I wanted to know if Cablevision/Optimum will be offering the NHL Center Ice package for the 2009-2010 season with HD games. Last season I was disappointed to find when I ordered the package that no games were in HD on optimum. I was wondering if this will be changed for this season. I tried doing searches on the web and I could not find my answer.

InDemand provides 1 or 2 NHL games per night in HD. You only get them in HD if your carrier has a channel for it, of course.

Comcast calls that channel GAMED. You might want to check the set of channels carrying CenterIce to see if there's something similar offered by your carrier.

Worst case scenario is you'll get HD games on Versus and the NHL Network, right?

Does anyone know if NHL Network is going to broadcast Hockey Night In Canada like they did last year?

i'm a big fan of all of the pro sports teams for a city i'm NOT living in. I'm willing to pay money for these sports packages (extra innings, league pass, center ice, etc.) when they start offering all of the games (at least a majority of them) in hd. not this 1-2 games a week crap.

Get Directv then. With a few exceptions most games that are broadcast in HD are in HD on Directv.

Cablevision does not offer any In Demand sports packages (Extra Innings, League Pass, or Center Ice) in HD.

Cablevision does not offer any In Demand sports packages (Extra Innings, League Pass, or Center Ice) in HD.

Wow that sucks.

Cablevision does not offer any In Demand sports packages (Extra Innings, League Pass, or Center Ice) in HD.

Darn! Is there any reasoning behind this? I guess I will not be re-ordering Center Ice on Optimum.

NFL Sunday Ticket has all their games in HD. Until NHL Center Ice follows suit, I don't feel like ponying up the $$. Are there still some NHL teams that don't have all their games broadcast in HD and if so, which teams?

Probably most of them. Only a handful of teams can manage all-HD schedules, normally those involved with the ownership of their RSN like the Bruins and Rangers.

Let's see. I see Detroit, St. Louis, Phili, New Jersey, Montreal, Buffalo, Minnesota, Columbus, Nashville, Dallas, Ottawa, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Edmonton and that's just from Thursday to Tuesday. A lot of the regional sports aren't full time HD.

NFL Sunday Ticket has all their games in HD. Until NHL Center Ice follows suit, I don't feel like ponying up the $$. Are there still some NHL teams that don't have all their games broadcast in HD and if so, which teams?

The number of games not in HD is decreasing substantially every year, but you can't fairly compare it to the NFL. The NHL plays 5 times the number of games, and the vast majority of games are covered by regional sports nets, as opposed to the major broadcast networks that cover almost all of the NFL games. In addition, the RSNs often cover more than one sport in a market, and there's only so many HD trucks to go around.

I'm frankly surprised that as many games make it to HD as they do.

Not to mention hockey does not get great ratings which therefore means less ad revenue during the broadcasts which therefore means less investment the network is willing to make in the broadcast.

So is anyone on here familar with how CI Online works? Are the blackout rules indeed different? For example, I can get CI on my TV at home, and the games that FS Carolinas does not carry, I can watch the away team feed on CI.

Does CI Online black out the game no matter what?

Does anyone know if NHL Network is going to broadcast Hockey Night In Canada like they did last year?

According with their next Sat schedule I'd say yes.
LEAFS-CAPS followed by FLAMES-OILERS.

Cheers:)

Probably most of them. Only a handful of teams can manage all-HD schedules, normally those involved with the ownership of their RSN like the Bruins and Rangers.

Not every Rangers game is in HD. 9 of their games this season will be shown on overflow channel MSG2 which doesn't come in HD. However 4 of those 9 games are against the Devils or Islanders so you can still see the game in HD on MSG+ with the other teams announcers. The Knicks get top priority on MSG Network since historically they get better ratings.

A warning to all out of market fans of NYC area teams that want to get HD games on Center Ice, it won't happen. MSG HD vanished from the NHL CI package in the middle of last season and reports indicate it won't be around this season either. So if you are not in the NYC area (or Buffalo too) and want to watch the Devils, Rangers, Islanders or Sabres in HD, you can't so don't order NHL CI thinking it will help you. I canceled it for this reason.

In Demand Extends Free Preview Of NHL Center Ice Package For Three Weeks

Digital-Cable Customers Can Screen Out-Of-Market Subscription Package
Through Oct. 24

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 9/30/2009 12:20:12 PM EDT

The National Hockey League drops the puck on its 2009-10 season on Oct. 1 and In Demand will extend a free preview of the circuit's out-of-market package, replete with a number of enhancements, for three weeks to cable customers.

Distributor In Demand Networks said the NHL Center Ice out-of-market subscription package will skate into its longest-ever free preview, from Oct. 1 until Oct 24, 2009.

Among the cable operators offering the package distributed by In Demand this year are: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision Systems, Bresnan Communications, Midcontinent, plus a number of independent MSOs.

Digital-cable customers will have free access to NHL Center ICe, which gives fans who live away from their favorite team an opportunity to follow the games, and superfans a way to follow the whole league. The package provides up to 40 live out-of-market games per week across 14 channels, and includes a number of enhancements to enrich the viewing experience. Customers, who order by Halloween, will save with the early bird price of only four installments of $40.95 each, according to InDemand.

Among the enhancements available:

* Multiscreen Mosaic: The rotating multiple screens show all the live-action games being played around the league, along with score, time clock and channel location. The multiscreen mosaic can be found on the first channel of the system's package lineup;

*Same-day replays: For the first time, NHL Center Ice customers will have access to encore telecasts of the games, as the package will re-air each current day's game beginning approximately one hour after the live game concludes. Each game will replay in its entirety, repeated continuously overnight and the next day, on the same channel, until the following day's live games begin;

*Dual feeds: The package will again feature "dual-feed" telecasts to deliver home team announcers. Whenever possible, In Demand will deliver both local market broadcasts of the same game so that fans can choose which telecast they want to watch;

*Stat channel: As part of NHL Center Ice Extra, customers have access to a live source for scores, statistics, game previews, game recaps and schedule information. This can be found on the second channel of the system's package lineup; and

HD games: Up to dozen games each week will be presented in the high-definition format; availability varies by system.

