NHLCI and HD: Does NHLN Have Magic Satellite Dishes?

[Chilcoot]

For Friday's NHLCI lineup, Directv showed the Calgary-Detroit game in SD using the Detroit feed. That's it, just one channel.

Nine hours later, NHLN showed the same game, delayed, using the Flames broadcast via Rogers Sports Net in beautiful 1080i.

What's the deal? Does NHLN have magic satellite dishes? Dishes that see satellites that Directv can't pick up?

I don't understand why the Flames' lovely HD broadcast wasn't made part of Friday's NHLCI package I purchased from Directv, on the expectation that Directv would try its best to present the games live and in HD, using money I earned by working at a job.

[scoop8]

I think it's been discussed here on the Bd previously, but I think the reason that CI didn't use the Canadian HD feed is that DTV doesn't have a blanket contract that allows them to use all available Canadian (HD) feeds for their CI pkg. I don't know about the NHLN deal but I'd guess that it's a similar situation.

IMO, DTV should be able to get more done regarding their NHL-related game feed issues that they have currently on the plate.... "Vs", MSG-HD feeds, lack of enough Canadian feeds, etc.

As others have said here, unfortunately for us NHL fans, we're not watching one of the powerhouse pro sports like NFL, MLB, NBA, even Div 1A college sports.

As an NHL fan, I sure wish it was otherwise.

[MrMars]

That is a good question, all we can is guess as to why. It seems they only use Sportsnet Ontario HD, so my theory is they are using the same receiver they use for the Jays games for EI to get that feed. I believe there is a fee that has to be paid to Shaw Direct to access the feeds, on a per channel basis, the issue has nothing to do with the NHL as Indemand uses feeds from all 4 Sportsnet HD's, I am guessing DirecTV is balking at paying extra money to access more Sportsnet HD feeds. Kind of like 2 seasons ago when DirecTV used CSN Philly HD a handful of times and stopped, because the HD feeds had to be fibered to DirecTV on DirecTV's dime, and they balked at it, CSN Philly is not a NHL issue either as Indemand does use CSN Philly HD in their CI. So my guess is DirecTV is not willing to pay to access the feeds. I cannot see the fee being that high as Indemand has apparently paid it.

[bwaldron]

What's the deal? Does NHLN have magic satellite dishes? Dishes that see satellites that Directv can't pick up?

* DirecTV may not have HD rights for all providers (which can often cost additional $$ over SD).

* NHL Network may be getting fiber feeds for some games.

[wolfjc]

For Friday's NHLCI lineup, Directv showed the Calgary-Detroit game in SD using the Detroit feed. That's it, just one channel.

Nine hours later, NHLN showed the same game, delayed, using the Flames broadcast via Rogers Sports Net in beautiful 1080i.

What's the deal? Does NHLN have magic satellite dishes? Dishes that see satellites that Directv can't pick up?

I don't understand why the Flames' lovely HD broadcast wasn't made part of Friday's NHLCI package I purchased from Directv, on the expectation that Directv would try its best to present the games live and in HD, using money I earned by working at a job.

NHLN is in Canada and therefor gets HD feeds from Canada that no other pay TV service seems to be able to get.
NHLN also shows Hockey Night in Canada in HD also.

[Chilcoot]

Thank you for all your thoughtful responses.

In purchasing NHLCI, I expected that the NHL and Directv would work together and with those entities that produce NHL telecasts to provide those telecasts to me. Here, I see the NHL obtaining the HD feed of a NHL game, saving it to a hard drive, keeping it away from Directv and its NHLCI subscribers, but then broadcasting it nine hours later in the middle of the night on the NHL's wholly-owned network.

What the heck is the point of that?

Taking it one step further: why is the NHL allowing its broadcast partners (here Rogers SportsNet) to deny some of the NHL's best fans (here us NHLCI subscribers) broadcasts we pay for? What is the point of needlessly frustrating us? We stepped forward and pay!

If there's a technical hurdle to overcome, I get that, and can accept missing a broadcast that the NHL and Directv can't provide. That's not the case here.

Frustrating.

[dvdmth]

Bear in mind that the NHL Center Ice package is less of a money maker for DirecTV than other sports packages. The money they take in will ultimately impact the total number of feeds available. A number of things must come together for any given feed to be on CI - the NHL must have agreements with the networks and/or teams that control the feeds, DirecTV must have technical access to the feeds, they must be willing to allocate the necessary bandwidth for the feeds (only an issue for networks they don't carry full-time), they must be willing to pay whatever the feed costs, etc.

