I am still amazed when I turn on a NFL network game in HD, and see my AV receiver show Dolby PLII....

I thought any serious HD channel would have audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 in this day and age....

Doesn't the NFL take HD seriously? Obviously FOX and CBS does in their airing of games....

If the NFL network is not going to do games right, then they should not be doing them. This is not 2001 - Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has been around for a long time, and is the de facto standard for HD broadcasts.

Why is the NFL so bush league when it comes to audio? It just doesn't make any sense?

Note: My NFL HD is on D* - maybe some of the cable systems are getting 5.1 DD - and it is a D* issue? I kinda doubt this is the case, but wanted to at least mention the possibility.....

Just to be completely fair... Not all 5.1 mixes are created equal. I find, for example, CBS to be leaps and bounds above FOX on their 5.1 surround mix for NFL games. CBS actually gives me something on the rear channels of value. FOX, however, doesn't seem to deliver anything new just putting stuff there that would have been present in a 2.0 channel mix.

So... my vote would be for a good 5.1 surround mix on NFL Network... but if they aren't going to do that, then 2.0 is going to sound about the same as a crappy pseudo 5.1 that some channels deliver.

There are a lot of sports networks that don't do DD5.1. ESPN and ESPN on ABC aren't real DD5.1, instead upmixing from Circle Surround. The various FSNs are strictly DD2.0. Versus is DD2.0. NBC's Notre Dame football games are 2.0 in DD5.1. For sports, only HDNet, CBS, Fox, and some programming on NBC are DD5.1 with any sort of regularity, so I wouldn't be so quick to jump on NFL Network for not being perfect. While we would all love a DD5.1 mix from NFL Network (or even better, a DD5.1 mix done by SNF Mixer :D), they aren't so different from much of their competition.

I think what is ever worse is the lack of an HD recap show. Why did they take it away from ESPN years ago without having HD in place.

does NFL Network know its 2008???

Yes

To tell you the truth, I really never pay that close attention to the sound when watching NFL games. To me the NFL Networks sound is no different then say FOX or ESPN. The only difference between all of them is CBS, only because there games seem to be much louder then the rest.

To tell you the truth, I really never pay that close attention to the sound when watching NFL games. To me the NFL Networks sound is no different then say FOX or ESPN. The only difference between all of them is CBS, only because there games seem to be much louder then the rest.

You're right, it makes a big difference in action scenes and movies but not much for football. I don't even turn on my bass for a football game because I don't hear anything using it.

I think what is ever worse is the lack of an HD recap show. Why did they take it away from ESPN years ago without having HD in place.

something did take espns place....it went to nbc as part of the sunday nite package....its now that hideous "football night in america" show.

so they finally went HD with their studio show, but they clutter 1/3 of the screen with graphics. D'oh!

so they finally went HD with their studio show, but they clutter 1/3 of the screen with graphics. D'oh!

Studio show is still SD. The graphics are added down line of the show.

To tell you the truth, I really never pay that close attention to the sound when watching NFL games. To me the NFL Networks sound is no different then say FOX or ESPN. The only difference between all of them is CBS, only because there games seem to be much louder then the rest.


The mix may be hotter but it's also more aggressive with information in the rears. I've heard some good "chants" from the crowd in some of the CBS games.;) They also seem keep their field parabolic mics on to give the game more ambiance. For me, it draws me into a good game much more than poorly mixed audio sources. I guess it also might be system/room dependent also.

I am still amazed when I turn on a NFL network game in HD, and see my AV receiver show Dolby PLII....

I thought any serious HD channel would have audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 in this day and age....

Doesn't the NFL take HD seriously? Obviously FOX and CBS does in their airing of games....

If the NFL network is not going to do games right, then they should not be doing them. This is not 2001 - Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has been around for a long time, and is the de facto standard for HD broadcasts.

Why is the NFL so bush league when it comes to audio? It just doesn't make any sense?

Note: My NFL HD is on D* - maybe some of the cable systems are getting 5.1 DD - and it is a D* issue? I kinda doubt this is the case, but wanted to at least mention the possibility.....


I live in Phoenix and we don't even get the NFL Network in HD. Nice huh! Oh but wait, I was told that in Chandler we are getting it around March 29, 2009. Thanks Cox for caring about your customers here in the Valley of the Sun. Can you say DirecTV!

I think what is ever worse is the lack of an HD recap show. Why did they take it away from ESPN years ago without having HD in place.

That's exactly it!!! My biggest frustration with NFL Network is the lack of an HD highlights show, along with the rest of their studio generated programming that is still in SD.

Let's hope in 2009 that NFL NETWORK makes HUGE strides in HD programming.

At least NFLN doesn't try to fool listeners into thinking that they're outputting 5.1 and really only doing 2.0. In Reno, NV the local NBC affiliate shows many live sports events (Stanley Cup, golf, etc) as 5.1 but is really only 2.0. I've emailed them about it and they lie and say it's 5.1 but I know better.
So even though NFLN is only 2.0, at least when they do go 5.1 I would expect that they will be honest and proud about their upgrade.

That's exactly it!!! My biggest frustration with NFL Network is the lack of an HD highlights show, along with the rest of their studio generated programming that is still in SD.

Let's hope in 2009 that NFL NETWORK makes HUGE strides in HD programming.

For this, and many other reasons, the NFLN has really been outclassed by the Big Ten Network. You think that with all the $$$$ the NFL brings in, it could afford to do the upgrade for both video and sound.

