Fox Sports Net: All HD by 1Q 2009
(Fox Sports Net News Release)

LOS ANGELES - (Business Wire) Today at the annual NCTA conference in New Orleans, FSN Networks President Randy Freer announced that FSN, the industry’s largest group of regional sports networks, will begin transitioning to round-the-clock HD telecasts in the first quarter of 2009.

This ambitious initiative means that FSN will have the capability to produce its entire slate of more than 3,000 Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and NCAA Football and Basketball events in HD—far and away more than any other sports TV provider in the U.S.

Said Freer: “This is the next step in the evolution of FSN’s commitment to being the leaders in HD sports production. It’s one of the best ways we can serve the local sports fans throughout the country, and it also allows us to offer tremendous value to our team partners and distributors.”

Added Mike Hopkins, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Affiliate Sales & Marketing for Fox Cable Networks: “HD is one of our distributors’ and their customers’ highest priorities, so it’s incumbent upon us to offer them our most popular services in HD. We have consistently found that sports drives the adaptation of new technologies, and the deep emotional commitment local fans have to their teams will accelerate the HD and digital transition.”

The 16 owned-and-operated FSN regional sports networks are already the most prolific producers of HD sports programming in the country with more than 1,700 live high-definition telecasts of the MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA Football and Basketball. Since debuting its HD telecasts nearly five years ago with approximately 200 games, FSN has essentially doubled its HD schedule every year, making its RSNs the largest providers of local HD events in America.

FSN’s transition to full-time HD in 2009 will be made possible by Fox Networks Group investment and construction of the nation’s largest and most technically state-of-the-art television transmissions center, Fox Network Center Houston. The 184,000-square-foot facility will be able to handle more signal traffic than any other similar facility, including as many as 40 live games in a single day.

FSN will determine HD roll-out plans for each of its individual regional sports networks based on several factors including team telecast rights and distribution agreements.

Besides its regional sports network events, Fox Networks Group already provides HD versions of its flagship FOX and FX networks, National Geographic Channel, SPEED and its most recent new service, Big Ten Network, which produces more events in HD than any new network in television history.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/fsns-high-definition-telecasts-to-skyrocket,399559.shtml

what about CSN stations??

Wow, from 2 games a month (if you're lucky) to 100%? I really want to believe this is going to happen...

Bring on the Baseball!!

what about CSN stations??
If you mean the Comcast SportNets, why should they be discussed in a press release from Fox SportsNet? The Comcast SNs will go all HD for their major league teams on their own schedule, which will likely be later than the 1st half of 2009. The question I have from this press release is that what exactly does going "all HD" mean? A full time HD channel with all the major league teams (MLB, NBA, NHL) in HD does not mean that all games or events will be in HD. What about 2nd tier college basketball or baseball games? Soccer? This is good news for HD for those in the FSN regions but one has to parse the press releases carefully before jumping to conclusions.

If you mean the Comcast SportNets, why should they be discussed in a press release from Fox SportsNet? The Comcast SNs will go all HD for their major league teams on their own schedule, which will likely be later than the 1st half of 2009. The question I have from this press release is that what exactly does going "all HD" mean? A full time HD channel with all the major league teams (MLB, NBA, NHL) in HD does not mean that all games or events will be in HD. What about 2nd tier college basketball or baseball games? Soccer? This is good news for HD for those in the FSN regions but one has to parse the press releases carefully before jumping to conclusions.

they do share feeds and FSN national programming (at least CSN bay area does). i was just hoping this announcement would include their prior affiliates.

Regarding the latest news about FSN, I do have a question. I currently have FSN HD, which consists of only a game or two on a daily basis while the rest of the network itself is a complete blackout. What kind of impact will the 24/7 HD sports mean? I also wonder about other shows such as the Best Damn Sports Show Period, Sport Science, and Before the Bigs. Will they as well be in HD? They also didn't mention other sporting events such as MLS Soccer and Volleyball (beach and hardwood court).

Any specifics regarding my questions will do.

