I love that between FSC, GolTV, Setanta, and occasionally ESPN/ABC, I get coverage of a lot of great domestic and foreign soccer games.

However it's disappointing that the games are so rarely shown in HD, especially since I know that at the source they're nearly always recorded that way!

I used to subscribe to VOOM back in the day and loved watching the Spanish Premier League in HD.

Does anyone know if GolTV, Setanta, FSC, or any other soccer-themed channel is thinking about converting to HD broadcasts?

FYI I'm on DirecTV, but happy to pick up any provider who's going to cover the big events (Gold Cup, Champion's Cup, Champion's League, Copa Americana, European league games, Euro Cup, etc) in HD.

Thanks!!

I'd love to see all those channels go HD, but until the price comes down on production, don't count on it.

I've very happy with the World Cup and MLS once a week in HD. (I Don't get HDnet because I'm on Comcast)

The rumor mill is that all the Euro 2008 finals will be in HD on ESPN, but there is no confirmations. Just that UEFA is producing all the games in HD.

I had read a few months ago that GolTV HD was coming, but I have not seen or heard anything since.(So maybe it was speculation not fact.) WorldSport HD on Dish broadcasts some HD games-Spanish League I believe.

WorldSportHD on Dish Network a few days ago showed the biggest soccer match of the season in HD - Real Madrid playing for the championship on the last day of the season - tied with Barcelona - David Beckham playing injured, hoping for one trophy before he leaves.

ESPN2-HD shows an MLS match every Thursday in HD, and HD-Net shows an MLS match every Saturday in HD.

July 21st will be Beckham's debut for L.A. Galaxy playing against Chelsea, and is scheduled to be on ESPN-HD.

I have asked FSC and they have no current plans for HD.

Currently, the market for foreign (non-US/Mexico) soccer matches is already a small niche market, and since HD penetration is something like 10-15%, then the market for foreign HD soccer matches is very small. I say that sadly, since I include myself in that small market...

PS Actually, this is also true even if you change "soccer" to any other sport. The America's Cup sailing event starting Saturday in Spain is not in HD in the US. I'm not aware of any sports event outside the US in HD on any channel other than WorldSportHD...

I love that between FSC, GolTV, Setanta, and occasionally ESPN/ABC, I get coverage of a lot of great domestic and foreign soccer games.

However it's disappointing that the games are so rarely shown in HD, especially since I know that at the source they're nearly always recorded that way!
I love watching (and playing) soccer. Watching soccer in HD is amazing, but stop right here… soccer, even top-level, is rarely produced in HD. By my count only the following soccer events are produced or scheduled to be produced in HD, so far:
World Cup
Euro Finals
Olympics
Champions League final
Champions League matches depending on host broadcaster
A lot of English Premiership matches
Important games from Italian, Spanish, German leagues
MLS soccer on HDNet and ESPN2/ABC
South Korean soccer

That's it. A small percentage of soccer games. There is no HD or even SD widescreen soccer production in South America, so don't expect to see Copa America or Libertadores in HD for years. Brazil may have some local soccer in HD one or two years from now, since they are starting digital broadcasts in December 2007.

I love watching (and playing) soccer. Watching soccer in HD is amazing, but stop right here… soccer, even top-level, is rarely produced in HD. By my count only the following soccer events are produced or scheduled to be produced in HD, so far:
World Cup
Euro Finals
Olympics
Champions League final
Champions League matches depending on host broadcaster
A lot of English Premiership matches
Important games from Italian, Spanish, German leagues
MLS soccer on HDNet and ESPN2/ABC
South Korean soccer

That's it. A small percentage of soccer games. There is no HD or even SD widescreen soccer production in South America, so don't expect to see Copa America or Libertadores in HD for years. Brazil may have some local soccer in HD one or two years from now, since they are starting digital broadcasts in December 2007.

As the technology progresses over the next 2-5 years and equpiment/production becomes less expensive, almost all sports coverage will be switching over to HD for the stunning picture. I think in the next 3 years we will see FSC and others in HD.

Hopefully here in the US we can get more coverage not only the Euro leagues, but the Copa America, Sudamerica, and Libertadores and the South American Leagues. Hell I'd like to see some HD coverage of the CONCACAF Gold cup. Its our own regions championship and I can only get the US games on FSC and any other games have have to watch in Spanish on Univision. Hell, I had to watch the last final on Univision, atleast FSC had US games and Final this year.

With Fox Sports going so "gung ho" into HD Sports (all the RSNs, The Big Ten Network, and upgrading their production facility in Huston) Maybe we'll get an FSC HD channel sooner than we think.

I could see the RSNs that do their teams games in HD passing those to FSC, esp those that are done by FSN RSNs.

A boy can hope, a boy can dream...

I think your figures are more than a little out of date.

Most sources now believe HDTV penetration has hit at least 25%, with many predicting a 50% or more penetration by the February, 2009 analog cutoff date.

The Consumer Electronics Association, in late April, said the current HD penetration rate is 25%:

http://www.ce.org/Press/CurrentNews/press_release_detail.asp?id=11274

...
Currently, the market for foreign (non-US/Mexico) soccer matches is already a small niche market, and since HD penetration is something like 10-15%, then the market for foreign HD soccer matches is very small. I say that sadly, since I include myself in that small market...

Just to do some MLS research I checked all the teams varying TV networks and RSNs to see who had games done in HD (not by ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 or HDNet)

It would be a major boost if the Spanish Language (Galavision, TeleFutura, and Univision) networks went HD. I haven't been able to locate any info if/when these channels plan to launch HD Services.

All data is based off from the schedules on the MLS/Club site and the TV Station/RSN site.

Team - Networks/RSNs - # of HD games
Chivas USA - FSN West/FSN Prime Ticket - 0
Colorado Rapids - Altitude S&E - 0
FC Dallas - FSN Southwest/KFWD-52 - 0
Houston Dynamo - KTBU/KHLM - 0 (Didn't know that FSN Houston had given this up, really sucks for coverage as these both appear to be low power OTA stations)
LA Galaxy - FSN West/FSN Prime Ticket - 0 (Wouldn't surprise me if this changes once Baseball cools off and Beckham shows up)
Real Salt Lake - FSN Utah/KSL-TV - 0
Chicago Fire - Comcast SportsNet Chicago - 0 (Surprising considering that CSN-MA does DC United games in HD and the new facility that they just built. Plus I swear I saw a game last year on InHD that was a reply of a Fire game that was from CSN-Chicago HD.)
Columbus Crew - Ohio News Network/Columbus Sports Network - 0
DC United - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic - 6 games remaining (not sure of games already played)
Kansas City Wizards - MetroSports - 0
New England Revolution - WSBKTV38 - 0 (Odd as I thought they had games in HD in previous years from other broadcasters)
Red Bull New York - MSG/MSG2/FSN NY - 0 (Also surprises me because all the Knicks, Nets, Rangers, etc home games are in HD.)
Toronto FC - Rogers Sports Network/CBC/The Score - 0

So not including the national networks of ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 and HD Net, the MLS has a grand total of 6 games in HD the rest of the season (Could have been more total for the season, but not sure what CSN-MA has already done for DCU).

But almost every club has the possibility of going HD. All the FSNs produce other sports in HD, same for Altitude, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and MSG. Hell, all three of Toronto FCs networks have HD channels and Canadians are much more into Soccer than the US is. Those Canucks are as sports crazy as the Europeans.

Only Teams that are on startup networks and OTAs have a longer road to HD because of costs:
Houston Dynamo - Were on FSN Houston (a sub of FSN Southwest), but these OTAs don't appear to have HD stations/plans.

Columbus Crew - Ohio News Network doesn't appear to have any HD plans and Columbus SportsNet is a startup in their 1st year. I'd give them some time, they might be a possibility.

Kansas City Wizards - Are on an established sports station "Metro Sports," but they appear to have no HD plans.

New England Revolution - I swear they used to be on an FSN New England or NESN, but could be wrong, however, their broadcaster appears to have an HD channel. Not sure about production though.

I really think that if more RSNs and TV networks did games in HD that FSC would get the HD push. That and I'd love to see MLS Direct Kick in HD.

I've also sent feedback to MLSnet.com requesting that they add HD coverage to their TV Schedules. I used the current DC United Schedule, editing in for the CSN-HD, ESPN2HD, and ABCHD games. Hopefully we'll see a better list of HD coverage from MLSnet.com

Edit in:
After doing a bit more reading and research, its possible that Red Bull New York games are being produced in HD by MSG and FSN NY. I know that Wikipedia is not the best source of intormation, but this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FSN_New_York#FSN_New_York_HD) says that Red Bulls games are done in HD. I'll keep researching.

I think your figures are more than a little out of date.

Most sources now believe HDTV penetration has hit at least 25%, with many predicting a 50% or more penetration by the February, 2009 analog cutoff date.

