NFL on FOX leads charge into Hi-Def

[LRK84]

FOX Sports' 2004 NFL regular and postseason broadcast schedule boasts an unprecedented presentation of high definition programming. Beginning Sept. 12, the network will present up to six games in 720p high definition every week during the regular season. In addition, all nationally televised regular and postseason games, including the NFC Championship Game and SUPER BOWL XXXIX, will be offered in the 720p (progressive) high definition format, which takes 60 razor sharp, complete pictures per second, producing spectacular moving images. No other network has ever produced as many as six NFL games in HD on the same day.

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2320250

[sto22]

Here's hoping Directv picks up the HD feeds like they did for CBS.

I qualify for FOX east/west feeds. My two local affiliates don't even have their DT signals broadcasting yet, let alone HD.

sto22

[Brewer4]

I would almost guarantee Fox will offer. They have the lock on Sunday Ticket and ownership of Directv. This is another opportunity to lock their monopoly. Plus with the new bird going up next month, they should have adequate capacity to allow.

[alanjm1]

I currently get all my HD through Comcast Digital Cable. I have DirectTV but only use it for NFL Sunday Ticket. Being that only one (CBS) game was offered per week in HD I didn't think it was worth it to upgrade my equipment to HD. But now with up to 6 (FOX) games per week, it might just be worth it. I heard the NFL Sunday Ticket will only be exclusive with DirectTV for another couple of years? Meaning cable companies will offer it in the future. Anybody have any info on that?

[Brewer4]

NFL and DIRECTV Extend and Expand Exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET Agreement for Five Years
NFL CHANNEL to Launch on DIRECTV


New York, NY and El Segundo, CA Dec 11, 2002 The National Football League and DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, announced today a five-year agreement to extend and expand DIRECTV's exclusive rights to carry NFL SUNDAY TICKET, the subscription television package that delivers up to 14 games each week during the NFL season. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The agreement includes a commitment to expand services to NFL fans, including the launch of the NFL CHANNEL on DIRECTV as early as next year. The NFL CHANNEL will be the first year-round television programming service fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. The NFL CHANNEL will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, on a year-round basis.

DIRECTV will continue to have exclusive satellite television rights to NFL SUNDAY TICKET through 2007 and exclusive multichannel television rights through 2005. In addition, the new agreement gives DIRECTV the opportunity for the first time to offer NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscribers exclusive enhanced technical innovations, including high-definition game telecasts, viewer-selected cameras and replays, and other advanced digital technology.

"We are excited to extend our association with America's number-one satellite television distributor," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Our partnership with DIRECTV will continue to complement and support our broadcast television packages that allow us to put all of our games on free, over-the-air television. This agreement also continues the NFL tradition of leadership in sports television technology by developing more opportunities for fans to experience high-definition television and other new high-tech and interactive innovations, including a new year-round NFL CHANNEL."

"For the past eight years on Sundays during football season, fans in homes all over the country have made DIRECTV their viewing destination of choice to catch unrivaled NFL action," said Eddy W. Hartenstein, DIRECTV chairman and CEO. "DIRECTV and NFL SUNDAY TICKET are a football lover's dream come true and we are delighted to renew our long-standing partnership with the NFL. NFL SUNDAY TICKET has been a significant programming differentiator for DIRECTV, helping us build a loyal subscriber base. As we look ahead, we are excited to offer football fans nationwide compelling new programming services-including high-definition and enhanced broadcasts-that they can't get elsewhere."

NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscribers can view all out-of-market NFL games every Sunday during the regular season, up to 14 games each week.

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

Beginning Sept. 12, the network will present up to six games in 720p high definition every week during the regular season.

So, I assume that means that local games wont always be broadcast in HD? Judging by that statement, it is my understanding that 6 games will be picked each week to have HD equipment at. So, as a Chicagoan, I have about a 1 in 3 chance each week of seeing the Bears in HD?