I wonder if this had anything to do with Cablevision (NY) rebranding their FSN-NY to MSG+. I guess they had to make the distinction since they own it and not Fox.

maybe this will be enough to have comcast give FSN a dedicated channel... i HATE the fact that I can't easily DVR games because they are on MOJO

Regarding the latest news about FSN, I do have a question. I currently have FSN HD, which consists of only a game or two on a daily basis while the rest of the network itself is a complete blackout. What kind of impact will the 24/7 HD sports mean? I also wonder about other shows such as the Best Damn Sports Show Period, Sport Science, and Before the Bigs. Will they as well be in HD? They also didn't mention other sporting events such as MLS Soccer and Volleyball (beach and hardwood court).

Any specifics regarding my questions will do.

Some of the shows such as SportScience are already produced in HD, however, they are not shown in HD on FSN.
Once FSN goes HD 24/7 as opposed to the current part time setup you should see some of these shows in HD.

I wonder if this had anything to do with Cablevision (NY) rebranding their FSN-NY to MSG+. I guess they had to make the distinction since they own it and not Fox.

This announcement has nothing to do with the rebranding of MSG+.

FSN-NY being rebranded was just a matter of time once Cablevision sold their part of the national holding company for FSN.

maybe this will be enough to have comcast give FSN a dedicated channel... i HATE the fact that I can't easily DVR games because they are on MOJO

We have one here in Knoxville and it's mostly color bars. They replaced it with FX HD for a few weeks, but FSN HD is back for it's one HD game of the week.

I'll believe it when i see it. The FSN regionals produce a ton of content. I dont know that there are enough trucks on the road to realistically be able to provide all of it in HD, let alone a Baylor vs. North Dakota softball game or something. They have to have some agreement with mobile vendors for the build out of a lot of mobile units.

I'll believe it when i see it. The FSN regionals produce a ton of content. I dont know that there are enough trucks on the road to realistically be able to provide all of it in HD, let alone a Baylor vs. North Dakota softball game or something. They have to have some agreement with mobile vendors for the build out of a lot of mobile units.

This release only says the professional games will be all in HD.

I believe this line, "will begin transitioning to round-the-clock HD telecasts in the first quarter of 2009" only means they will go from game time only channels to full time simulcasts.

Curious if the Best Damn Sports Show Period will go HD?

The Business of Television
FSN Raises HD Game
16 Regional Sports Networks To Present Round-The-Clock HD Telecasts Next Year
By Mike Reynolds, Multichannel News, 5/19/2008

FSN is going to raise its HD game--significantly.

The owner and operator of 16 regional sports networks around the country said it will transition toward offering round-the-clock high-definition telecast in the first quarter of 2009. In the process, the FSN services will produce its entire slate of more than 3,000 Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and college football and basketball games in the enhanced format, up from some 1,700 in 2008.

The additional contests will make FSN, according to company officials, the leading provider of HD sports fare in the nation.

“This is the next step in the evolution of FSN’s commitment to being the leaders in HD sports production,” said FSN Networks president Randy Freer in a statement. “It’s one of the best ways we can serve the local sports fans throughout the country, and it also allows us to offer tremendous value to our team partners and distributors.”

Since debuting its HD telecasts nearly five years ago with some 200 games, FSN has essentially doubled its HD schedule every year, making its RSNs the largest providers of local HD events in America.

The sports programmer’s push to full-time HD in 2009 is being fueled by Fox Networks Group’s investment and construction of the nation’s largest and most technically state-of-the-art television transmissions center, Fox Network Center Houston. The 184,000-square-foot facility will be able to handle more signal traffic than any other similar facility, including as many as 40 live games in a single day.

FSN said the RSNs’ HD roll-out plans will be determined by a number of factors, including team telecast rights and distribution agreements.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6562371.html

Hopefully Final Score goes HD as well and/or FSN provides HD highlights to ESPN and ESPNEWS.

When these channels go full time, I hope Dish will add your region to the HD only package...with this and ESPNU-HD later this year, I could drop standard def channels completely. Although unfortuntely Im sure they are already aware of that.