The Consumer Electronics Association, in late April, said the current HD penetration rate is 25%:

http://www.ce.org/Press/CurrentNews/press_release_detail.asp?id=11274
Just looking over that article quickly, it sounds like that's 25% penetration for HDTVs, not necessarily high definition programming. So maybe 10-15% is about right. I'd guess 10% and rising for HD programming.

I emailed Setanta last month about HD and got this reply.

"We do not have any plans as HD is prohibitively expensive for a small broadcaster such as ourselves."

"We do not have any plans as HD is prohibitively expensive for a small broadcaster such as ourselves."

This is why it pisses me off when Setanta gets the U.S. broadcast rights to so many sporting events.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/public/FSC/TV/FSCFAQ

Will Fox Soccer Channel be offering broadcasts in high definition (HDTV)?

FSC is exploring ways of offering some programs in high definition (HD) where rights and access to HD feeds are available.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/public/FSC/TV/FSCFAQ

Will Fox Soccer Channel be offering broadcasts in high definition (HDTV)?

FSC is exploring ways of offering some programs in high definition (HD) where rights and access to HD feeds are available.

Actually, perhaps I took the following remark from FSC as more negative than it was (perhaps because it was so vague and tentative):

Regarding HD, we do have plans for HD for hopefully the near future.

I'm surprised about the negative characterization of MLS HD availability in the long post above - with two HD matches per week, clearly MLS is the leader in HD. The individual regional channels and teams have very little resources, and it is unrealistic to expect them to go HD for several years.

Regarding Latino HD programming, that is unrealistic as well. Latinos in the USA are generally the demographic least likely to have disposable impulse luxury purchase income. Please note I am not making any sort of personal judgement, just realistic facts. With large families, low-paying jobs, and money being sent to poor relatives, it is unlikely that we will see hispanic HD channels for many years. For example, the Miss Universe contest, a latino favorite, broadcast from Mexico, was not shown in HD in the US, despite the obvious benefits of HD for that event.

So, I would not expect much soccer HD, outside of ESPN, HD-Net and WorldSportHD. Perhaps FSC's "near future" means that they plan to shift their PPV offerings (such as the FA Cup Final) to HD - which would make sense, as many of us are unlikely to pay $$ for soccer matches in SD.

I was not intending to be negative at all, I was just trying to show that almost every market has the capability to do HD for the MLS regional matches, but choose not to because of cost and low viewership.

I'm very happy about two matches a week in HD (even though I can only get one, damn Comcast) but I just wanted to point out that atleast one team is getting HD from their Home RSN and the capability is there for more.

Then I started my brain wandering about the Spanish channels and other thoughts.

I'm a huge MLS fan was jumped for joy when i heard that ESPN was taking over the production of their MLS coverage and it would be HD.

When you get a taste of something so sweet as the full World Cup in HD or a club game a week in HD, you want the whole pie :)

Long live the Reds of Liverpool FC, the Columbus Crew, and Fulham FC!!!

I would love to have a Telefutura or Galavision station in my area or on cable. I lose out on some weekly MLS games here.

Is there a reason why MLS matches on ESPN are in HD, but not USMNT or USWNT matches?

Is there a reason why MLS matches on ESPN are in HD, but not USMNT or USWNT matches?

The new MLS-ESPN contract only went into effect this year. The US Men's National Team has not played any meaningful matches on ESPN since fall 2005 (games produced by SUM-ESPN, the FIFA WC feed doesn't count). So we don't know yet what treatment the Men's games will receive. My hope would be for all home WCQ's but I would understand if they only did the home games in the hex (2nd qualifying round). I don't expect them to produce friendlies in HD unless they are big like US v Mexico in January. That game got good ratings and would make a great candidate for HD treatment. Keep in mind that before this MLS season started ESPN had only shown one soccer game in HD ever, an August 2005 qualifier from nearby East Hartford, CT.

I can't find anything that says the upcoming Women's World Cup will be offered in HD. This would have to be a pool feed from FIFA. Do the women even play qualifiers? If so, do they make a sound? These won't be in HD until there is a regional rival to the Women's dominance.

Slightly off topic, but is Dish Network our only choice for Telefutura (assuming no cable)? With D*, I have FSC, Uni, Gala, and GolTV, but no Telefutura.

HDNet had a couple of friendlies in HD 2 years ago.

Thanks everyone who replied. I understand that ultimately it's a matter of economics. I am thankful that we get any coverage of soccer around the world at all!

I just wish that the upcoming Copa America were in HD :(

BTW - congrats to the US team for taking the Gold Cup.

Slightly off topic, but is Dish Network our only choice for Telefutura (assuming no cable)? With D*, I have FSC, Uni, Gala, and GolTV, but no Telefutura.Dish has it. I have the Latino Dos package, and it's definitely on there.

Just get Latino Dos or Max with the HD package.

I'm not sure that any of the Dish Latino packs qualify for DishHD.

Telefutura is in Dish's AT200 (and AT250) packages as a national feed that carries the Sunday MLS match.

While not HD, you can also watch soccer games on-line for free. That's how I watched most of the ManU games not on FSC last year. I can't get to the site at work due to firewall restritctions, but do a google search for tv ants and click the first link.

This story popped up on MSNBC.COM today: more people tuned in to the Gold Cup final than the Stanley Cup Final - and that was just on Univision! That doesn't even include FSC, which is not rated.

So clearly, soccer is on the rise. Maybe that'll help the economics of HD :)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19442103/from/RS.1/

I honestly don't care about HD as much as I do the audio. Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa are hands down the worst commentators ever. I'd rather have a straight stadium feed of audio only w/o any commentary then listen to the crap they spew out. Sort out the commentary first then bring us our football in HD.

At least FSC usually uses the sky sports feed so we can get good commentary on the EPL matches. Even GolTV's American commentator is better than those other two idiots. ESPN employs Tommy Smyth and Adrian Healey who aren't very good eitehr butI'd rather listen to them than O'Brien and Balboa.

I have to agree that most of the US commentators are horrifically bad.

My favorite(?) quote from the World Cup last year was when one of the commentators said that some event (I forget exactly what happened) "turned the game around 360 degrees."

That's the same direction you moron.

That was probably Dave O'Brien. I don't remember him doing any soccer matches until the WC.

I can't find anything that says the upcoming Women's World Cup will be offered in HD. This would have to be a pool feed from FIFA. Do the women even play qualifiers? If so, do they make a sound? These won't be in HD until there is a regional rival to the Women's dominance.
Women's World Cup will be produced in SD 16:9 (widescreen) by CCTV, China's state TV. http://www.hostbroadcastservices.com/news.php?idnews=55&page=1

I'm not sure that any of the Dish Latino packs qualify for DishHD.I'm pretty sure they still do. They just don't specify it on their website anymore (they did until just recently).

They just say to "call them for more information" on their Latino HD page now.

I was watching the final of Real Madrid (where they won the league) the other day. It was either GOL or FSC. I forget which.

One of the annoucers is from the UK (sounded either Scotish or Brit Cockney).
He's a regular on the US channel. An older guy. I think he was on the Charlie Rose talk show prior to last years World Cup.

I could not believe how biased he was being in favor of Real Madrid.
It was bad enough nobody showed the Barcelona match (Not even shown as a repeat). But his commentary so in favor of Madrid was very lame.

And he got so over the top excited and carried away in his comment the other
announcer just sat back and kept quiet. I forget some of stupid comment but with the heavy accent they sounded ever more stupid.

But to date NOTHING was worse than ESPN's coverage of the World Cup.
Those announcers should never be allowed to be on TV or Radio again.
Absolute s**t.

The state of American announcers these days for all sports is pathetic.

Give me the intelligence, quality and class of Jim McKay anyday.
He set the bar so high. Now the bar's so low it's in the dirt.

I hear in the UK they can actually turn off the commentary and just hear the crowds cheering. Wouldn't that be great.

bjf

I could not believe how biased he was being in favor of Real Madrid.
It was bad enough nobody showed the Barcelona match (Not even shown as a repeat). But his commentary so in favor of Madrid was very lame.

Was he hyping up David Beckham?

That why I watch the LALiga games on Worldsport HD they are not fans of the top teams and are not bias.

I did notice the 2nd to last week of the Laliga season WorldsportHD did the Barcalona game live in HD, but they also had HD cameras at the Real Madrid game also for highlights in HD, and probably same thing for the last week also. MediaPro is test more HD cameras so when GolTV can afford the cost they will get an HD channel, unless ESPN out bids them next time.

I was watching the final of Real Madrid (where they won the league) the other day. It was either GOL or FSC. I forget which.

One of the annoucers is from the UK (sounded either Scotish or Brit Cockney).
He's a regular on the US channel. An older guy. I think he was on the Charlie Rose talk show prior to last years World Cup.

I could not believe how biased he was being in favor of Real Madrid.
It was bad enough nobody showed the Barcelona match (Not even shown as a repeat). But his commentary so in favor of Madrid was very lame.