More information about NHL Center Ice is available at www.gethockey.com. Residential customers as well as commercial establishments can order by calling 1-888-SPORTS-iN, or their local cable provider .

http://www.multichannel.com/article/356035-In_Demand_Extends_Free_Preview_Of_NHL_Center_Ice_Package_For _Three_Weeks.php

That's the longest free preview for a sports package that I can recall. Any word if DirecTV will have it for the same length?

I wonder if DirecTV or Dish Network will match the extended free preview?

this also means MLB games will be available this weekend

Any chance NHL Gamecenter will have a free preview from Oct 1-24 as well? NHL Gamecenter is NHL Center Ice Online.

Any chance NHL Gamecenter will have a free preview from Oct 1-24 as well? NHL Gamecenter is NHL Center Ice Online.

nhl.com says it is offering a free preview on oct 3rd only

That's the longest free preview for a sports package that I can recall. Any word if DirecTV will have it for the same length?

Its hockey and with so few fans they need to do something. I love hockey but not many people do. I agree this is a long time and who knows what D* will do. I just wish D* would get Versus back

Someone said at the Minnesota Wild message board that Directv is offering CI for 50% off because of Versus getting yanked. It's unadvertised.

I guess I've been spoiled as a Bruins fan.

Someone said at the Minnesota Wild message board that Directv is offering CI for 50% off because of Versus getting yanked. It's unadvertised.

A lot of D* subs are getting CI for FREE because of Versus. Just call D*, threaten to cancel and go to DISH because of Versus, and you might get half off. Then still threaten to leave and you'll get it free. There are MANY reports of this among Sharks fans doing it because they won't get to see the Sharks reg. season opener because it's on Versus. For some it's been an automatic offer for CI for free this season, for other CSR's you need to "game" it but you'll get it.

I guess I've been spoiled as a Bruins fan.

And they have some of the best if not the best looking HD coverage.

Geez, MLB the stoneage league can get an all HD studio, HD highlights for all games and the NHL still is in SD (HD only for live games and some classic games).

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO

What bums me out is that NHL Network will not be carrying the between games and 2nd game of the HNIC double headers most Saturday nights this season. That was must see TV for me.

PS - They'll be showing the 2nd game tape delayed on Sunday afternoons!?!

Definitely was hoping that this season we'd see HD NHL on the fly.

Bummer.

I would've sworn that during last season and playoffs that On The Fly was HD when shown live and re-run late night but when re-played the next day it was an SD upconvert.

Well that seals the deal for me, I won't be picking up the sports tier for this channel this season. Pre-empting the late game on Saturdays for a non-HD highlight show is unbelievably lame!

Topics merged.

Just saw on my D* guide the Center Ice will be free through October 24th.

Just saw on my D* guide the Center Ice will be free through October 24th.

Thanks for the heads up especially since they dropped Versus

A heads up guys. I saw on a hockey board that alot of DirecTV customers are getting CI for free or greatly discounted due to the Versus problems. Apparently you just need to be very persistent. Give it a shot.

Geez, MLB the stoneage league can get an all HD studio, HD highlights for all games and the NHL still is in SD (HD only for live games and some classic games).

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO

How do you know this? The regular season doesn't start until today. Was it announced on the channel? I agree, though, if true it's pretty disappointing.

In case anyone is interested, if you have Directv you should call Directv, ask for Retention and then complain about their impasse with Versus. I threatened to leave and go to Dish over it since I'm a huge hockey fan and they gave me the Center Ice Package for free. I didn't even have to haggle, the whole call took all of 1 minute.

Seems they are authorized to do a lot of comping over the Vs. situation.

I told my dad who has only been a Directv customer for 9 months (I've been with them since 2002) and they gave him the same deal.

This is great I just got it for free myself. Now if D* would drop the NFL Network maybe NFL ST would be free !!!

I am not ordering NHL CI for the first time since 1995. They still do not have CBC, TSN and Rogers Sportsnet games in HD and no CSN-Philly HD for the Flyers games I am sick of watching the opposing teams broadcasts. Plus no MSG-HD and FSN-NY HD as well. I have Dish, Dish isn't even using NESN-HD and CSN-CA for the Bruins and Sharks coverage on Saturday night.

I have CI through my fiber cable co and unfortunately we get just one channel in HD called Game HD, so basically I pay for the CI package and watch only a few games a week in HD. Luckily they added Versus last april just in time for me to see my Pens win the cup. My cable co left the channels active for CI which ending up giving me the whole MLB package for free all summer, but it sucks and at the same time is sad because I never watch Baseball. Now with the NHL starting the game HD channel has a baseball game on in HD, so I can't wait for baseball to end. It would be awesome if I was into it.

I also concur with many others who are not getting CI this season and although anecdotal, I know several people who are NOT getting CI and they have for years. CI, NHL and companies like my cable co or InDemand which carries NHL CI for cable co's need to get a reality check and give us ALL the games in HD. I really thought that this year was going to be the all HD year, but now with how things are going it might be several, meanwhile almost all programming on all major channels and networks is all HD.

WOW!! CI for free that is awesome, but then that makes me think they have no plans of having Versus back if they are willing to go to that length. And maybe Versus being COmcast owned really doesn't want the competition in markets where Comcast is in competing against D* for viewers.

