seeing Cine 1/2/3/4 in HD, and it's expected that these four could end up on PT's Meo service as well.

[Thanks, Orlando]

Read - Portugal Telecom expansion
Read - ZON expansion [PDF]

HDNet to get Adrenaline boost

by Steven Kim, posted May 27th 2008 at 12:01PM

HDNet Fights
Rack up another collaboration for the MMA-centric HDNet Fights brand. The topsy turvy world of MMA has seen lots of M&A activity over the past year, which fits pretty well with HDNet Fights' come-one-come-all partnership attitude. Adrenaline MMA, formerly under the M-1 Global banner, will be bringing its first three cards to HDNet. The first event will be in Chicago on June 14, with a second show on September 6. Disappointingly, this agreement comes too late for those hoping to see top-ranked Fedor Emelianenko come to HDNet, as he split with M-1 before the restructuring; so any Emelianenko vs. Silvia matchup will have to be a cross-promotion. But like we said, it just might be possible in the "anything goes" operations of HDNet Fights.

DirecTV's GameSearch feature seeks blacked-out games

by Darren Murph, posted May 22nd 2008 at 2:44PM


For folks frustrated by those annoying game blackouts, DirecTV has unveiled a new feature that will certainly brighten those sports-filled days ahead. The GameSearch technology, which will be provided gratis, recognizes if a user tunes to a channel in which the game it carries is blacked-out, and if so, it automatically searches to find the tilt on another channel. Once the search concludes, it will give the viewer an option to catch the matchup on a different network if that option is available, and if no alternative is found, they'll be notified of that as well. GameSearch is reportedly now available on the HR20 and HR21, while users of the R22, R15, R16, H20 and H21 set-top-boxes will get gifted later this year or next.

[Image courtesy of Home Theater Mag]

ESPN ratings 43% higher in HD homes than SD abodes in April

by Darren Murph, posted May 21st 2008 at 12:50AM


Life's good in Bristol -- at least it sure looks that way based on reports stemming from The Cable Show in New Orleans and the latest Nielsen data. For starters, primetime viewership on ESPN grew 15%, while total day ratings ratcheted up 13%. According to Sean Bratches, executive vice president of sales and marketing for the outfit, ESPN's ratings were 43% higher in high-definition homes versus standard-definition homes, reiterating that sports and movies are the two biggest draws of owning an HDTV. Needless to say, the news simply means that the network can demand even more for precious ad time, but we won't even pretend you didn't see that coming.

FSN: 24/7 high definition in 2009, more HD than any other sports provider

by Richard Lawler, posted May 19th 2008 at 12:40PM Breaking News

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.




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