And he got so over the top excited and carried away in his comment the other
announcer just sat back and kept quiet. I forget some of stupid comment but with the heavy accent they sounded ever more stupid.bjf

That's Ray Hudson. A couple of points: the Scottish are also British. They may not like to admit it, but they are. And Hudson is a (very excitable) Geordie. Geordie's are from Newcastle (NE England). Most Brits I know think he's ridiculous too.
But you're right, O'Brien is worse.
My favourite from WC 06? From the first England game and the affect of the summer heat on players: 'Hargreaves will be okay as he plays in Germany, so he'll be used to it.' He also referred to such illustrious English players as 'Michael Beckham' and 'Wayne Rodney'.

I hear in the UK they can actually turn off the commentary and just hear the crowds cheering. Wouldn't that be great.

I would love that with all sports

I just read that Setanta Sports USA channel was just uplinked for testing to Dish Network satellite slot 110 West as Channel 406 in SD. The rumor is that it will be available for subscription in July.

I just read that Setanta Sports USA channel was just uplinked for testing to Dish Network satellite slot 110 West as Channel 406 in SD. The rumor is that it will be available for subscription in July.

If that becomes available in the NE, my rugby-mad friends will be very happy indeed. Especially if it happens pre-WC/6 Nations.

If that becomes available in the NE, my rugby-mad friends will be very happy indeed. Especially if it happens pre-WC/6 Nations.
I'm not sure what you mean by "the NE".

If you mean a specific region, Setanta is uplinked to Dish Network's satellite that is visible throughout the 48 states.

If you mean Rugby World Cup in September 2007, then it is very likely it will be available before then. I don't know if Setanta is showing it, I don't personally keep up with Rugby.

I would love that with all sports

You can do that with a true 5.1 feed.

I'm not sure what you mean by "the NE".

If you mean a specific region, Setanta is uplinked to Dish Network's satellite that is visible throughout the 48 states.

If you mean Rugby World Cup in September 2007, then it is very likely it will be available before then. I don't know if Setanta is showing it, I don't personally keep up with Rugby.

I meant the North East, was confused by your use of 'West'. And yes, the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations.
Thanks for the update. I'll let my friend know.

I think our only hope for an FSC HD is is all EPL games go HD and it gets in the contract that the re trans is HD.

I just can't imagine that FSC would go HD, or offer any HD programming--as cheap as they are. My god, their channel is not even SD!

I just can't imagine that FSC would go HD, or offer any HD programming--as cheap as they are. My god, their channel is not even SD!
What is it then?

That announcer was Ray Hudson that I mentioned doing the Real Madrid final match.

Just terrible to listen too.

He wasn't so much hyping Beckham as just hyping Madrid like they were so
deserving. And pretty much had nothing to say about Barcelona.

The fact that Real Madrid just lucked out and has had several soap opera
seasons and this one topped them all. It just seemed he was way over
the top with his pro Real Madrid bits.

And he was soooooo hyped up you'd think he was on something.

I don't like dull BBC type announcers either but this guy was just too much.

I wish I had a 5.1 setup to delete the announcers all together.
Hopefully the Sky UK choice of a no annoucer channel with take off.

Watching Wimbledon today on ESPN.
Mary Carillo had more stupid comments about the Russian "Safin".
I have to think and recall all the slams she won and her best rating as
a player to qualify her stupid comments as a tv commentator.

And then there's John McEnroe and his endless comments. lol

It's like none of them have an off switch.

I'm not sure what is more annoying these stupid commentators.
Or ESPN's giant graphics covering the actual TV program I want to see.
And the f***ing endless running crawl at the bottom.

bjf

I have to agree. FSC isn't great.

But worse yet is GOL tv channel.
It's about one step away from a 1930's test pattern resolution.
And there are days when you think it's nearly a black/white image.

Setanta falls between the two.
Setanta's color is really intense.
But it's clarity is not even as good on FSC when they show the same matches.

FSE isn't as good as FSC when they show the same match.

BTW, the above is via directv.

Looking forward to DISH getting Setanta soon.
It might have better picture on DISH than directv.

What I would really like is to pay and get direct feeds via satellite from a Euro company that would make the major matches in a season pass type setup.
Just the feed. HD I'd even pay a bit more for. And no announcers.

There is a channel nobody gets in North America.
It's called "Canal+ (plus)" that carries a lot of Spain/French/Italian and other countries with very good coverage. It's a pay channel like HBO.
It would be great if they would offer it to the states.

bjf

I just can't imagine that FSC would go HD, or offer any HD programming--as cheap as they are. My god, their channel is not even SD!

Asked before, if not SD then what is it?

I think once a majority of their programing is available in HD, they will make the jump.

That would require all EPL matches, most FA Cup, all MLS matches, most of what they show from Italy and Argentina to be HD and maybe even some USL coverage.

I think once all MLS and EPL are HD, er might have a chance.

Just need costs to come down on HD production.

Asked before, if not SD then what is it?

I think once a majority of their programing is available in HD, they will make the jump.

That would require all EPL matches, most FA Cup, all MLS matches, most of what they show from Italy and Argentina to be HD and maybe even some USL coverage.

I think once all MLS and EPL are HD, er might have a chance.

Just need costs to come down on HD production.

I was making a snide comment about the image on FSC--it is so blurry and hazy as to be almost unwatchable. Basically, you see little colored blobs running around chasing a blob that kind of looks like a ball. (OK--I may be overstating it, but the image is pretty poor...)

I was making a snide comment about the image on FSC--it is so blurry and hazy as to be almost unwatchable. Basically, you see little colored blobs running around chasing a blob that kind of looks like a ball. (OK--I may be overstating it, but the image is pretty poor...)

Yeah, some of the feeds are quite bad, I will give you that.

Actually the more i think about it, its not only production, but redistribution of HD that would help a channel like FSC. They need to be able to save hours upon hours of HD games for replays and tape delays.

It seems that HD syndication is a problem with only Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune being HD and only in certain areas.

Has the HD syndication issues been resolved yet?

you know, I mentioned earlier in the thread that the Women's World Cup is being produced in SD widescreen. Well, so are all other FIFA tournaments, including the U-20 World Cup starting tomorrow in Canada. EPL has been produced in widescreen for years, Bundesliga is SD widescreen and occasionally HD, and La Liga and Serie A are also heading that way. My point is, these US soccer channels don't need to wait (a long long time) until they can have most of their matches in HD to start such a channel. They can launch HD outlets (the only way to broadcast widescreen in American cable/sat) and upconvert a 576i widescreen feed from Europe to either 720p or 1080i most of the time. It wouldn't even cost them as much bandwidth as HD. I see this happening after a couple of years when all the major cable networks have gone HD.

you know, I mentioned earlier in the thread that the Women's World Cup is being produced in SD widescreen. Well, so are all other FIFA tournaments, including the U-20 World Cup starting tomorrow in Canada. EPL has been produced in widescreen for years, Bundesliga is SD widescreen and occasionally HD, and La Liga and Serie A are also heading that way. My point is, these US soccer channels don't need to wait (a long long time) until they can have most of their matches in HD to start such a channel. They can launch HD outlets (the only way to broadcast widescreen in American cable/sat) and upconvert a 576i widescreen feed from Europe to either 720p or 1080i most of the time. It wouldn't even cost them as much bandwidth as HD. I see this happening after a couple of years when all the major cable networks have gone HD.

I would love to see them do something like this, take the 16x9 SD feeds and put them on an HD channel. Like ESPN2 has done with the French Open, Wimbledon, and part of the Australian Open in Tennis.

I just don't think there is enough ratings and ad money for Rupert and Fox Sports to invest the money and equip into an HD channel, then trying to get carriage on cable systems. Once D* new birds are up, the space for anything going HD will be available, but for the mean time, bandwidth is at a premium and I don't see an HD soccer channel getting carriage over other coming HD channels.

Hopefully in the next year, I would write to Fox, but I've never once gotten a reply from them as to a compliment/complaint.

I have to agree. FSC isn't great.

But worse yet is GOL tv channel.
It's about one step away from a 1930's test pattern resolution.
And there are days when you think it's nearly a black/white image.


bjf


I agree GOL's PQ is usually very bad, but their feeds from the Copa America have been noticeably better, at least on D*. Maybe they are downconversions of an HD production?

I agree GOL's PQ is usually very bad, but their feeds from the Copa America have been noticeably better, at least on D*. Maybe they are downconversions of an HD production?

I would love to have GolTV. its offered on some Comcast systems, but not mine.

I agree GOL's PQ is usually very bad, but their feeds from the Copa America have been noticeably better, at least on D*. Maybe they are downconversions of an HD production?I caught part of a live C.A. match on one of our local, 480i OTA Spanish networks the other day, and I was thinking the same thing.

It looked surprisingly VERY good, especially upon the closer-up shots. Very sharp and lots of detail (and this being on a large, HD display).

Copa America is being shown on three Latin channels via directv.