On Saturday 10/10 NHL CI [whether it was on cable or D*] had in their guide the Anaheim @ Philadelphia game. When it came 7p and time for the game, the game went missing. The game was originally scheduled for ch. 771 on D*.
I know that Comcast Philadelphia doesn't normally feed NHL CI.
What happened to the Anaheim feed?

On Saturday 10/10 NHL CI [whether it was on cable or D*] had in their guide the Anaheim @ Philadelphia game. When it came 7p and time for the game, the game went missing. The game was originally scheduled for ch. 771 on D*.
I know that Comcast Philadelphia doesn't normally feed NHL CI.
What happened to the Anaheim feed?

On Dish they used the csn-P feed

I got my father CI for free on D*.

Huge hockey fan here!

I was watching the CI preview on iO last night and still no HD. I went to the iO website and in little print under the package it said "not offered in HD." Oddly, I did not see them say "not offering for the same full price as other service providers who offer HD."

More DirecTV nonsense.
I have the NHL CI package on D*, and on the listings for Saturday, October 17 they don't list Ottawa @ Montreal - a 7pm game, or Minnesota @ Vancouver - a 10pm game. Wonder why? I think the games are available on the cable tv version of the NHL CI package, according to the listings of my local cable provider.
Wonder why??

Those games, or at least the first one without looking, should be on the NHL Network

It's probably just a mistake.

Those games, or at least the first one without looking, should be on the NHL Network
NHL Net is passing along CBC Hockey Night in Canada Rangers @ Toronto, which will probably be blacked out in the NY area to protect MSG.
Ottawa-Montreal is CBC alternate in English/RDS French cable tv.
And in looking later, the Minnesota/Vancouver game is scheduled for DirecTV,

NY Rangers start to their season has me giddy as a school girl. :)

NY Rangers start to their season has me giddy as a school girl. :)

Me too. Considerably more giddy than last year when I thought it was smoke and mirrors. I've gone to watching opposing teams' broadcasts though, since MSG-HD is blacked out on Center Ice...

Big Pens fan - second year with CI. Really wish Comcast Richmond would get off the stick and get the HD games...very annoying...

Especially since I see ads on FSN PGH announcing that 70 of their games will be in HD this year...

Oh well - SD Malkin is better than no Malkin at all!

Let's go PENS!

Randy

NHL Net is passing along CBC Hockey Night in Canada Rangers @ Toronto, which will probably be blacked out in the NY area to protect MSG.
Ottawa-Montreal is CBC alternate in English/RDS French cable tv.
And in looking later, the Minnesota/Vancouver game is scheduled for DirecTV,
Looks like D* got its act together, Ott-Mon will be on 770.

I have a CI on DirecTV question: If I have CI on DirecTV, does that mean that I get to see any game that is in HD on their local RSN?

For example, if I am in the middle of nowhere US and have CI on DirecTV and want to watch my Sharks on CI, and DirecTV of course has CSN-California which has the game in HD, that means I'll get to see the Sharks in HD right?

I guess my question is: ONLY in terms of watching the Sharks in HD (Esp. with Sharks announcers), me having CI on DirecTV out-of-market will be no different than someone in the Bay Area who has DirecTV, right? We'd both see all the CSN-California HD games, right? [Let's ignore the Comcast holding back RSN HD telecasts on sat systems for now]

Thanks. I ask because I thought I knew this was the case, but the sticky chart here says that DirecTV does not offer CI on HD, but I am wondering if they are referring to the one HD channel being provided by InDemand to cable ops and Verizon.

I just realized the free trial period ends tomorrow. It's gonna be a very ****ing sad day. I'll die a little inside. No more hockey highlights LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SHOWN (I'm looking at you Final Score). God forbid they give the NFL this kind of treatment... It would be a National Crime. :rolleyes:

Although it was apparently posted in this forum previously, I just found out tonight from Directv that MSG isn't providing HD feeds for the Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Sabers on NHL Center Ice and am really po'd that Directv hadn't publicized this important development before previous subscribers like myself renewed for the 09-10 season. I would never have re-upped for this season had I known this since I'd complained to Directv during last season's playoffs about the lack of HD programing in the markets that most interest me. At the time, I was so infuriated when the Devils first playoff game was available only in SD that I phoned Directv to complain. During today's conversation I was told that any of the 09-10 subscription fee I'd already paid is likely non-refundable. When I take this up with them in earnest, I only hope Directv is decent enough to do the 'right thing' under these circumstances so that I do not have to pursue more drastic action.

This CenterIce package is now an almost total rip-off. In addition to not being able to see the Rangers (or any other MSG team) in HD, now more and more HD broadcasts are being blacked out. I love hockey and the league, but I can't understand how and why the league is comfortable treating the few true fans it has so poorly. I'm tired of seeing Bettman sitting in teams' luxury boxes and "saving" teams like the Coyotes while allowing these conditions to persist...

I just want NHL on the Fly... Is that so hard? Thanks for ****ing over the fans every year NHL. It's funny how if this was football it would be a national crime... Oh, ha... said that above already.

really? I thought MSG had started provided them because on the online gamecenter feed I was seeing MSG HD the other night.

really? I thought MSG had started provided them because on the online gamecenter feed I was seeing MSG HD the other night.

No, none of the MSG feeds are in HD on NHL CI. New York metropolitan area subscribers to Cablevision, Time Warner, or D* will get the HD feed, but the Dolans in their wisdom are keeping the HD feed off the NHL CI package. I have yet to figure out what they gain by it, other than being able to thumb their noses at the league and therefore the fans around the country, but they obviously think it's important.

To Peter_in_PA, I feel your pain. But there have been no MSG HD feeds since MSG demanded the NHL stop using them last February. There were none during the free preview period. There have been numerous articles about this in newspapers, and there have been posts here and other forums about it. Also, this is not D*'s problem. No satellite or cable company is broadcasting the MSG HD feeds on its NHL CI package. Last, if you look through D*'s NHL CI schedule, there are no HD games listed for any MSG broadcasts. So, I am not sure why you think D* has to do "the right thing" and give you your money back.