You think that with all the $$$$ the NFL brings in, it could afford to do the upgrade for both video and sound.

Alternatively, you could say that because they're bringing in all the $$$, they don't need to upgrade as people watch their games regardless. ;)

More seriously, though upgrades would be welcome, I do like their relatively clean game presentation, without tickers, robots, etc...and without Gumbels.

I really don't understand why 5.1 is of any importance in sports broadcasting. Is there any significant difference between left rear speaker crowd noise and that which emanates from the right rear speaker? Yes, occasionally there is a loudmouth fan, a drumbeat or other such noise on one side or the other, but I have no interest in from whence it came.

My primary interest in sports audio is to eliminate the non-stop announcer(s) blabber. I have accomplished this via a lamp cord switch on the center speaker cable. ABC/ESPN have some low volume leakage to the front speakers, but I manage to tune that out.

I have accomplished this via a lamp cord switch on the center speaker cable.Lol ;)

Yeah, there's nothing like hearing some drunk guy yelling in your rear speakers the whole game.

Yeah, there's nothing like hearing some drunk guy yelling in your rear speakers the whole game.

yep....cant beat atmosphere.

Although their IQ is good there is seemingly alot of EE or something similar....but their audio is as bad as any channel out of the 1K+ on D*.....really sad.
Suprised that I see some defending them.

At least NFLN doesn't try to fool listeners into thinking that they're outputting 5.1 and really only doing 2.0. In Reno, NV the local NBC affiliate shows many live sports events (Stanley Cup, golf, etc) as 5.1 but is really only 2.0. I've emailed them about it and they lie and say it's 5.1 but I know better.
So even though NFLN is only 2.0, at least when they do go 5.1 I would expect that they will be honest and proud about their upgrade.

:rolleyes: Its a conspiracy I tell ya!!! ;)

All I can say is that my receiver showed last thursdays game on NFLN in DD 5.1...I don't have any idea why you only get DD 2.0 unless your equipment is setup wrong...

I was not home for this past game, but their first two games were 2 channel only and I would have bet against it being DD2.0.
Now this past game they might have stepped it up, but if they made no changes from the first two it was not DD5.1.
At least on D*.

So it is NO surprise that the NFL Network feed is way bellow par for a NFL Network broadcast.. these guys have no clue!

Good luck.. you are going to need it!

even worse is their recap show (on NFL-HD) is shot/broadcast in terrible analog-like SD.

SOUND is not an issue, i'd like an alternate soundtrack NO COMMENTATOR only sideline/fan sounds.


I am still amazed when I turn on a NFL network game in HD, and see my AV receiver show Dolby PLII....

I thought any serious HD channel would have audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 in this day and age....

Doesn't the NFL take HD seriously? Obviously FOX and CBS does in their airing of games....

If the NFL network is not going to do games right, then they should not be doing them. This is not 2001 - Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has been around for a long time, and is the de facto standard for HD broadcasts.

Why is the NFL so bush league when it comes to audio? It just doesn't make any sense?

Note: My NFL HD is on D* - maybe some of the cable systems are getting 5.1 DD - and it is a D* issue? I kinda doubt this is the case, but wanted to at least mention the possibility.....

even worse is their recap show (on NFL-HD) is shot/broadcast in terrible analog-like SD.

SOUND is not an issue, i'd like an alternate soundtrack NO COMMENTATOR only sideline/fan sounds.

I remember that there was a game broadcast this way a few years back. Flopped.

I remember that there was a game broadcast this way a few years back. Flopped.

i'm sure it would flop & be a customer support headache "I CAN'T GET THE VOICES ON MY TV"

but like a SAP or second digital stream option would be great for real fans. the 5.1 mixes are terrible and assault your ears, especially Fox when they start doing that stupid robot Fx stuff.

The best change to the soundtrack for many games would be the Madden-ectomy. No insipid comparisons to Favre and no grease pencil diagrams.

My favorite thing to do (if it's mixed right) is to turn down the center channel, which hopefully is dedicated to the announcers, and that way just have the crowd. Not alot are mixed right to do this though.

anyone see the nfl network replay of the dallas/pittsburgh game last night?

the broadcast kept freezing up repeatedly. i'm wondering if it was
the nfl's networks fault, e*'s signal, or if my dvr is going on the blink.

My favorite thing to do (if it's mixed right) is to turn down the center channel, which hopefully is dedicated to the announcers, and that way just have the crowd. Not alot are mixed right to do this though.

It's not necessarily a matter of right or wrong. Some broadcasters choose to keep all on air talent in the center channel for a 5.1 mix, others choose to also put some in the main l/r channels.

I personally strongly prefer center only.

mnf should do:

left = jaworski
center = tirico
right = kornheiser

back left/right = tafoya

:D

It's not necessarily a matter of right or wrong. Some broadcasters choose to keep all on air talent in the center channel for a 5.1 mix, others choose to also put some in the main l/r channels.

I personally strongly prefer center only.
Who chooses to intentionally put the talent in L/R as opposed to it happening as a result of limitations of their technology? ESPN's Circle Surround suffers from the same limitations as every other matrixing technology in that it's impossible to derive the original discrete channels from the matrixed 2 channel audio. Other than games done by ESPN, I've not heard a DD5.1 mix with dialog in L/R/C except when there was a clear issue with the local station doing something incorrectly.

Who chooses to intentionally put the talent in L/R as opposed to it happening as a result of limitations of their technology?Listen closely, and you'll know.