Univision has the best picture quality.
But they I believe are only showing matches from their group.
So far anyway.

Then the replay on FSE would be next best picture.

The GOL comes in as usual last place in picture quality.

Univision besides the best picture has a great in studio host and party
atmosphere. Similar to what they did for the World Cup last year.
And like last year they had the best SD picture quality in the states.

bjf

Copa America looks good, even streaming on the internet. They have some good super slow motion replays, too. Maybe it's shot with HD cameras, but I doubt any of the production is HD after that.

Copa America is being shown on three Latin channels via directv.

Univision has the best picture quality.


Thanks for the heads up, I'm not gonna see any of the US matches here, but its nice to see at least a match or two from the Copa America.

I just found out that the U-20 World Cup is on ESPNU, another channel I don't get from Comcast. Along with Galavision and Telefutura for Copa America, MLS, and U-20 WC. Also, as stated in earlier posts, GolTV is not available from my Comcast system. Very little coverage of these national tourney's because i refuse inferior PQ from D* or E*

Frustrated...

Is your SD Comcast cable that much better than D* or E*?

I know the SD channels on the local cable company are terrible.
Analog or Digital. Both are much worse the satellite.

Only the HD channels look good.

bjf

CBC in Canada is showing FIFA U-20 World Cup in widescreen on main network. Also their schedule shows two quaterfinals, semifinals, third place match and final in HD. Officially there is no International HD feed but I guess CBC will do these six games in HD.

Here is the schedule http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/schedule/

I was making a snide comment about the image on FSC--it is so blurry and hazy as to be almost unwatchable. Basically, you see little colored blobs running around chasing a blob that kind of looks like a ball. (OK--I may be overstating it, but the image is pretty poor...)


FSC???

I am not sure why, but since I switched to FiOS it looks a lot better. Yes, when I was with Cox, it was like you described, but now it is better with Verizon. GolTV, on the other hand, is horrible and horrendous. I was in Europe during the WC and they were showing them in widescreen, their PQ looked better than what we have here. Of course not for the world cup, it was HD here but for WS SD it looked really good.

CBC in Canada is showing FIFA U-20 World Cup in widescreen on main network. Also their schedule shows two quaterfinals, semifinals, third place match and final in HD. Officially there is no International HD feed but I guess CBC will do these six games in HD.

Here is the schedule http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/schedule/

Damn, would love to see these on TSN HD cause then, maybe, just maybe ESPN2 would show the HD coverage.

Do the women even play qualifiers? If so, do they make a sound?

They used the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_CONCACAF_Women%27s_Gold_Cup) as the qualifier.

FSC???

I am not sure why, but since I switched to FiOS it looks a lot better. Yes, when I was with Cox, it was like you described, but now it is better with Verizon. GolTV, on the other hand, is horrible and horrendous. I was in Europe during the WC and they were showing them in widescreen, their PQ looked better than what we have here. Of course not for the world cup, it was HD here but for WS SD it looked really good.

I know FOIS has better PQ for everything, SD and HD, but I've heard that the Moto 6416 STB does better PQ for SD than the 6412.

What STB did V* give ya?

FSC and Gol TV look pretty good on Dish Network. When I had Comcast, FSC was unwatchable due to issues from the compression and that may be why you guys have issues with them.

On Dish Network, they look pretty good. Any issues with picture on individual programs seem to come from the production and not FSC or Gol TV.

So can anyone with Setanta let me know if everything is 4:3, or do they have widescreen broadcasts? I am debating getting Setanta for the 2007 RWC. I know the RWC is filmed in HD this year, but I would settle for a widescreen feed. (no chance of HD coverage in the US I would think).

So can anyone with Setanta let me know if everything is 4:3, or do they have widescreen broadcasts? I am debating getting Setanta for the 2007 RWC. I know the RWC is filmed in HD this year, but I would settle for a widescreen feed. (no chance of HD coverage in the US I would think).
When I had it it was 4:3 stretched to full screen on my tv. Definately not 16x9.

So can anyone with Setanta let me know if everything is 4:3, or do they have widescreen broadcasts? I am debating getting Setanta for the 2007 RWC. I know the RWC is filmed in HD this year, but I would settle for a widescreen feed. (no chance of HD coverage in the US I would think).

I saw a free preview on D* at my sisters house and it was 4x3

Also back to the HD Topic...

I got an email reply from Altitude S&E who covers the Rapids and they have no plans in the near future to broadcast Rapids matches in HD

Thanks for the heads up, I'm not gonna see any of the US matches here, but its nice to see at least a match or two from the Copa America.

I just found out that the U-20 World Cup is on ESPNU, another channel I don't get from Comcast. Along with Galavision and Telefutura for Copa America, MLS, and U-20 WC. Also, as stated in earlier posts, GolTV is not available from my Comcast system. Very little coverage of these national tourney's because i refuse inferior PQ from D* or E*

Frustrated...

I have to say, when you are recovered, you should consider switching to Dish Network, DirecTV, or Verizon FIOS (if the latter is available in your location).

It sounds like your local cable system has none of the channels you want.

So can anyone with Setanta let me know if everything is 4:3, or do they have widescreen broadcasts? I am debating getting Setanta for the 2007 RWC. I know the RWC is filmed in HD this year, but I would settle for a widescreen feed. (no chance of HD coverage in the US I would think).

i have had setanta for about a year. all 4:3.

I have to say, when you are recovered, you should consider switching to Dish Network, DirecTV, or Verizon FIOS (if the latter is available in your location).

It sounds like your local cable system has none of the channels you want.

As i said in another thread, if D* goes back to full PQ with the new bird and gets all the HD channels I currently have, then I will look at switching, but for now, its Comcast.

Setanta is always 4:3 aspect.

There have been a few rare occasions where they take a 16:9 and squish
it to fit 4:3.

You never see anything letterboxed or 16:9.

Their WC feed was from Germany (in German) but was still SD 4:3.

There big thing is content over picture quality.
And they are big in sports bars and PPV for Euro events.

HD is not a priority and all the major decisions for Setanta come from the UK.
The US is just a satellite of the parent company.

They've run some very oddball UK sports on Setanta US when really nobody
cares. Why on Earth they bother is a puzzle. Obviously if the US was in charge
they would be doing that. They would show Soccer an Rugby only probably.

The Setanta US people seem very nice and helpful.
Just wish the UK folks would let them do more content and HD wise.

bjff

Thanks for the heads up, I'm not gonna see any of the US matches here, but its nice to see at least a match or two from the Copa America.

I just found out that the U-20 World Cup is on ESPNU, another channel I don't get from Comcast. Along with Galavision and Telefutura for Copa America, MLS, and U-20 WC. Also, as stated in earlier posts, GolTV is not available from my Comcast system. Very little coverage of these national tourney's because i refuse inferior PQ from D* or E*

Frustrated...

All of those are available on FIOS (except for Telefutura). I've been very busy recording many of these.

Update --- Found Telefutura, it was in the low end of the channels (21), the PQ for all of these is good to very good (GolTv is the worst).

I love that between FSC, GolTV, Setanta, and occasionally ESPN/ABC, I get coverage of a lot of great domestic and foreign soccer games.

However it's disappointing that the games are so rarely shown in HD, especially since I know that at the source they're nearly always recorded that way!

I used to subscribe to VOOM back in the day and loved watching the Spanish Premier League in HD.

Does anyone know if GolTV, Setanta, FSC, or any other soccer-themed channel is thinking about converting to HD broadcasts?

FYI I'm on DirecTV, but happy to pick up any provider who's going to cover the big events (Gold Cup, Champion's Cup, Champion's League, Copa Americana, European league games, Euro Cup, etc) in HD.

Thanks!!


So, I am a fan of Setanta Sports on D*, I am a big football fan. I only subscribe during the season.

I emailed them over the weekend and asked if they will be broadcasting any games in HD soon.

The answer was not in the foreseeable future, HD is very expensive and they are a small company who could not afford to offer it.

I then asked them well if they rebroadcast Skysports broadcasts that are already in HD where is the prohibitive cost coming from, certainly not the production costs.

They answered: We will not be offering any HD anytime soon.

Just thought I would pass this along, oh well. Maybe D* will start offering Premiership games in HD on demand/ppv.

I would think there are enough fans who would pay for such a service. Of course when the new birds are up and functional.

Just thought I would pass this along, oh well. Maybe D* will start offering Premiership games in HD on demand/ppv.

I would think there are enough fans who would pay for such a service. Of course when the new birds are up and functional.

Great info, thanks

If D* goes back full rez and offers stuff like that, the i might be tempted to change

Very little coverage of these national tourney's because i refuse inferior PQ from D* or E*

Frustrated...

What is more inferior- the black screen because you refuse to pay or the actual moving images on your screen you would get from D* or E*? Trust me, I'm watching all those channels and I really can tell the ball from the players from the referee, etc.