SMK

Roy

I guess it was my bad, but, I was unfortunately unaware of MSG's February decision until I was told yesterday by the Dtv CSR I spoke to about my concerns over the lack of HD games in NHL CI. Until then, I had hopes that NHL CI would indeed carry more HD games in all markets, which one would expect to occur based on the NHL CI ads that Dtv and others carry. Other than a general 'may not be available in all markets' disclaimer that is probably in their ads, I think not naming teams for which there are no HD games available is somewhat of a misrepresentation on NHL CI's part the way they are promoting their product.

My point regarding Dtv 'doing the right thing' by me is that because MSG made this announcement last February, and because the Dtv CSR I spoke to when I called the 1st night of the playoffs to complain about the Devils game only being in SD did not mention anything about MSG's decision, I feel they, Dtv, had information available that they did not communicate to me at that time or since that time until my conversation with them yesterday. What I was specifically told by Dtv the 1st night of the playoffs was that Dtv had no control over the programming avaialble on NHL CI and I should address this with NHL CI, which I tried to do. Had I been told then that a significant number of the games I most wanted to watch would never be in HD, I would have had no reason to subscribe for the 09-10 season. When providing a service for a fee, I feel the provider has an obligation let customers know exactly what to expect for the price they are paying, which I do not believe occurred even after having this issue-specific discussion with Dtv.

Roy

I guess it was my bad, but, I was unfortunately unaware of MSG's February decision until I was told yesterday by the Dtv CSR I spoke to about my concerns over the lack of HD games in NHL CI. Until then, I had hopes that NHL CI would indeed carry more HD games in all markets, which one would expect to occur based on the NHL CI ads that Dtv and others carry. Other than a general 'may not be available in all markets' disclaimer that is probably in their ads, I think not naming teams for which there are no HD games available is somewhat of a misrepresentation on NHL CI's part the way they are promoting their product.

My point regarding Dtv 'doing the right thing' by me is that because MSG made this announcement last February, and because the Dtv CSR I spoke to when I called the 1st night of the playoffs to complain about the Devils game only being in SD did not mention anything about MSG's decision, I feel they, Dtv, had information available that they did not communicate to me at that time or since that time until my conversation with them yesterday. What I was specifically told by Dtv the 1st night of the playoffs was that Dtv had no control over the programming avaialble on NHL CI and I should address this with NHL CI, which I tried to do. Had I been told then that a significant number of the games I most wanted to watch would never be in HD, I would have had no reason to subscribe for the 09-10 season. When providing a service for a fee, I feel the provider has an obligation let customers know exactly what to expect for the price they are paying, which I do not believe occurred even after having this issue-specific discussion with Dtv.


MSG HD telecasts stopped in Nov or Dec of last season from the NHLCI, I'm sorry you are disappointed but I wouldn't blame D*. No other provider sat or cable has those MSG HD feeds on NHLCI either. So the fight is between the NHL/ NHLCI and owners of MSG.


They have this information also do really expect D* to tell every sub that calls to order the NHLCI that there are no HD feeds from MSG,CBC,Rogers SportsNet, TSN ,TSN2 but you can view sd feeds ?

They have this information should they also be required to tell you how many telecasts each NHL teams provides ? Or that sometimes a game is on the HD channel but only is upconversion ? Then explain what upconversion is ?

Anybody else out there a Dish customer wondering where the HD in Center Ice has gone? For the first month they had almost all games in HD, now hardly any while Direct still has tons. Does the NHL favor Direct or is Dish just too cheap or something?

Anybody else out there a Dish customer wondering where the HD in Center Ice has gone? For the first month they had almost all games in HD, now hardly any while Direct still has tons. Does the NHL favor Direct or is Dish just too cheap or something?

I noticed the same thing. There's a marked drop in HD games over last year. Before, if an RSN was doing the game in HD, it was pretty much assured that Dish would have it in HD. Now, it's a total crap shoot. Not very happy about that.

Are you talking about the free period where you could access all of Center Ice? If not... it's probably because of NHL not the tv networks. They like to screw over the fans. Again... if this happened with Football it would be a national crime. :rolleyes:

What are you guys talking about. Do you really think the NHL is keeping HD off of Dish? Why would they do that?

I have no idea who's doing what to who but I know if you check DirecTV's online Center Ice schedule they have a ton of HD games and Dish hardly any. I've tried and tried to get answer out of them (Dish) as to why there's a difference but I can't get a straight answer.

Dish isn't providing enough bandwidth for the RSN's in HD thus Dish is pulling games out of a hat every night and HD feeds are getting left out alot of nights.

I still get a decent amount of HD games, 1-2 a nite with Game HD channel through In Demand who provides CI for cable co's; a game or two a week on the NHL network HD, plus every night at midnight or 1 am they do an edited replay of an earlier game which is awesome, because you are mostly just watching the game and the NHL nets commercials; and Versus 2 -3 games a week. I do really miss HDnet though.

I guess my point is by now I thought we would have the whole CI package in HD or virtually every game would be broadcast in HD and from what some are reporting it is getting worse not better.

Just to have the Canadian HD nets in CI would be a HUGE improvement.

I wrote the NHL network to turn off the scoreboard on the HD replay game AND stop posting the final score of the replay game they are showing for christ sake!!!!! FRIGGIN IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea who's doing what to who but I know if you check DirecTV's online Center Ice schedule they have a ton of HD games and Dish hardly any. I've tried and tried to get answer out of them (Dish) as to why there's a difference but I can't get a straight answer.

Wouldn't that tell you the NHL is not at fault, if one provider has the HD games and another doesn't?

