It's Official!!! ESPN-2 HD on D* beginning 1/6!!!

[DCSholtis]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA492400.html?display=Breaking+News

Just a headline but its good enough for me...(Subscription required to read the full article)

[Smthkd]

Yeah, I read it will began broadcast @ 7pm at the CES show!!!

[Chris Blount]

ESPN2 HD Inks Deals with DirecTV, Adelphia

ESPN will light up ESPN2 HD today, and the sports programmer has agreements with DirecTV and Adelphia for carriage of the new high def sports network.

ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will offer 82 live events during the first 83 days of 2005 across both services, the sports programmer said. In total, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver 300 major events plus 2,000 programs totaling 6,000 hours in high definition in 2005, ESPN said.

All high-definition programming on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will be delivered to cable systems and satellite providers in the 720p high-definition format.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[fluffybear]

82 events across 2 channels over 83 days. Sounds like a waste of bandwidth to me..

I am disappointed D* signed an agreement for carriage but I suspect they were forced in to carrying this bandwidth waster in order to secure ABC HD.

I personally think ESPN and ESPN 2 both should only be carried when they actually show HD events as a special event.

[juan ellitinez]

Or maybe they should be combined for one channel..what a complete waste of bandwidth

[lordspork]

Good lord, lets complain a little more about more HD content. The whole 82 events in 83 days is still pretty slick. But you forgot to read the part below that... "ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver 300 major events plus 2,000 programs totaling 6,000 hours in high definition in 2005" And if you still don't like that they don't watch the channel.

[fluffybear]

Good lord, lets complain a little more about more HD content. The whole 82 events in 83 days is still pretty slick. But you forgot to read the part below that... "ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver 300 major events plus 2,000 programs totaling 6,000 hours in high definition in 2005" And if you still don't like that they don't watch the channel.

What you fail to realize is those who are complaining (such as myself) see no reason to dedicate 2 channels to a network who will not even show 1 event a day throughout 2005 (300 events in 365 days). 2000 programs totallying 6000 hours is nothing to write home about when you take in the account they show multiple airings of programs such as Sportscenter, NFL countdown, and Baseball tonight. I can come up with nearly 2000 programs totalling 6000 hours just with those 3 programs alone (keep in mind each airing is considered a different program since contains some new material).

I would like to have seen D* carry these channels as such special event channels and not have to deal with the additional compression and PQ quality issues resulting from having to stuff these 2 useless channels on the satellite 24/7.

[Tusk]

DirecTV was between a rock and a hard place with this one. If they don't carry ESPN2 HD, they would never hear the end of it from sports fans when games are being played in HD on ESPN2 and the channel isn't available. On the other hand, people who are still waiting for Starz HD, TNT-HD, etc. will view this as a waste of bandwith, just as they view the Season Ticket HD channels as a waste. Since sports fans are more rabid (in general) than other viewers, they had little choice but to add it (not considering any contractual requirements).

[lionsrule]

[QUOTE=fluffybear]What you fail to realize is those who are complaining (such as myself) see no reason to dedicate 2 channels to a network who will not even show 1 event a day throughout 2005 (300 events in 365 days).

What YOU fail to realize is that MOST of us have a LIFE. If I were to use your logic, you are basically saying that you have at least 2-4 hours a day to WANT to watch HD programming.....that's assuming that you are ok with ONLY watching ESPN in HD. I'll go out on a limb and assume that you also watch other programming in the networks and other "cable" hd networks. So basically you are complaining that you need MORE than 4-6 hours of HD a DAY!!??!!

What do you do for a living? HD Critic?? Professional couch breaker iner??

Jesus Christ, I feel fortunate if I am able to set aside a good 2 hour chunk every other day to enjoy some HD programming.

[durl]

I don't blame Directv for ESPN's lack of content, I blame ESPN. Consumers are clamoring for HD and Directv is attempting to provide it. My complaint is that there's not enough quality HD programming out there to fill the need. In ESPN's case, I'm sure that's due to the lack of equipment and cost. Anyway, getting more HD content is going to take time. I like UniversalHD's premise: gather HD content from your various networks and broadcast them on one channel.

[DCSholtis]

WTG D*!!!!!! Once again the leader in sports programming as they should be. As for the other channels mentioned sure I wouldnt mind TNT-HD just for the NBA and NASCAR. Not for the upconverted movies that doesnt count, IMO. And as for Starz-HD. Yawn could care less about that channel.