And for everyone stating there is no demand, why are there two full-time soccer channels and one PPV, almost exclusively broadcasting soccer? Plus the FSE and ESPNDep channels that have soccer rights packages different than their English counterparts?

BTW, my D* HR20 keeps wanting to record "UEFA" shows ESPN Deportes on 423 (or is it 432?), but I can't find anywhere how to get the channel. Last time I looked, fairly recently, it isn't listed on D*'s website.

If you have the English channel package you have to get the Spanish channel add on package to get ESPN Deportes channel 432.

bjf

What is more inferior- the black screen because you refuse to pay or the actual moving images on your screen you would get from D* or E*? Trust me, I'm watching all those channels and I really can tell the ball from the players from the referee, etc.

And for everyone stating there is no demand, why are there two full-time soccer channels and one PPV, almost exclusively broadcasting soccer? Plus the FSE and ESPNDep channels that have soccer rights packages different than their English counterparts?

BTW, my D* HR20 keeps wanting to record "UEFA" shows ESPN Deportes on 423 (or is it 432?), but I can't find anywhere how to get the channel. Last time I looked, fairly recently, it isn't listed on D*'s website.

Its not just the soccer channels PQ, but ALL their channels PQ.

FSC should offer the games HD as their sister company Sky Sports is showing them in HD. I would love to see my beloved Man Utd. in HD. However, they can keep the Arsenal and Liverpool games in SD. LOL

Setanta's reply above about being a small company is BS just look at all the rights they own around the world. Plus they charge $15 dollars a month and how much of their content is closed circuit only.

I had Dish Network since 1996 till last January, when I joined Comcast. FSC is absolutely horrible on Commycast. Every few seconds I loose audio, so Fox football fon-in is totally un-watchable as you miss most of the conversation. Also, I keep hearing a kind of redial sound, usually at least 3 or 4 times an hour. I am also experiencing picture freezes. I have bitched and bitched and I have had about 30 different answers and 6 visits from techs and my problem is still not solved. So I guess I will be going back to Dish.

FSC on damand would be a nice addition. Are you listening,you Commies up their in Philadelphia.

By the way I am in the Nashville, TN area.

i get the same dial noise, i've just learned to tune it out, I don't have the audio drop outs that you having, but the PQ could be much better.

I'm watching FSC (Fox Soccer Channel) right now on Dish Network.

They have a live interview with a player, and the SD PQ is as good as I have seen on any channel.

Two conclusions:
- Dish Network is not deteriorating the PQ on FSC in any way.
- A lot of the cruddy quality we see on channels like FSC is probably in the source material, or in the transmission links within the channel's own processing.

PS Now I am just waiting for Dish to make Setanta Sports available for subscription on Channel 406. I am hoping for this coming week...

I've found this while searching Google for 'GolTV HD'

It looks like a license granted by the CRTC for HD broadcasting of GolTV

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-239.htm

for the half dozen or so soccer fans on the forum, tuesday night on the fox football phone in show they said that fsc is working towards putting the premier league on in hd and that "it will happen sooner rather than later".

I'd kill for FSC in HD. The SD version on my comcast is such compressed garbage that it's unwatchable at times.

That's great news! I'd love to see the EPL in HD!!!

I posted this over on dbstalk and maybe someone here can answer:

But a couple questions since the games are already in HD over in England:
1) Who owns the rights to the HD transmissions over here? Or to get it to here?
2) Does this mean that FSC is going to go HD? If so this would be a welcome surprise since there hasn't been any mention of it.
3) If FSC doesn't go HD, where will the games be shown in HD?

On the Fox Football Fone in show this week, a caller brought up the HD issue & Nick stated it was in process & that FSC would be going to HD "sooner than later".

Take it for what you will

I posted this over on dbstalk and maybe someone here can answer:

But a couple questions since the games are already in HD over in England:
1) Who owns the rights to the HD transmissions over here? Or to get it to here?
2) Does this mean that FSC is going to go HD? If so this would be a welcome surprise since there hasn't been any mention of it.
3) If FSC doesn't go HD, where will the games be shown in HD?

I don't have any solid answers for you but here are some realistic assumptions.

1. To this point the U.S. HD transmission rights for the EPL have not been sold seperately from the SD ones. So I'd guess that FSC owns the HD rights for it's SD games and so on.

2. It hasn't been mentioned specifically but when the Fox Sports master control facility in Houston is completed there would certainly be enough infrastructer on Fox's end to make it happen.

3. Probably nowhere in the U.S. (only in the UK). Since Setanta does not have the $$ to do anything in HD the EPL most likely will not be shown in HD until FSC goes HD. It's possible that a channel like HDNet could pickup the HD re-broadcast (not live) rights but who knows if the EPL would even entertain that idea.

Some reason here in NYC on Cablevision, FSC SD actually shows pretty good. Clearly from the PQ I can tell that Fox Soccer Match Day and Super Sunday+ is shot in HD, the quality is usually very sharp and clean, relative to say Fox Soccer Report in the mornings. Also for the EPL you can tell when a game is in HD for the same reason, the game scoreboard in the upper corner of the screen is usually sharper and whiter as well as opposed to an SD game where it is like fuzzy and hazy, liquid mud.

I love the Review show that is on Sunday nights. Does anyone know if this is broadcast in HD? Thanks.

I love the Review show that is on Sunday nights. Does anyone know if this is broadcast in HD? Thanks.

Are you talking about Super Sunday plus that's one I mentioned above, it surely looks like it's shot in HD and transmitted to us in SD, the PQ is very sharp, bright and clean via 480p on my LCD.

If you are talking on the other hand about EPL Review Show, that looks pretty good as well, along with the Premier League Preview Show but both originate from the UK, might be 576p PAL over there. It does look very good as well. Guess a UK person can tell us if its shown in HD over the pond.

1. To this point the U.S. HD transmission rights for the EPL have not been sold seperately from the SD ones. So I'd guess that FSC owns the HD rights for it's SD games and so on.

would this also mean that they don't have to "delay" the game (at least the HD version) by a couple of days ;)

would this also mean that they don't have to "delay" the game (at least the HD version) by a couple of days ;)

Correct.

Any new rumors or solid information? I need me some European Soccer in HD...My contract with Dishnetwork ends in 3 weeks, but I probably won't be switching until July, just incase new information comes out between now and then..

Dish Network just removed the only channel with European Soccer in HD - "WorldSportHD" (which now seems likely to be dead by July 1st).

Of course, ESPN2-HD and ABC-HD will have "Euro2008" in HD during June, and the various NBC Universal channels will have Olympics Soccer in August - possibly in HD.

Setanta and GolTV have no plans for HD. FSC has plans for HD, but won't divulge any details whatsoever about what and when.

ESPN2-HD and HDNet continue to each show an MLS game every week in HD.

ESPN2-HD showed the Champions League Final in HD (but only that one match).

PS Dish Network apparently updated their satellite tables to indicate 20 new National HD channels to be unplinked in the near future (using the space vacated by Voom and from moving some local channels to spot beams).

I'm going to miss terribly the Spanish Soccer League through World Sports. It was great to watch every game in HD.. I just hope that Voom is not totally dead, and Dish will bring them back. Meanwhile, I e-mailed Gol Tv about HD, but got no response. I wish you guys, e-mail them also, so to make them address the issue. At least, the Champions league final was a fantastic game, and HD made it much better.

I remember some PR from Gol TV is going HD something in 2009

Part of my hesitation to switch to Dish now is precisely for these reasons, loss of WorldSport in HD as well as GolTV from the lineup.

Does DirecTV carry WorldSport in HD?

And it sure would be nice to get GolTV or FSC in HD as well...I mean, come on...I feel like I'm watching a grainy internet stream

Does DirecTV carry WorldSport in HD?No, the only carrier at this time is Cablevision, in the NY, NJ, CN, areas.

FYI:

Soccer-Centric Setanta Nets First Cable Deal With Cox

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6603281.html?desc=topstory

Setanta Sports:

Naturally only 2-5% of our programming is even available in HD and our channel is SD so HD is a ways off.

http://www.epltalk.com/why-isnt-setanta-sports-available-in-widescreen-format/3224

Well, it's not exactly cable, but FIOS has had Setanta for a couple of months now (SD).

With the change to HD in February 2009, will that mean that GolTV will go HD then?

No the Feb 2009 date is only for OTA broadcasters, even then they don't have to go HD, they only need to broadcast digitally.

I really wish that there was an HD soccer channel available though, would be nice to watch matches this way!

No the Feb 2009 date is only for OTA broadcasters, even then they don't have to go HD, they only need to broadcast digitally.

I really wish that there was an HD soccer channel available though, would be nice to watch matches this way!

Did anyone catch the FSC broadcast of Australia's WC2010 qualifying a week ago? I recall the announcer mentioning the broadcast was in HD over Fox Sports Net HD!!! Of course FSC's broadcast was in SD.