MSG HD telecasts stopped in Nov or Dec of last season from the NHLCI, I'm sorry you are disappointed but I wouldn't blame D*. No other provider sat or cable has those MSG HD feeds on NHLCI either. So the fight is between the NHL/ NHLCI and owners of MSG.



I agree that D* is not to blame. I haven't followed enough of the specific
MSG HD feed issue, but it almost seems like this stems from the disagreement the NHL and MSG had about the Rangers website. NHL wanted control and MSG did not want to give it up. I think the NHL won there, so not sure why it can't put its foot down here either.

A great place to ask would be Bettman's show on Sirius XM on Thursday's. Someone on another form actually had the chance to get on the show and ask him why CI is not on AT&T U-verse yet (which is another topic all together).

For what it's worth, I finally got a hold of someone at Dish that could give me a little info on the HD deal. According to them, they are not offering as much HD now due to "contractural matters" with the league. What that actually means is anybody's guess, maybe the NHL is throwing DirecTV a bone over the Versus thing, who knows. The guy did knock $50 off the Center Ice cost as even he thought it was cheesy that they had a full slate of HD games during the free trial period only to have it disappear in November. His only advice to me was to keep calling to see if someone there might try to get as much HD as DirecTV. It's my only hope as I can't get DirecTV's signal where I am.

Anybody else out there a Dish customer wondering where the HD in Center Ice has gone? For the first month they had almost all games in HD, now hardly any while Direct still has tons. Does the NHL favor Direct or is Dish just too cheap or something?

As I mentioned earlier, this is no longer the case. DirecTV is now showing only a handful of games in HD. Here's tonight's CI lineup (HD games shown in bold):


Wild @ Leafs
Flames @ Habs
Oilers @ Senators
Canucks @ Blues
Predators @ Sharks*


* both home and road broadcasts

And this is a night when Rangers, Devils, Isles and Sabres are not playing, whose MSG broadcasts would be SD-only...

# Flames @ Habs
# Oilers @ Senators
# Canucks @ Blues

All 4 Rogers Sportsnet HD channels had games last night. Besides the above also Wild vs Leafs. This is a case of DirecTV being too cheap to pay the HD transport fee to Shaw Broadcast Services. Not enough subs complaining.

All 4 Rogers Sportsnet HD channels had games last night. Besides the above also Wild vs Leafs. This is a case of DirecTV being too cheap to pay the HD transport fee to Shaw Broadcast Services. Not enough subs complaining.

I'm assuming that if DirecTV is too cheap then Dish is too. I'd be happy to complain, just not sure where. But it's not just the Rogers' games, the TSN and CBC feeds are SD too, except for Saturday night on NHLNet.

I wonder if it's just since Directv doesn't offer those Canadian channels they don't pick up the HD feeds. Most of the other games they already have the HD channels on the system. As for the Blues maybe whatever RSN they are on didn't do the game in HD.

No HD for Thrashers-Rangers. The "HD" broadcast on FS South is actually SD...

Maybe in time we will be back to all SD programming and HD will just be an after thought!! :eek: :rolleyes:

It is pathetic hearing these stories in 2010 which is close enough. I thought we would have been long past this and had and ALL HD NHL.

If the vast amount of how much we get raped with internet to say Europe isn't a good example I don't know what is. I think it's normal right now for tv. I'll say it's once and I'll say it again. If this were Football it would be a national crime.

Indemand has shown a few Rogers Sportsnet HD feeds so far this season, and the cable CI package sucks outloud (2 HD channels) and they can get the Canadian HD feeds??????????????

Someone post here if they can ask Bettman why we can't get those HD games in NHL Center Ice!

Indemand has shown a few Rogers Sportsnet HD feeds so far this season, and the cable CI package sucks outloud (2 HD channels) and they can get the Canadian HD feeds??????????????

Someone post here if they can ask Bettman why we can't get those HD games in NHL Center Ice!


What's even worse is if you go to NHL.com's online schedule, they list the networks carrying each game and they show all the MSG and Canadian network games as being in HD. That's just wrong. Anybody ever try calling NHL Live? Or is that open to everybody?

What's even worse is if you go to NHL.com's online schedule, they list the networks carrying each game and they show all the MSG and Canadian network games as being in HD. That's just wrong.

What's wrong about it? Those games are HD locally, even if they might not be on CI.

I just DVR'ed the Sharks/Blackhawks replay game from NHL Network overnight and they used WGN-HD. Unbelieveable that none of these OTA and Canadian HD feeds are used in CI. ARGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just DVR'ed the Sharks/Blackhawks replay game from NHL Network overnight and they used WGN-HD. Unbelieveable that none of these OTA and Canadian HD feeds are used in CI. ARGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Center Ice (on Dish anyway) has actually had the Hawks and Sharks in HD on Comcast and FSD lately. But I agree, there's got to be a way to get the Canadian nets (and MSG) on CI in HD. If anybody knows who to contact, let me know.

Start with your provider. It doesn't cost the satellite providers any more space to show the HD version of a game that they carry the RSN for. Now for channels like CBC and TSN they don't carry those channels all the time so it would cost them space on the sats. Look at cable. Those guys only get 1 or 2 HD games a night because the cable operator doesn't carry all the feeds from all the RSN's.

Indemand has shown a few Rogers Sportsnet HD feeds so far this season, and the cable CI package sucks outloud (2 HD channels) and they can get the Canadian HD feeds??????????????

Someone post here if they can ask Bettman why we can't get those HD games in NHL Center Ice!

So if INDemand has the Canadian net games in HD on cable, why wouldn't (or couldn't) Dish and DirecTV? Is it just a case of $$?

I think it's more about space on the satellite then anything else. It doesn't cost them extra space on the bird to broadcast the games in HD that are on the RSN's they already carry.