How will this work with regions that do multiple teams though? For example, FSN-South does the Hurricanes (and now the Bobcats) here in NC, but I know they also do Predators and Grizzlies games. Seems like the FSNs would have to move from part-time to having multiple fulltime versions of the same channel.

How will this work with regions that do multiple teams though? For example, FSN-South does the Hurricanes (and now the Bobcats) here in NC, but I know they also do Predators and Grizzlies games. Seems like the FSNs would have to move from part-time to having multiple fulltime versions of the same channel.

I know with Dish there are several alternate channels (called ALT and HD-ALT) that can handle multiple sports broadcasts by the same FSN at the same time. You can only see the games that you have access too (in Nashville, I can see Braves, Reds, Predators, and Grizzlies games).

^Thanks...sorry I just signed up for Dish and it hasnt been installed yet, so dont know all the details on how the RSNs work...was disappointed to hear the HD only package did not include your RSN, and you had to have an AT package to get the sports pack.

was disappointed to hear the HD only package did not include your RSN, and you had to have an AT package to get the sports pack.

This is the #1 reason why I can't switch to the HD-only package. I switched to Dish to get SportsSouth to watch the Braves play, so there is no way I am going to lose every Braves game and every Predators game on FSN South/SportsSouth.

From Broadcast Engineering HD Technology Update

FSN to begin telecasts of HD sports full-time in 2009

Regional sports networks powerhouse FSN will begin around-the-clock HD telecasts in the first quarter of 2009, FSN Networks president Randy Freer said Monday at NCTA’s The Cable Show in New Orleans.

The initiative means that FSN will have the capability to produce its entire slate of more than 3000 Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and NCAA football and basketball games in HD.

The network has found sports consistently “drives the adaptation of new technologies, and the deep emotional commitment local fans have to their teams will accelerate the HD and digital transition,” said FSN executive VP and general manager Mike Hopkins.

The 16 owned-and-operated FSN regional sports networks currently produce more than 1700 live high-definition telecasts of the MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA football and basketball. Since debuting its HD telecasts nearly five years ago with about 200 games, FSN has essentially doubled its HD schedule every year.

To support its full-time HD commitment, the Fox Networks Group is building Fox Network Center Houston, one of the nation’s largest state-of-the-art TV transmission center. The 184,000sq-ft facility will be able to handle as many as 40 live games in a single day.

FSN will determine HD roll-out plans for each of its individual regional sports networks based on a variety of factors, including team telecast rights and distribution agreements.

Its about time.

Maybe I'm not interpreting these stories correctly, but the headlines don't seem to agree with the content in bodies of the stories. The bodies of the stories say only that FSN will be transitioning toward 100% HD in the first quarter of next year--not that they will be full HD by then. And they don't say when the transitioning will be complete--before the end of next year? before the end of the century?

The news release is very poorly worded, Dennis.

FSN will be transitioning to full HD from now to the 1Q of 2009, by which time the transition should be complete.

This may get us that much closer to a full NHL Center Ice HD package if not this year then next.

Might be a the final straw in the decision to switch to D*. The only other provider that could even hope to offer the full complement of RSNs and games in HD is FiOS, and they don't seem to be taking any steps in that direction.

If you mean the Comcast SportNets, why should they be discussed in a press release from Fox SportsNet? The Comcast SNs will go all HD for their major league teams on their own schedule, which will likely be later than the 1st half of 2009. The question I have from this press release is that what exactly does going "all HD" mean? A full time HD channel with all the major league teams (MLB, NBA, NHL) in HD does not mean that all games or events will be in HD. What about 2nd tier college basketball or baseball games? Soccer? This is good news for HD for those in the FSN regions but one has to parse the press releases carefully before jumping to conclusions.

Because in some markets FSNHD and CSNHD share the same feed like Northern California for One.

I wonder how much longer it will take until FSN, Versus, and other sports channels bother to compose for 16:9 instead of shooting for a 4:3 center-cut and treating HD as an afterthought.