In general, feed availability is much better for networks DirecTV already carries than for those DirecTV doesn't carry full-time, including Canadian feeds, CSN Philly, and OTA. One major exception to this rule is the lack of MSG HD on Center Ice, due to a lack of on agreement between MSG HD and the NHL (meaning NO provider can use MSG HD at this time, whether they carry the network or not). I will note that, MSG HD notwithstanding, the overall availability of feeds on Center Ice has improved pretty much every season. The problem is, as you get closer to having everything, the pieces you are missing tend to stick out more.

When we first subscribed to Center Ice a decade or so ago, there were numerous games not on the package at all (any feed), you often only got one feed (even when both teams broadcast the game), and Canadian feeds were limited to CBC broadcasts (and only some of those).

[MrMars]

Thank you for all your thoughtful responses.

In purchasing NHLCI, I expected that the NHL and Directv would work together and with those entities that produce NHL telecasts to provide those telecasts to me. Here, I see the NHL obtaining the HD feed of a NHL game, saving it to a hard drive, keeping it away from Directv and its NHLCI subscribers, but then broadcasting it nine hours later in the middle of the night on the NHL's wholly-owned network.

What the heck is the point of that?

Taking it one step further: why is the NHL allowing its broadcast partners (here Rogers SportsNet) to deny some of the NHL's best fans (here us NHLCI subscribers) broadcasts we pay for? What is the point of needlessly frustrating us? We stepped forward and pay!

If there's a technical hurdle to overcome, I get that, and can accept missing a broadcast that the NHL and Directv can't provide. That's not the case here.

Frustrating.

Sportsnet is not denying anyone anything, if they were you would not see Sportnet HD games on Bell, Star Choice, Rogers, Indemand ETC (and Sportsnet Ontario HD on DirecTV) It works the other way around north of the border, The Canadian HD providers do not have HD feeds from any of the CSN's since those RSN's are fiber delivered, it is not CSN blocking it, it is just the Canadian providers have no way to receive the feed without paying for fiber, I don't blame the NHL it would cost them a fortune to fiber every HD game to all providers, they cannot do it for DirecTV and not Bell. Indemand does use CSN randomly, they must be making enough off CI to justify the costs for bringing in the extra sources.

[S.C. Am]

The Canadian HD providers do not have HD feeds from any of the CSN's since those RSN's are fiber delivered

Not true - all the Canadian RSN HD feeds are full time on Anik F2, except for Rogers Sportsnet Ontario which is on Anik F1R.

As I posted earlier, it's just a case of US cable/satellite companies paying the transport fee to Shaw Broadcast Services for the HD feed (and having authorized Motorola DCII receivers in place).

[BruinsHockey08]

Not true - all the Canadian RSN HD feeds are full time on Anik F2, except for Rogers Sportsnet Ontario which is on Anik F1R.

As I posted earlier, it's just a case of US cable/satellite companies paying the transport fee to Shaw Broadcast Services for the HD feed (and having authorized Motorola DCII receivers in place).

Well there are two Senators games on DTV's schedule this week (Tuesday, and Sunday, and one Flames feed tonight. I hope this is a sign of things to come moving forward, I'd love to see the Rogers Sports Net, and CBC HD feeds first, TSN can wait, even though that is also high on my list.

[islesfan]

It would really help if we had a comissioner who had his act together. The whole MSG HD issue is squarely at Gary Bettman's feet. The fault is with the Dolan$, of course, but if GB had any real control as commissioner, he would have followed through with his original threat over the website and taken the Ranger$ away from the Dolan$. It may seem a drastic move, but in the end, the league makes a ruling, gets a court order, and the offending owner$ still do whatever they want with impunity. It's like having the UN in charge of the league!

[bgilga]

I agree with Islesfan. Gary Bettman is a joke. It is the Dolans holding back MSG HD from CI. I get it as my RSN, so I know it is not Directv. It is time Bettman steps into the D*/VS fray. It has been over 2 months and nothing. I am also ticked about losing the 10PM HNIC game on NHLN. I really enjoyed it. I hope that some day will come back.

[n3ntj]

I thought Bettman's answer to the 10pm HNIC game question was stupid. He said the NHL saw it more as a benefit to its fan to show 7pm game highlights at 10pm on the NHL On The Fly program instead of showing the 10pm HNIC game.

I for one would rather see a 10pm game. If I want highlights I'll go on the net or watch ESPN or something. Bring back the 10pm HNIC game please.