What's wrong about it? Those games are HD locally, even if they might not be on CI.

Some with this package can confirm but I believe NHL Gamecenter provides the HD feeds of these games. It's sad when the pc package has more HD coverage than a TV provider.

I have NHL Center Ice on Comcast . No HD at all. The Comcast rep seemed clueless. The worst thing is that even the SD feeds are less than satisfactory. When I see those same highlights on the NHL Network's SD channel for comparison sake, the NHL Network's feed seems clearer.

I am not surprised that Bettman is so useless that he can't even get the HD feeds from MSG for Center Ice.

I am not surprised that Bettman is so useless that he can't even get the HD feeds from MSG for Center Ice.

So do other sports get MSG in HD for their packages.

Panthers' "HD" broadcast is SD with pillars...

So do other sports get MSG in HD for their packages.

NBALP has them.

I have NHL Center Ice on Comcast . No HD at all. The Comcast rep seemed clueless. The worst thing is that even the SD feeds are less than satisfactory. When I see those same highlights on the NHL Network's SD channel for comparison sake, the NHL Network's feed seems clearer.

I am not surprised that Bettman is so useless that he can't even get the HD feeds from MSG for Center Ice.

This is exactly why I switched from Charter cable (easily the worst cable company on earth, at least where I live) to Dish. They at least seem to now be providing most of the available US HD games they can. If we could add the Canadian and MSG HD feeds, it would be unbelievable. If it is the NHL holding out on both, that's a joke.

So do other sports get MSG in HD for their packages.

NBALP has them.

That's not surprising, because MSG has a dispute with the NHL over their website...

That's not surprising, because MSG has a dispute with the NHL over their website...

I've seen articles online from last spring that said the dispute was almost settled back then. Safe to say that's not true, anybody have an update?

I've seen articles online from last spring that said the dispute was almost settled back then. Safe to say that's not true, anybody have an update?

The dispute regarding the website has nothing to do with MSG HD's availability. I do believe the website issue was resolved though. MSG HD availability is only an issue because MSG is holding on to it as a marketing tool. They're only offering MSG is SD because they were forced to in court. The same court battle is being fought over MSG HD. Cablevision, which owns MSG, does not want to give the HD to Verizon so they can't give it to any other provider either. Their case would be shot to hell. Though for some reason, I believe, MSG HD is available on D*irectTV, but I don't know if they blackout the hi-def games.

Along with Cablevision, D*, TWC, and Comcast all carry MSG-HD in the NY DMA and show the games in HD. There is no court battle, there is a FCC loophole that allows Cablevision to not sell MSG-HD to competitors because it is transmitted over fiber and not satellite. Verizon has appealed to the FCC to close that loophole. MSG-SD is distributed over satellite that's why they had to give it to Verizon and AT&T, their competitors. It is not clear if any of that has anything to do with why the games are not available in HD on NHL-CI.

The website dispute has been settled, Cablevision lost that and the NHL has control over the website.

Any other sport and there would be a huge uproar....stinks to be a hockey fan when it comes to issues like this.

Any other sport and there would be a huge uproar....stinks to be a hockey fan when it comes to issues like this.

I've been looking into CA satellite providers because of this. Only problem with dealing with Ca's providers is all the ppv games.

I've been looking into CA satellite providers because of this. Only problem with dealing with Ca's providers is all the ppv games.

You get the Oilers, Canucks and Flames PPV games when needed on Bell CI if you have an address from Ontario.

NBALP has them.

Not on Dish, just Directv.

Not on Dish, just Directv.

For what it's worth, there are no MSG HD feeds listed in DirecTV's online Center Ice schedule either. Here's hoping the Verizon "loophole" gets closed fast. Then if we can get the MSG HD feeds we can try to figure out how to get the Canadian network HD feeds next.

I've heard some interesting speculation that the Comcast-owned RSNs are playing hardball with Dish, and not providing them with the HD feeds for all the games, in an attempt to drive people to Comcast service. Doesn't just affect Center Ice, but also local RSN packages, too.

Don't know how accurate that is, but it sure seems like something Comcast would do.

Wouldn't it be funny if they finally make the deal with NBC and the regulators deny the deal because of stuff like this.

I've heard some interesting speculation that the Comcast-owned RSNs are playing hardball with Dish, and not providing them with the HD feeds for all the games, in an attempt to drive people to Comcast service. Doesn't just affect Center Ice, but also local RSN packages, too.

Don't know how accurate that is, but it sure seems like something Comcast would do.

If this is the case then the league or FCC or somebody better step in because not everybody in the world has access to Comcast cable (in my part of the world a lot of people have no access to cable at all) and sattelite is their only source of anything beyond few local stations.

Any chance NHL Gamecenter will have a free preview from Oct 1-24 as well? NHL Gamecenter is NHL Center Ice Online.

Wondering who out there uses Gamecenter. Can/have you connected your PC to an HDTV to get actual HD quality picture or is it typical fuzzy PC type picture? (I bought a 50" TV for this, don't want to watch games on 15" laptop screen.) If it's HD quality, I'm seriously considering switching from CI to get more HD.

Wondering who out there uses Gamecenter. Can/have you connected your PC to an HDTV to get actual HD quality picture or is it typical fuzzy PC type picture? (I bought a 50" TV for this, don't want to watch games on 15" laptop screen.) If it's HD quality, I'm seriously considering switching from CI to get more HD.

A lot of it probably depends on your bandwidth. My dad had the baseball version and the quality varied depending on the speed of the cable modem.