From Broadcast Engineering HD Technology Update

FSN to begin telecasts of HD sports full-time in 2009

Regional sports networks powerhouse FSN will begin around-the-clock HD telecasts in the first quarter of 2009, FSN Networks president Randy Freer said Monday at NCTA’s The Cable Show in New Orleans.

The initiative means that FSN will have the capability to produce its entire slate of more than 3000 Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and NCAA football and basketball games in HD.

The network has found sports consistently “drives the adaptation of new technologies, and the deep emotional commitment local fans have to their teams will accelerate the HD and digital transition,” said FSN executive VP and general manager Mike Hopkins.

The 16 owned-and-operated FSN regional sports networks currently produce more than 1700 live high-definition telecasts of the MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA football and basketball. Since debuting its HD telecasts nearly five years ago with about 200 games, FSN has essentially doubled its HD schedule every year.

To support its full-time HD commitment, the Fox Networks Group is building Fox Network Center Houston, one of the nation’s largest state-of-the-art TV transmission center. The 184,000sq-ft facility will be able to handle as many as 40 live games in a single day.

FSN will determine HD roll-out plans for each of its individual regional sports networks based on a variety of factors, including team telecast rights and distribution agreements.


fredfa posted this Monday afternoon --- not with the most descriptive thread title...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1030944

fredfa posted this Monday afternoon --- not with the most descriptive thread title...
Topics merged, retitled.

Topics merged, retitled.

The new topic title is misleading.

The FSN release only seems to indicate that they will be going from the current game time only setup to a full time simulcast.

Content outside of professional and top level college games will still be in SD for some time.

Finally all NBA road games will be in HD

I wonder how much longer it will take until FSN, Versus, and other sports channels bother to compose for 16:9 instead of shooting for a 4:3 center-cut and treating HD as an afterthought.

I still wouldn't expect to see this until the broadcasters have "market research" to indicate that the vast majority of viewers are watching on HDTVs. I'm not holding my breath :(

The news release is very poorly worded, Dennis.

FSN will be transitioning to full HD from now to the 1Q of 2009, by which time the transition should be complete.Well, then, it is good news.

FSN North here in Minnesota has begun 24/7 content on the HD channel (most of the content is SD, though).

(I'm on Comcast)

Interesting that you have dug up this old thread. It is Q4 2009 and FSN is not anywhere close to this. Those of us who have FSNs Ohio and Cincinnati have yet to see a single college football or basketball game broadcast in HD.

FSN North here in Minnesota has begun 24/7 content on the HD channel (most of the content is SD, though).

(I'm on Comcast)

Thanks for the tip, I will update the RSN list in the programming synopsis

Not that it really matters, but Time Warner Desert Cities has had two FSN HD channels (FSN West and Prime Ticket) operating 24 hours a day (although, of course most programming is SD) for several months (I'd guess that it's been about three months). It was definitely nice to have two baseball games (Angels and Dodgers) in HD on most nights (except, of course, when one team wasn't playing or was on the local OTA station).

Now, if only they could get the Padres Channel 4SD in high-def, things would really be wonderful.

Interesting that you have dug up this old thread. It is Q4 2009 and FSN is not anywhere close to this. Those of us who have FSNs Ohio and Cincinnati have yet to see a single college football or basketball game broadcast in HD.

You should go back and read through the thread. The original press release and thread title were VERY poorly worded. FSN did NOT mean that EVERY program would be HD by 1st Q 2009 --- only that they would BEGIN THE TRANSITION in 1st Q 2009. There was no date given on when the transition would be complete.

You should go back and read through the thread. The original press release and thread title were VERY poorly worded. FSN did NOT mean that EVERY program would be HD by 1st Q 2009 --- only that they would BEGIN THE TRANSITION in 1st Q 2009. There was no date given on when the transition would be complete.

No, but in the article it says "FSN’s transition to full-time HD in 2009 "

Not transition in 2009 to full time hd, but full time hd in 2009.
What they meant to say is one thing, but it says full-time HD in 2009.
You would think people that write press releases would make sure it says exactly what they want to say.