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

So, I assume that means that local games wont always be broadcast in HD? Judging by that statement, it is my understanding that 6 games will be picked each week to have HD equipment at. So, as a Chicagoan, I have about a 1 in 3 chance each week of seeing the Bears in HD?

Actually, I want to correct myself. FOr some reason, i was thinking that it applied to both CBS and Fox. When I went and looked at it again, FOX only has about 5 games a week. So, almosy every game they cover will be in HD.

[alanjm1]

DIRECTV will continue to have exclusive satellite television rights to NFL SUNDAY TICKET through 2007 and exclusive multichannel television rights through 2005.

Exclusive multichannel television rights through 2005? I'm not sure what that means. I thought it would be offered to the cable companies after that. Maybe I'm wrong though.

[alexgtp]

HOLY CRAP!! This rules.

Now I can watch NFL games in HD on CBS and FOX!!! GO BEARS!!

[PhattyD]

Basic question...

If I subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket, and have the DirecTV HD equipment, will ALL of the HD games on Fox come through in HD via my Sunday Ticket subscription?

[BFG]

Yes, which right now looks like 8 a week (2 from CBS and 6 from FOX) keep in mind that you'll still be blacked out from the games your affiliate has coverage of, and would require using OTA if that game is in HD.

[PhattyD]

Got it. Thanks for the confirmation. You raise a good point, but I don't think that local blackouts will be a huge issue for me as I'm a Viking fan living in Southern California. That is, of course, unless the Vikes go on a tear and start getting on to national TV every week. ;-)

I'll probably go for the OTA antenna as well anyway, it's only an extra $50-$100 right? Pretty small incremental investment when one considers how much the TVs and HD DirecTV equipment cost to start with...

[JackDizzle]

Even though I live in an AFC town, that's still awesome. Football and HD go together like 'peas and carrots'. I did notice that The Vikes / Texans game will be broadcast in HD. Hopefully we'll have FoxHD up and running here in Houston by then. Go Texans!

[chris]

Lets face it, its a big part of the reason why people get Direct TV. I wish they would, but it'd be really dumb of them to do that...........

[hdtvtechno]

Everyone should getting the games in HDTV as of now today.

[mfabien]

Getting their first season game in HD at this moment but there's trouble with their sound...could be a Detroit problem but in this case my sense is that it's a the source. For instance updates from their LA studios on other games carries good sound.

[jokerb]

The Skins/Bucs game looked and sounded great!!

Then again, seeing my Redskins win would look great in black and white on a 13" screen.

[Hosehead]

I agree that the Skins game was fantastic. However, now the Eagles are on, but the sound keeps cutting out, and there are replays in SD...what the hell???

[hdtvtechno]

post all of u problems u getting at the following forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=445355&perpage=60&pagenumber=1

a few enginners watching the forum

[DoubleDAZ]

Lets face it, its a big part of the reason why people get Direct TV. I wish they would, but it'd be really dumb of them to do that...........Yes, that's a big part and that's why they have an exclusive contract right now. However, once that is up for renewal, anything can happen and the price will almost certainly rise if the NFL offers the package and DirecTV keeps it.

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

The picture was OUTSTANDING! but like most other Fox sporting event coverage, their audio was c-r-a-p. Levels were constenly changing. More often than not, the announcers were burried beneith very loud croud mics and the sounds for graphics were just plain annoying.

[flyboybob]

I watched a little of the Dallas Cowboys and the Vikings in HD. The picture was great! Unfortunately, it didn't help make the Cowboy's play look any better.

[sanewsdude]

i wish i could have seen any of the games today in HD. my local fox affil is not in digital on my local TWC... so the only way to get them is OTA (and i don't have a tuner yet). then my local CBS game wasn't in HD so no dice there. Got to see all the highlights on ESPN HD though. Needless to say... I'm getting my receiver this week!

[humdinger70]

Got to see two games in HD today - TB/Wash and Atl/SF. Sound was fine for the game coverage, but would cut out when they were in the studio. Only applied to the HD broadcast. No audio problem on regular SD broadcast when doing studio shots.