Looked around but couldn't find any provider carrying this channel (FSN-HD). Anyone with more/updated info?

FSN-HD would be the general term for your local Regional Sports Network. It is not a single channel.

Did anyone catch the FSC broadcast of Australia's WC2010 qualifying a week ago? I recall the announcer mentioning the broadcast was in HD over Fox Sports Net HD!!! Of course FSC's broadcast was in SD.

Looked around but couldn't find any provider carrying this channel (FSN-HD). Anyone with more/updated info?

The message you heard was for Fox Sports Net in Australia, not the regional FSN's in the USA :) Aren't all these networks owned or connected to Rupert Murdoch and he is Aussie, one of the reasons the A-League (Australian Soccer League) is shown on Fox Soccer Channel.

I wish Murdoch would go one better and start a Fox Soccer Channel HD network, since he also owns (Sky) Sports in the U.K. which does a lot of the Premier League games in High Def, those feeds could then be shown in the U.S. on the Fox Soccer Channel broadcasts with little issue about contractual issues since one guy owns them all.

The Premier League games we see in the U.S. on Fox Soccer Channel are usually the games covered by Sky Sports U.K. You can even tell the difference between the games that are High Def on Sky and the one's that aren't. The High Def games shown on Sky Sports HD in the U.K. but on FSC in Standard definition, usually have a sharper score bar and picture on the FSC broadcast, the non HD Sky games looks worse in SD on FSC for us.

FSC could go HD, not like Murdoch is going broke, dude's a multibillionaire. A puzzle as to why they haven't, other than they don't see a need to now.

so, who has a 40" LCD (or bigger) that actually gets watchable PQ from GolTV or Setanta? I just got an inexpensive 42" plasma- FSC and GolTV (from digital cable source) look like poo. If I can't do better with satelite and a higher end HDTV I'll have to return to watching my old 27" CRT and Setanta broadband in TinyVision™

I'm hoping a better quality HDTV with a processor that upconverts SD signal well might help some

Any recomendations?

Tinyvision

so, who has a 40" LCD (or bigger) that actually gets watchable PQ from GolTV or Setanta? I just got an inexpensive 42" plasma- FSC and GolTV (from digital cable source) look like poo. If I can't do better with satelite and a higher end HDTV I'll have to return to watching my old 27" CRT and Setanta broadband in TinyVision™

I'm hoping a better quality HDTV with a processor that upconverts SD signal well might help some

Any recomendations?

It's not the HDTV. It's the bit rate for the incoming signal from your provider. I had DirecTV for years and watched GolTV, FSC and subscribed to Setanta; all of them were a bit blurry, the worst being GolTV, and the best Setanta. I switched to FIOS and the SD signal for all got better, but the rankings (worst to best) still remains GolTV, FSC and Setanta. Under DirecTV, little things like the player's faces were completely unwatchable.

It also depends on the source. If I was watching the Premier League, the broadcasts range from ok to good, the spanish league can be very good, but South American, African or Caribbean games are a mess.

The best broadcasts are obviously the main sports channels in HD. ESPN-HD, ESPN2-HD carry a lot of programming, from the European Champions league, the Euro competition and a good amount of College and pro Soccer. The best for Soccer in HD IMHO is HDNet; their broadcasts of MLS games every Saturday are amazing. I will watch these even when the Revolution is not playing, just to see the field and plays develop.

I would love to see all of the soccer channels in HD, so long as they deliver what HDNet does.

I watched a bit of the Wellington vs Sydney match yesterday on Fox Soccer in SD, and found it unwatchable. I have FiOS, but anytime I try to watch soccer on Fox, I quickly need to turn to another channel to save my eyes. Blurry is not strong enough a term...out of focus would describe it better!

Whenever I see the Setanta free previews on D*, I reassure myself that I will never pay for the channel. To me on both my DLP and LCD (42" each) the SD feed is worse than watching an Internet feed on my laptop. very fuzzy, out of focus, choppy/blocky. FSC isn't perfect, but I watch it the most. I need to watch more GolTV and FSE. When I do watch FSE, it is on par with FSC.

I don't watch enough GolTV to make a judgement there.

ESPN Planning Bid For EPL Rights
Bloomberg News
ESPN is planning to bid for some of the rights to broadcast English Premier League games live, writes Simon Thiel. The league sent out invitations last month to tender for the rights for the three seasons from mid-2010 to 2013.

He quoted one unidentified source as saying the broadcaster is considering bids for one or two of the six packages on offer for UK broadcasts, challenging current holders Sky and Setanta. Sky holds four of the current packages and Setanta two. Bids are due by Feb. 4.

"A potential bid by ESPN is in particular dangerous for Setanta," said Omar Sheik, a media analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort in London. "Setanta's soccer offering would become less attractive for viewers if they lose even one of their two packages."

ESPN 3 here we come!!!

Can all the kiddies say Woot!!!

I hope they add HD games in this.

I hope they add HD games in this.

If and it is a HUGE IF, ESPN were to bid the games and make ESPN Classic into ESPN3, I would be shocked if there wasn't an HD version at day one

If and it is a HUGE IF, ESPN were to bid the games and make ESPN Classic into ESPN3, I would be shocked if there wasn't an HD version at day one
And I would hope they keep the current announcers of EPL games. Dave O'Brien could try for years and still only be good enough to bring water to the other announcers.

And I would hope they keep the current announcers of EPL games. Dave O'Brien could try for years and still only be good enough to bring water to the other announcers.

I don't even know if he is worth that. Perhaps he could lay on the floor and be a door mat or he could kneel and be a chair/footrest?

From reading articles about this, it sounds like ESPN is looking for broadcast rights in the UK and not anywhere else?

If and it is a HUGE IF, ESPN were to bid the games and make ESPN Classic into ESPN3, I would be shocked if there wasn't an HD version at day one

Turn ESPN Classic into ESPN3? Is that some sort of sick joke. ESPN already violated the Classic Sports Network when they bought it and now you want it dumped for ESPN3? Blasphemy.

They're going to dump it for something. It's just a matter of when and for what.

In the age of NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, NBA TV, and Speed, there's no more room for an all purpose classic sports channel. The leagues need/want that content for their own networks.

Turn ESPN Classic into ESPN3? Is that some sort of sick joke. ESPN already violated the Classic Sports Network when they bought it and now you want it dumped for ESPN3? Blasphemy.

That was the rumor that was but out by ESPNSoccernet writer Ives Galacrep awhile back. ESPN Classic is a joke, it needs to be put out of its misery. Either merge with the NFL Network and make a real channel or make it into ESPN 3 with a focus on World sports (mostly real football, mix in some rugby and cricket for good measure).

From reading articles about this, it sounds like ESPN is looking for broadcast rights in the UK and not anywhere else?

No, that wouldn't make sense. A significant chunk of the money being made by Setanta and Sky is made from non-UK markets, in particular Asia and the Americas. I believe Sky feeds Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV with SD content, so if ESPN takes Setanta's packages, it would broadcast about 1/4 of English Premier League games, but would not limit itself to the UK. Setanta, Fox Soccer and Gol have been playing coy about HD broadcasts, even though that is done in the UK, so it would be great to have HD EPL games in the US.

No, that wouldn't make sense. A significant chunk of the money being made by Setanta and Sky is made from non-UK markets, in particular Asia and the Americas. I believe Sky feeds Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV with SD content, so if ESPN takes Setanta's packages, it would broadcast about 1/4 of English Premier League games, but would not limit itself to the UK. Setanta, Fox Soccer and Gol have been playing coy about HD broadcasts, even though that is done in the UK, so it would be great to have HD EPL games in the US.

A Canadian sports station, The Score (I think), shows one EPL game a week in HD. Would be nice to see that on ESPN.

Also, with Fox putting all their networks in HD in the next couple of years, maybe we'll see that from FSC too.

I dream of the day I can wake up some weekend and watch Premiere League games in HD. Can't come soon enough.

Sounds like Setanta isn't so great on SD and no HD. There goes my Fios plans.
At least Cablevision of NJ has La Liga in HD. And some of the broadcast are outstanding, depending on the stadium.

Sounds like Setanta isn't so great on SD and no HD. There goes my Fios plans.
At least Cablevision of NJ has La Liga in HD. And some of the broadcast are outstanding, depending on the stadium.

I have Setanta on FIOS and it's not bad. It is SD, of course, but it is actually better than FSC or Gol. I also like having a number of EPL games to watch. La Liga I watch on Gol and FSC, but its qualiy is nowhere near HD. Is the HD broadcast WorldSport? I heard that was discontinuing its broadcasts, at least in the US. I think Dish has discontinued it along with the other VOOM channels.

Sounds like Setanta isn't so great on SD and no HD. There goes my Fios plans.
At least Cablevision of NJ has La Liga in HD. And some of the broadcast are outstanding, depending on the stadium.

Setanta SD PQ on FIOS is noticeably better than D*. The same is true of FSC. I believe the previous poster who commented was referring to D*.