No, but in the article it says "FSN’s transition to full-time HD in 2009 "

Not transition in 2009 to full time hd, but full time hd in 2009.
What they meant to say is one thing, but it says full-time HD in 2009.
You would think people that write press releases would make sure it says exactly what they want to say.

I know. I already said the press release was very poorly worded. Clearly though, they didn't mean every program would be HD. After all, a lot of what is shown here on FSN North when live games aren't on are classic games from the Twins and Wild. It would be impossible for them to show these games in HD if the games were not originally shot in HD.

The problem is that even the games that are produced in HD and made available in HD on a national basis are not being broadcast in HD by some FSNs. It really makes no sense. For example, the Cincinnati vs. Oklahoma State game was produced in HD and made available in nationally in HD but FSNs Ohio and Cincinnati did not turn on the HD feed for the game.

The problem is that even the games that are produced in HD and made available in HD on a national basis are not being broadcast in HD by some FSNs. It really makes no sense. For example, the Cincinnati vs. Oklahoma State game was produced in HD and made available in nationally in HD but FSNs Ohio and Cincinnati did not turn on the HD feed for the game.

Are those FSNs O&O by Fox or by another party and have essentially an FSN franchise?

Are those FSNs O&O by Fox or by another party and have essentially an FSN franchise?

FS Ohio is a O&O, News Corp took full control in 2005 when they transferred ownership of some other assets with Rainbow Media. However, last I heard Rainbow was still involved in doing the transmission for FS Ohio.

FS Ohio is a O&O, News Corp took full control in 2005 when they transferred ownership of some other assets with Rainbow Media. However, last I heard Rainbow was still involved in doing the transmission for FS Ohio.

Well, that might be a lil hint as to why an HD feed isn't seen except for local Pro teams.

So when is this REALLY going to happen? I'm still seeing SD games that ARE listed as HD. Example. FSN hockey games that originate from Canada. There are others that I have noticed (FSN Southwest) that I cannot recall, but there are many this year. Also as a follower of the Wings, There were many times this season that my night with Ken and Mick were relegated to SD with the FSN sidebars. As far as "Round the clock HD" not even close.

So when is this REALLY going to happen? I'm still seeing SD games that ARE listed as HD. Example. FSN hockey games that originate from Canada. There are others that I have noticed (FSN Southwest) that I cannot recall, but there are many this year. Also as a follower of the Wings, There were many times this season that my night with Ken and Mick were relegated to SD with the FSN sidebars. As far as "Round the clock HD" not even close.

It already REALLY happened. The FSNs are now broadcasting 24 hours a day on their HD-capable channels. That DOES NOT mean that everything will be in HD. If you do back and read through this thread you'll see that the originally quoted story had a very misleading title.

The FSNs are moving quickly now to broadcast more in HD, though, as ALL Twins games carried by FSN North will be broadcast in HD.

Some FSNs are further along in the upgrade cycle than others. FS Arizona does all Coyotes, Suns, and D'Backs games they carry in HD, and also does the pregame/postgame/intermission shows in HD.

a lot of the baseball schedules are in full HD this year (something covered in another topic). every 6 months when the new MLB or NHL/NBA schedules come out, you see the steps each region is taking (and not just for FOX owned Regional Sports Networks, but for the DirecTV owned ones, Comcast owned ones, and the team-owned and independents). it's getting there.

I don't understand how MLB can be full time HD but hockey can't.

Is it just too many sporting events happening at one time? Hockey and basketball combined with college sports and other things?

I don't understand how MLB can be full time HD but hockey can't.

Is it just too many sporting events happening at one time? Hockey and basketball combined with college sports and other things?

It deleted on the team. Some teams are all HD, or pretty much all HD, while other less popular teams have fewer HD games.

FS Ohio is a O&O, News Corp took full control in 2005 when they transferred ownership of some other assets with Rainbow Media. However, last I heard Rainbow was still involved in doing the transmission for FS Ohio.

Sorry to dig up an old thread....but has anyone ever heard a definitive reason behind FS Ohio not turning on the HD feed for anything except local pro games? Really annoying not being able to watch the college FB games in HD.