Wondering who out there uses Gamecenter. Can/have you connected your PC to an HDTV to get actual HD quality picture or is it typical fuzzy PC type picture? (I bought a 50" TV for this, don't want to watch games on 15" laptop screen.) If it's HD quality, I'm seriously considering switching from CI to get more HD.
With Gamecenter, the maximum bandwidth I believe is 2.5Mbps. Some games use the HD feed, while others (MSG networks notably) stretch the SD feed.

Wondering who out there uses Gamecenter. Can/have you connected your PC to an HDTV to get actual HD quality picture or is it typical fuzzy PC type picture? (I bought a 50" TV for this, don't want to watch games on 15" laptop screen.) If it's HD quality, I'm seriously considering switching from CI to get more HD.

If you are seriously considering getting gamecenter try it out through their daily trials. You can see for yourself how the game looks on your tv. Start by going on to NHL.com's score section during the games. Click on the Gamecenter link under the game you want to watch. It will then prompt you whether to try the free trial. The trial literally lasts about 5 minutes but it shows you the package and all of its features, as well as the games.

Turns out we don't have a "Hockey HD 09-10" thread, so I'll use this thread to make mention that tonight probably has the bigggest game of the year in the NHL thus far (Even though in the US, it will be blacked out on NHL CI because it is on NHL Network US):

#1 in the NHL San Jose Sharks hosting #2 in the NHL Chicago Blackhawks. Final meeting of the year for the teams. Blackhawks have won twice, Sharks have won once. 7:30pm Pacific / 10:30pm Eastern, broadcast nationwide in the US on NHL Network HD (picking up CSN-CA HD feed). Should be a great game. Besides a lopsided blowout by the Hawks the last time the teams met in SJ, the other two games in Chicago were great games, with Chicago winning one in OT and SJ winning the other.

The Sharks have the most Olympians in 2010 out of any team in the NHL, and the best line in hockey in the world today (Marleau-Thornton-Heatley, which will remain intact for Team Canada). The Hawks are the real younguns full of great talent (Kane, Toews, Sharp, Keith, etc).

People love to say things "Western Conference Championship Preview", but in the NHL these things don't seem to hold true. Here's hoping this is the case, finally.

Wow. Good one there last night with the Sharks v. Hawks...

My Pens came out of the gate well, but stumbled and played pretty poorly overall in a loss to the red hot Sens...

Anyway, couple of comments.

1) I am steamed the Center Ice on Comcast has no HD content. Pretty pathetic. Especially since there are quite a few Pens games that are available in HD.

2) Still steamed that I don't have NHL network in HD. Only 4:3 here in Richmond. Does Comcast carry this channel in HD in any area?

At least I'll get to see the Pens in HD for the 2nd of 3 Sunday's in a row. Wings v. Pens in a Cup rematch. Should be fun. Following Sunday it's the Pens v. Caps. Caps are on fire right now - who can keep up them offensively?

Randy

Wow. Good one there last night with the Sharks v. Hawks...

My Pens came out of the gate well, but stumbled and played pretty poorly overall in a loss to the red hot Sens...

Anyway, couple of comments.

1) I am steamed the Center Ice on Comcast has no HD content. Pretty pathetic. Especially since there are quite a few Pens games that are available in HD.


That's precisely why when I moved out of market I switched over to DirecTV. Yes they have some shortcomings (Versus! :mad:), but to see your favorite team's out of market HD games, you have to go DirecTV (unless your favorite team's RSN is MSG or CSN Philly...bastards...).

I live out of market from the Sharks and every game on their RSN that is in HD, I see in HD. It's as if I was still in the Bay Area.

And IMHO, nobody can keep up offensively with the Caps. That's why you have to avoid getting into a shoot-out with them. But as a Sharks fan, I have to say, the Hawks are scary good: loads of offensive fire-power with great D. Like the Caps though, both teams shortcomings could be in net. I think both the Caps and Hawk's goalie combos are average at best (yes I know Huet's numbers are good, but I think that is a function of the solid blueline in front of him rather than his play).

I have to admit. NHL Center Ice package showing JumboTron feeds when neither team is televising the game is pretty amazing. Sure, it's not HD, but the fact that the game is being made available on NHL CI is impressive. I don't know of any other out-of-market sports package that even does that or better yet when one team isn't broadcasting on TV, NHL CI won't blackout the opposing team's broadcast. I wish the people at MLB would take a look at how NHL CI apply the same rules to MLB CI.

I have to admit. NHL Center Ice package showing JumboTron feeds when neither team is televising the game is pretty amazing. Sure, it's not HD, but the fact that the game is being made available on NHL CI is impressive. I don't know of any other out-of-market sports package that even does that or better yet when one team isn't broadcasting on TV, NHL CI won't blackout the opposing team's broadcast. I wish the people at MLB would take a look at how NHL CI apply the same rules to MLB CI.

they have the exact same rules. (other than the whole FOX Saturday/EPSN Sunday night exclusivity thing)

NHL CI does blackout opposing team broadcasts when the local team is broadcasting their own - even if the opponent broadcast is the only one available on CI.

they have the exact same rules. (other than the whole FOX Saturday/EPSN Sunday night exclusivity thing)

NHL CI does blackout opposing team broadcasts when the local team is broadcasting their own - even if the opponent broadcast is the only one available on CI.
Not always true. The posted PDF indicates some blackout lifts, but it is usually for special circumstances. But yes, in general, if the game is supposed to be available locally and it's not, you're blacked out.

A local (to me) example... The Washington Capitals. Earlier in the season, FiOS in Annapolis MD did not carry CSN+. Even still, the CI feed would be blacked out.

But I have seen blackout lifts for areas where there is no local TV coverage for a given game, like Phoenix, Minnesota, Carolina, and several others.

The Coyotes have pretty lousy TV coverage, with 50 games on FSN Arizona, 1 on Versus, and 1 on a local OTA broadcaster (at least all 52 are in HD...). For the last few years, they have specifically requested that all games not available locally have the blackout lifted on CI.