I just hooked up my brand new Bravia 40" LCD to my Comcast Motorola HD-DVR and I literally felt sick when I saw how crap GolTV and to a lesser extent FSC looked. I ran a second output from my cable box through an S Video to the TV for SD channels and it helped, but all of the other SD channels were watchable through the HDMI cable. Is that all on Comcast's end????? I have been trying to get an answer from somewhere there over the phone and in their chat section and all they can say is that they will send a technician over.GOL TV looked fine on Rogers Cable when I lived in Toronto on a widescreen. We arent asking for HD here, I would just be happy with a watchable SD picture, jesus christ.
Also, with the OTA transition in a few weeks, can the cable companies still send analog signals over cable to customers? I know that analog signals take up a ton of bandwidth, and I would like to think that if Comcast was running 100% completely free of analog they would have a ton more bandwidth to improve the PQ of their "niche" channels.

The Premier League announced part of their domestic TV contracts for 2010-2013 yesterday with Sky Sports getting 4 of the 6 packages. The other two packages will be going out for a 2nd round of bids. Once those are completed, they will then be focusing on the international rights.

This is our chance for HD footy in the US if ESPN gets those rights.

The Premier League announced part of their domestic TV contracts for 2010-2013 yesterday with Sky Sports getting 4 of the 6 packages. The other two packages will be going out for a 2nd round of bids. Once those are completed, they will then be focusing on the international rights.

This is our chance for HD footy in the US if ESPN gets those rights.

According to the chart FSC should have an HD outlet in 2010.

According to the chart FSC should have an HD outlet in 2010.

As long as they get part of the EPL rights or sub it from ESPN. I'm not sure if any of the South American games they show are sourced in HD.

FSC doesn't show any of the other Euro leagues like they used to.

FSC doesn't show any of the other Euro leagues like they used to.

they do air Serie A matches-but they certainly air far fewer Euro league matches than even 2-3 yrs ago. I miss the Dutch league.

and dutchman311 since you asked the cablecos are NOT required to drop analog-the govt. mandate applies only to OTA. this doesn't mean they WON'T drop analog but they can when they feel like it. they ARE required to give notice to their customers(60 days?) if they do.

I believe the cablecos will treat the issue on a market-by-market basis rather than abruptly cease analog transmission corporate-wide.

they do air Serie A matches-but they certainly air far fewer Euro league matches than even 2-3 yrs ago. I miss the Dutch league.

and dutchman311 since you asked the cablecos are NOT required to drop analog-the govt. mandate applies only to OTA. this doesn't mean they WON'T drop analog but they can when they feel like it. they ARE required to give notice to their customers(60 days?) if they do.

I believe the cablecos will treat the issue on a market-by-market basis rather than abruptly cease analog transmission corporate-wide.

Dutch league is available via espn360 is you have access to that. I watched Ajax live yesterday afternoon.

Dutch league is available via espn360 is you have access to that. I watched Ajax live yesterday afternoon.

Comcast and ESPN are not very good friends

Also HDnet no longer has MLS games so less HD now:(

Also HDnet no longer has MLS games so less HD now:(

I don't know how many matches HDNet used to cover, but ESPN is airing about a game a week. Link: http://www.livesoccertv.com/blog/891/espns-2009-major-league-soccer-schedule.html

According to this schedule, "Most matches available on ESPN2 HD," which, if you're lucky enough to get ESPN2 in HD, means you'll get at least 1 HD game a week.

Also, for those of you who didn't know, DirecTV is offering a 'free preview' of their MLS Direct Kick package this weekend, meaning that games are viewable by everyone with DirecTV for free. Unfortunately one game listed in HD today wasn't in 16:9, at least not in my area. The picture was noticeably sharp, however, even though it was 4:3.

Go Sounders!

Doh! According to this story (link: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=632658&sec=us&cc=5901), FSC has won the rights to Champion's League games next season. While ESPN/ESPN2 didn't show the games in 16:9 high-def, they at least showed them in digital quality. FSC on DirecTV (and on other carriers, from what I've seen) is routinely blurry & compressed. And at least ESPN/2 had the capability to deliver the content in HD because they're already in HD in most areas. FSC is, of course, not. Grr. Bummer. I view this as a step backward for quality soccer viewing.

For a while there were rumors about FSC going HD after the Fox master control facility in Houston upgrade. I haven't heard anything lately so I'm not sure if they decided against it or what...

I sure hope they have HD up and running by that time. I'm fully expecting p2p type quality for CL games. They will probably put the better games on Setanta.

Fox Soccer (like all Fox channels) should be HD by the end of 2010.

Fox Soccer (like all Fox channels) should be HD by the end of 2010.
End of 2010 is a long time after the 2009 CL season begins.

End of 2010 is a long time after the 2009 CL season begins.

A season which would have offered no HD anyway. FSC looks pretty decent uncompressed over U-verse and varies by feed. Seeing as the feed won't change a slight decline in 480 quality just doesn't bother me. It is certainly not a step back for soccer in this country. It should provide access to more games between Fox and it's partners. Wake me when we are missing out on actual HD games.

A season which would have offered no HD anyway. FSC looks pretty decent uncompressed over U-verse and varies by feed. Seeing as the feed won't change a slight decline in 480 quality just doesn't bother me. It is certainly not a step back for soccer in this country. It should provide access to more games between Fox and it's partners. Wake me when we are missing out on actual HD games.
After May 2009, umm, May 2011. :D

Not all games are in HD, but you have to agree that the quality of SD games on ESPN are much better than FSC.

After May 2009, umm, May 2011. :D

Not all games are in HD, but you have to agree that the quality of SD games on ESPN are much better than FSC.

No CL games on ESPN2 have been in HD since the Arsenal-Barca final which I think was 2006. Again the FSC quality is heavily dependent on the feed. Comparing it to FSC's current games isn't fair because it's not the same feed. EPL on FSC looks pretty good while the South American feeds look horrible.

I do agree that ESPN2HD passes very nice looking SD for the games. However I disagree that CL on FSC will look anything like an internet feed.

i just hope FSC shows ALL CL games from as early as the round-robin matches, maybe even qualifying. i don't like espn picking the matches for me... also, more consistency with scheduling, with no fear of being pre-empted by basketball or whatever. when is setanta coming to comcast, anyway? i'd like to see more world cup qualifiers...

Anyone watching the US vs T&T? Looks like it's running around 23fps here via Uverse.

PQ is terrible from the camera that shows the field shots. Looks like a lot of edge enhancement.

FSC, which reaches 34 million households, plans to launch HD telecasts at the end of this year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gPIwxuWSLRxX8LuvDYWj2oyxDTHAD97A6T0G0

great news. I should be on satellite then so I'll actually be able to get it, too.

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/fox-soccer-channel-living-up-to-its-name/

Across its networks, Fox plans to show all of the tournament’s 146 games (110 games live and others on tape delay) each season on FSC, Fox Sports Español, FX and Fox Sports Net channels. The final in 2010 at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will be shown on FX and will, for the first time, be played on a Saturday, May 22.

Sternberg said that the new deal will “accelerate” HD plans. He added that 16 FSN Champions League matches will be in HD, as will the Madrid final on FX. Sternberg said FSC plans to begin offering HD by the end of 2009.

First time I've seen FX used for sporting events.

First time I've seen FX used for sporting events.

They used to show Nascar.

Wow, they're taking their CL coverage seriously! Now we just need FX HD on Dish... hopefully whenever they get around to negotiating that and Speed HD they'll go ahead and throw in FSC HD...

Wow, they're taking their CL coverage seriously! Now we just need FX HD on Dish... hopefully whenever they get around to negotiating that and Speed HD they'll go ahead and throw in FSC HD...

I've been trying to find out if Dish is ever going to get FX HD... Someone told me yesterday that it was being added this Spring. Was he mistaken? I worry about us (Dish Network) not getting FSC HD too.

First time I've seen FX used for sporting events.

FX has shown playoff baseball games in the past.

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/fox-soccer-channel-living-up-to-its-name/





First time I've seen FX used for sporting events.

FX used to have Nascar races too

All World Cup games in HD in 2010....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16226382#post16226382

All World Cup games in HD in 2010....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16226382#post16226382
World Cup in all HD is not new, but Univision doing the World Cup in all HD is absolutely new!

I'm pretty sure all the games in 2006 were in HD, spread across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. In fact I remember that being the big reason that I fought with Comcast to try and get ESPN2HD, which they had been dragging their feet on for a while. To their credit, I got the channel the day before the games began.

I'm pretty sure all the games in 2006 were in HD, spread across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. In fact I remember that being the big reason that I fought with Comcast to try and get ESPN2HD, which they had been dragging their feet on for a while. To their credit, I got the channel the day before the games began.

I had DirecTV at the time (I believe), and they were late on adding ESPN2 in HD for the 2006 World Cup. The first USA game was on ESPN2 and we had to watch it in SD (the horror!). Fortunately they added the HD channel a few days later.