[fluffybear]

[QUOTE=fluffybear]What you fail to realize is those who are complaining (such as myself) see no reason to dedicate 2 channels to a network who will not even show 1 event a day throughout 2005 (300 events in 365 days).

What YOU fail to realize is that MOST of us have a LIFE. If I were to use your logic, you are basically saying that you have at least 2-4 hours a day to WANT to watch HD programming.....that's assuming that you are ok with ONLY watching ESPN in HD. I'll go out on a limb and assume that you also watch other programming in the networks and other "cable" hd networks. So basically you are complaining that you need MORE than 4-6 hours of HD a DAY!!??!!

What do you do for a living? HD Critic?? Professional couch breaker iner??

Jesus Christ, I feel fortunate if I am able to set aside a good 2 hour chunk every other day to enjoy some HD programming.

I only wish you would have read my entire message before replying because if you had read my message completely you would have seen that I am not objecting to carrying these HD events on D*.

What I am objecting to is carrying a channel for 24/7 that only is showing 1 event every other day. D* could very easily carry both ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD has a special event channel (they have done it in the past) when they actually show HD events.

Next, They make devices which allow you to record HD programming (they are called Tivo's - maybe you have heard of them) so yes I would like to see more HD programming.

Last, Why would I want to waste 10 times the bandwidth to watch World Series of Poker in ESPN HD with black sidebars when I can watch it on ESPN. We wouldn't have nearly half the problems we do with PQ if we would only carry channels like this when they actually showing something in HD.

[JAXDAVE]

One thing that has not been addressed here is that ESPN has made a huge investment in HD equipment in the last two years and they continue to do so. The amount of true HD sports is more dependent on the number of HD capable mobile production trucks than anything else and there are new trucks being built by mobile production companies every month. It will take a while to reach the point where there are enough trucks to broadcast most of the sporting events in the US but they are getting there fast. As far as ESPN 2 HD is concerned, they are focusing much of their programming on College Basketball right now, which has a huge audience in the US whether you like it or not. I have watched Universal HD, it is NOT good. It's all old reruns and shows no one watches. They were still showing Olympics reruns just last week and the NBC Olympic HD coverage was terrible the first time around! TNT-HD is nothing more than badly upconverted movies and Law and Order reruns with the occasional NBA game sprinkled in. Definetly NOT worth the bandwith. Give me ESPN2 HD over those two channels anytime. Like it or not, Sports is the single biggest factor driving the growth of HD right now and it will continue to be for the forseeable future. Bottom line is that Sports will increase the HD customer base for all of the Satellite and Cable providers much more than anything else. If you are not a sports fan, than keep in mind that in the end, the more HD subscribers there are, the better your overall programming choices will get as we move forward.

[n8dagr8]

If ESPN2-HD is a waste of bandwidth then so is Discovery Channel HD. They show the same dozen shows for the entire month and if I'm not mistaken we pay the most for that channel. ESPN has done more than any other programmer to increase it's original HD content and is one of the pioneers of HD in the US. At least ESPN is trying to supply us with HD. I know they are making money but having all that equipment for HD production is not cheap. I see this as D* taking a step forward in adding HD content. I probably won't watch much on ESPN2-HD but I'm glad to have it. It's progress. Hang on.....it looks like D* has a lot in store.

[muledoggie]

[QUOTE=fluffybear]What you fail to realize is those who are complaining (such as myself) see no reason to dedicate 2 channels to a network who will not even show 1 event a day throughout 2005 (300 events in 365 days).

Other stuff deleted.

QUOTE]

My question is what sports alternative would you suggest?

Jeff

[fluffybear]

[QUOTE=fluffybear]What you fail to realize is those who are complaining (such as myself) see no reason to dedicate 2 channels to a network who will not even show 1 event a day throughout 2005 (300 events in 365 days).

Other stuff deleted.

QUOTE]

My question is what sports alternative would you suggest?

Jeff


<RANT> It has proven over and over the amount of people in this country who fail to read what is presented before them. I took a test back in college which proved this very fact and I have used the same test in my work enviroment to prove the same point time and time again. </RANT>

What I have said and I will say for the last time that I DO NOT OBJECT to D* carrying ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD as a special event broadcast when they carry HD Events.

I see no purpose in carrying 2 channels which are only duplicating what is on ESPN and ESPN2 with the only difference being 2 black sidebars on ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD.

[RAD]

OK, this thread made it sound like a done deal but I don't see ESPN2-HD in the guide anywhere yet. Now does someone have knowledge that this will REALLY happen or was someone just hoping since D* and ESPN signed an agreement (but no announcement when it would be carried)?