Not always true. The posted PDF indicates some blackout lifts, but it is usually for special circumstances. But yes, in general, if the game is supposed to be available locally and it's not, you're blacked out.

A local (to me) example... The Washington Capitals. Earlier in the season, FiOS in Annapolis MD did not carry CSN+. Even still, the CI feed would be blacked out.

But I have seen blackout lifts for areas where there is no local TV coverage for a given game, like Phoenix, Minnesota, Carolina, and several others.

To GregAnnapolis, did Fios ever get CSN-W+ on your system? According to the CSN-W site, CSN-W+ is now currently available on your Ann Arundel County Fios system on channel 334, but AFAIK there is no CSN-W+ HD channel yet. Hopefully they got that problem solved. With that said, in contrast to MLB EI, MLB isn't flexible when it comes to waiving blackouts on games that aren't televised in your area. And on MLB EI, and if you live in an area far away and the game is only on an OTA station and the area you live in doesn't show that game on your local OTA station, you're out of luck. (Example: San Luis Obispo is considered Angels and Dodgers territory, and periodically the Dodgers are on KCAL and the Angels are on KCOP. Neither KCAL or KCOP serve San Luis Obispo and no tv station in San Luis Obispo carries the games from either station. So if you try to use MLB EI in that situation you're SOL.) At least with NHL CI, if you're outside the DMA of the local team/50 mile radius, you'd be able to get the game on NHL CI. While the rules between MLB EI and NHL CI are similar, NHL is more leniant IMHO than MLB with respect to their out-of-market packages showing opposing team feeds.

I have to admit. NHL Center Ice package showing JumboTron feeds when neither team is televising the game is pretty amazing. Sure, it's not HD, but the fact that the game is being made available on NHL CI is impressive. I don't know of any other out-of-market sports package that even does that or better yet when one team isn't broadcasting on TV, NHL CI won't blackout the opposing team's broadcast. I wish the people at MLB would take a look at how NHL CI apply the same rules to MLB CI.

Sad thing is MLB.TV provides those jumbotron feeds but not MLB EI.

To GregAnnapolis, did Fios ever get CSN-W+ on your system? According to the CSN-W site, CSN-W+ is now currently available on your Ann Arundel County Fios system on channel 334, but AFAIK there is no CSN-W+ HD channel yet. Hopefully they got that problem solved. With that said, in contrast to MLB EI, MLB isn't flexible when it comes to waiving blackouts on games that aren't televised in your area. And on MLB EI, and if you live in an area far away and the game is only on an OTA station and the area you live in doesn't show that game on your local OTA station, you're out of luck. (Example: San Luis Obispo is considered Angels and Dodgers territory, and periodically the Dodgers are on KCAL and the Angels are on KCOP. Neither KCAL or KCOP serve San Luis Obispo and no tv station in San Luis Obispo carries the games from either station. So if you try to use MLB EI in that situation you're SOL.) At least with NHL CI, if you're outside the DMA of the local team/50 mile radius, you'd be able to get the game on NHL CI. While the rules between MLB EI and NHL CI are similar, NHL is more leniant IMHO than MLB with respect to their out-of-market packages showing opposing team feeds.
Yes, they added CSN-W+ last week, but of course there are no more Caps games scheduled for that channel this season. There is no CSN-W+ HD this season; I think there was some chatter about it existing in time for next season, but I haven't heard anything firm. Everything you said about MLB and NHL sounds about accurate.

Just had Comcast install a CableCard in my new Tivo today, and have not yet disconnected the old Tivo from DirecTV. I am now watching the Sabres-Bruins game on Center Ice simultaneously on both, for a direct comparison. Even though both transmissions are SD, the DirecTV picture is much better. Hope I didn't make the wrong decision.

I wanted to see the Caps game in HD which is not available on the old satellite Tivo, and just couldn't bear to give up Tivo for the new DTV box.

All terrestrial providers get an already-encoded mux of Center Ice from INDEMAND, so it looks pretty lousy everywhere. DirecTV has their own deal to get the games directly from the RSNs, so they will probably look better than the SD Center Ice broadcasts on cable.

Looks like CI is doing a free preview this week. Between that and all the extra games Versus is picking up, there's almost as much hockey on now as there was during the Olympics :D.

I did notice during the preview that there is now a second HD channel for Center Ice.

Looks like CI is doing a free preview this week. Between that and all the extra games Versus is picking up, there's almost as much hockey on now as there was during the Olympics :D.

For some reason we've been getting CI free all season! Almost never have to miss a Sabres game. (Now if they would only get their offense untracked again...:()

I did notice during the preview that there is now a second HD channel for Center Ice.
There sure is; I posted about it back in January. :)

Quick question for you, what provider are you on that carries GAMEHD2? As of 3/5/10, Verizon FiOS does *NOT* carry it, so I'm on the lookout for any providers that do carry it.

I missed your post from January. I have Comcast in NJ, which does NOT carry any of the Sports inDemand HD channels. I only saw it on the on screen listings. Comcast put out a new HD lineup last fall in the mid atlantic region, and only one or two systems get GAME HD and TEAM HD.

There sure is; I posted about it back in January. :)

Quick question for you, what provider are you on that carries GAMEHD2? As of 3/5/10, Verizon FiOS does *NOT* carry it, so I'm on the lookout for any providers that do carry it.In the Seattle area, Comcast carries GAME-HD2, along with GAME-HD and TEAM-HD. We are one of the Xfinity-upgraded areas.

MSG's Isles-Rangers is available in HD tonight on DirecTV...

MSG's Isles-Rangers is available in HD tonight on DirecTV...

I saw it was on their schedule to be in HD, was it actually on? If so, does that mean the MSG war is over? Or at least for DirecTV?