[Rams427]

What a bunch of crap! No hd for Cincy/Depaul. No espn2 HD on D*

[BFG]

hahaha!!! way too funny!

[RAD]

While it's not on D* at this time, and I'm sure some folks are PO'ed (especially after looking at the title of this thread) I don't think anyone should be mad at D*. Nowhere did they ever announce that it would be on tonight, just some wishful thinking by some that it would be on.

[DCSholtis]

Get this according to posts at avsforums NO ONE is getting this. Its just a direct feed from ESPN to CES. There was an earlier press release stating the deal, BTW.

[openhouse]

anyone want to call directv and ask

here is the info from the press release

Bob Marsocci, His Phone #310-726-4656
Robert Mercer, His Phone #310-726-4683

[JohnH]

BTW: All 3 games are being backhauled in HD. Picture must be great at CES. Sure is on the backhauls. You might notice a bit of improvement is the ESPN2 SD as it is a downconvert of the HD.

[DCSholtis]

There was an improvement JohnH over the usual SD on ESPN2 tonight during the games. I did notice it. BTW and this is just a wild guess at this point maybe since D* almost always launches new channels on Tuesdays we will have to wait till then, who knows. I can wait awhile.

[BFG]

Well after the big lineup tonight, there wont be anything until tuesday, so you wouldn't miss anything...

[muledoggie]

<RANT> It has proven over and over the amount of people in this country who fail to read what is presented before them. I took a test back in college which proved this very fact and I have used the same test in my work enviroment to prove the same point time and time again. </RANT>

What I have said and I will say for the last time that I DO NOT OBJECT to D* carrying ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD as a special event broadcast when they carry HD Events.

I see no purpose in carrying 2 channels which are only duplicating what is on ESPN and ESPN2 with the only difference being 2 black sidebars on ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD.

Dude. Calm. Calm.

I am asking what HD sports network would be an alternative to ESPN2 if you are so down on it (them).

Question: Do you watch much sports?

Jeff

[jdspencer]

There's a long thread over at the AVS HDTV Programming forum that has gotten very hostile.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=491650

[fluffybear]

Dude. Calm. Calm.

I am asking what HD sports network would be an alternative to ESPN2 if you are so down on it (them).

Question: Do you watch much sports?

Jeff

I do not want to waste channel space on anyone who is now using the majority of their program day to show HD material.

There is no Sports channel I would bandwidth on 24/7 at this time. I have no problem carrying the events as special events though...

As for how much sports I watch, I don't think that has anything to do with my post but I will answer it. I use to watch quite a bit of it but as the players and owners became more greedy and penalized me. (by going out strike or lock out) I lost interest in them. Prior to that I use to watch games every game possible and first section I grabbed in the morning was Sports but that changed. I still watch quite a few games and would be very happy to have ESPN and ESPN2 in HD if the majority of their line was original HD programming and not just a duplicate of the SD channels. I did enjoy watching Hustle and 3 a few weeks ago on ESPN HD.

I would have prefered that ESPN HD beef up their line up before adding another channel.

[grassvalley]

Next to the nature shows on Discovery, sports showcases the power of HD the most. As the price of HD sets go down the more people want new HD channels. It would be stupid for ESPN to put all their HD programming on ESPN and leave ESPN2 with crappy shows like poker and the spelling bee. ESPN 2 needs to show popular sporting events and live games. If they can get those games in HD, why not have ESPN2 HD? One thing that hurt them with ESPN 2HD was the hockey strike. If hockey was playing, there would be more HD games on.
They just moved NFL LIVE into the new Digital Center. They just put another HD control room on line this week in that building and the 3rd HD studio is being built now. The main reason all games aren't in HD is because the lack of HD mobile trucks. NMT, NEC, GameCreek among others are building the new HD trucks, but it takes a long time to roll out one of those monsters.

[fluffybear]

The NHL Lockout did not spring up overnight! It's been almost 4 months already since the lockout began. Disney should have maybe thought about delaying ESPN2-HD until next Fall if they could not program their channel properly.

HD Net offers a special feed for Maverick games on occasion and I notice D* picks up that feed as well. Why could the same thing not have been done for ESPN and the Duece. I'll give you ESPN-HD but only carry the duece when they actually broadcast an event.
As for NFL Live, There is 3 weeks left and all the games are on the networks. We can always look at adding ESPN2-HD next fall after Spaceway is launched and the NHL hires all their replacement players.