I've been trying to find out if Dish is ever going to get FX HD... Someone told me yesterday that it was being added this Spring. Was he mistaken? I worry about us (Dish Network) not getting FSC HD too.

The Fox networks contract is up this summer, so theory is that we'll see the HD versions when it's renewed (although the track record for HD showing up this year is not good so far...)

I had DirecTV at the time (I believe), and they were late on adding ESPN2 in HD for the 2006 World Cup. The first USA game was on ESPN2 and we had to watch it in SD (the horror!). Fortunately they added the HD channel a few days later.

Directv has had ESPN2HD since Sept 2005.

Directv has had ESPN2HD since Sept 2005.

Yeah, DirecTV was one of the first, if not the first to have ESPN2HD. They had the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final in HD, then the 2007 was back in SD. Last years final was HD again and it is expected to be in HD again this year.

Directv has had ESPN2HD since Sept 2005.

Ah, maybe I had VOOM at the time. Whomever it was, they didn't add ESPN2 in HD until a few days into the World Cup.

This past monday on Fox Football Fone-in, they had an exec of programming, i think, as a guest. And he stated that they will be launching FSC in HD by the end of the year. So lets hope that it might be sooner, just not later :).

This past monday on Fox Football Fone-in, they had an exec of programming, i think, as a guest. And he stated that they will be launching FSC in HD by the end of the year. So lets hope that it might be sooner, just not later :).

That would be great. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for some HD broadcasts of next season's EPL and Champions League games on FSC after all!

That would be great. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for some HD broadcasts of next season's EPL and Champions League games on FSC after all!

He specifically said that some EPL and Champions League matches would be in true High Definition in January 2010 on FSC-HD.

The Skinny on Champions League on Fox

By Jack Bell

It is five games and counting until the UEFA Champions League makes the switch from ESPN to Fox.

Many people left comments on an earlier posting about the new Champions League deal. The sheer number brought this response from David Sternberg, the executive vice president and general manager of Fox Sports International, “I was amazed by how many comments there were and how strongly people feel either way.”

For most viewers there are a number of specific issues, which Sternberg addressed in a telephone interview on Tuesday: High-definition (for the Champions League and other other games on Fox Soccer Channel; studio hosts; broadband access; the status of the current “World Report”; and the availability of FSC on cable systems compared to ESPN/ESPN2).

High Definition Sternberg said that FSC would not be available in high-definition until the end of 2009, which means Champions League games on the channel will not be in high-def until the start of the first knockout stage in February 2010. He added that Fox Sports Net channels and FX were already available in high-def.

“People are very keen to have FSC in HD and that’s perfectly understandable,” Sternberg said. “We understand that soccer looks great in HD. We recognize that now is the time to move on it.”

In addition, games from Italy’s Serie A, for which FSC has four live windows each weekend, will have games in high-def. Likewise, two English Premier League games now covered by Sky are produced in HD and available in the United States. That’s the Saturday 12:30 p.m. (Eastern) match and the 11 a.m. (Eastern) Sunday games.

Finally, Fox’s HD format and production will be more akin to the true or “native” HD, as the industry calls it, used in recent years by HDNet (which is no longer carrying M.L.S. or N.H.L. games) than most of the HD productions available to date on ESPN, which Sternberg called “up-converted.” That is, a standard-definition feed that is enhanced.

Studio Hosts and Shows The word is that Fox is pursuing the excellent English analyst Andy Gray, who was sharp and informative when ESPN carried Euro 2008 from Austria and Switzerland last summer.

“He already has a full-time job with Sky Sports, as far as I know,” Sternberg said. “It would be phenomenal to even talk about that. We’re talking about all kinds of options and possible scenarios. Andy is the lead football commentator for Sky in the U.K. He not only does Champions League, but he’s on E.P.L. games, too. It takes up all his time from August to May.”

Sternberg confirmed that Fox would do pre- and postgame shows from its studios in Los Angeles. The match commentary will be plucked from commentators on site. “No reason to reinvent the wheel,” he said.

In addition, FSC will carry a Champions League highlights show and UEFA’s weekly magazine show.

Broadband Some folks had questions on that earlier posting about losing access to ESPN360, a broadband service that enables fans to watch games on their computers at work and at home. As Sternberg correctly noted, ESPN360 is only available to people who subscribe to Verizon and AT&T cable services in their homes (or businesses that do).

“It’s my impression that it is difficult to access and if you don’t have TV or broadband from Verizon or AT&T, you’re out of luck,” he said. “On our Web site, foxsoccer.com, we will have video highlights. Setanta has the live streaming rights to 146 games on a subscription basis.”

For Champions League broadband over the span of the new contract, Setanta will be the exclusive provider of games over the Internet. The subscription service has not yet set prices for next season, but will certainly offer single-game access (you can currently watch games live on UEFA’s Web site for $7.95 a game) and perhaps a package that includes all Champions League games, and one that encompasses all of Setanta’s offerings (Premier League games not carried by FSC, other sports and, of course my favorite, “Special 1 TV”).

World Report The nightly highlights show (which is shown at 10 p.m. Eastern; repeated at 1 a.m. Eastern; then again the next day at 11 a.m. Eastern) will continue to originate from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sternberg said. It is produced in conjunction with CanWest Global Communications.

“It has been a mainstay of our schedule for several years,” Sternberg said. “From a production point of view, it’s made strides. We’ll keep working on it, nurturing the talent we have there. We plan for it to remain in Winnipeg. It’s a cost-effective place to produce the show.”

Availability At present, FSC is available in about 35 million cable homes; with FSN channels in 83 million and FX in nearly 95 million. Those combined numbers compare favorably with the ESPN channels.

“One of our objectives in pursuing the Champions League was to help drive increased distribution of FSC and Fox Sports Espanol,” Sternberg said. “Certainly, we think we’ve addressed availability by making 16 live games exclusively available on Fox Sports Net. With FX, which will carry the 2010 final, in 95 million households, I believe we will fully mitigate a lot of concern about the visibility of FSC.”

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/the-skinny-on-champions-league-on-fox/

one more link to satisfy the readers of this thread - http://www.hd-report.com/2009/04/17/fox-soccer-channel-to-go-hd/

Gol TV is making strides toward presenting some of its soccer coverage in HD next year: "We're having discussions with our distributors. A lot of the matches from Europe are now being shot in HD. I think you'll see some of our programming in HD during the second or third quarter of 2010."

http://www.multichannel.com/article/231365-Gol_TV_Nets_Bundesliga_Renewal.php

I cant find a listing that lists the Champions League final as HD. :mad:

I cant find a listing that lists the Champions League final as HD. :mad:

According to TV program schedule on ESPN's web site, it is in HD (Live on ESPN, not ESPN2). Let's hope that is indeed the case!

I saw an ad for the final on ESPN, which had the ESPNHD logo on it.

When I looked at it now it says it is. Now that I think about it I may have seen it on the listings for ESPN360 :o

Any new rumors if or when Setanta will go HD? Several AFL (Australian Rules) games are being broadcast in HD in Australia (I think it's Fox Footy Channel). Also several Rugby matches (6-nations) are being done in HD by the BBC. What's the deal. I just can't take the low resolution of Setanta much longer!

I think Setanta is more concerned about not going bankrupt right now.

setanta is not in good shape. they may go under or get bought by another channel on the cheap to get good value on the rights they own.

if you like aussie sport you might want to check this out. http://www.tvfromoz.com/

kind of expensive and i have no idea about pq

i'd probably try it (love my footy) but i'm moving back to perth in july so no need.

GolTV Sublicenses Some La Liga Rights To ESPN

Deportes, ESPN2 Get In Game With Spain's Top Soccer Circuit

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 6/22/2009 7:00:00 AM MT

Gol TV has passed off some of its rights to Spain's top soccer circuit to ESPN.

Under the pact, La Liga will almost double its match exposure in the U.S. with ESPN Deportes and ESPN2 joining Gol TV in the linear game.

In March, the soccer-centric Gol TV, which has aired La Liga action in the U.S. for the past six seasons, renewed its deal with for the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons with rights-holder Mediapro.

Neither party would discuss deal terms. Gol TV COO Rodrigo Lombello did say "technically it is a sublicensing deal. But it's deeper than that because we really want to promote La Liga and make sure it's the No. 1 soccer league. We are partners on the programming side. It makes sense we are partners on the financial side as well,"

Under the agreement, Gol TV will continue to air 120 matches, with two to three matches per weekend, over La Liga's 38 rounds.

ESPN, meanwhile, secured an array of rights through the 2011-12 season, notably the ability for ESPN Deportes to air up to 114 matches (although at this time is plans to show 95 regular-season games), while ESPN2 will present approximately 20 in windows that ESPN Deportes general manager Lino Garcia said "won't conflict with the network's schedule."

Further, ESPN Radio will air select games, while Deportes', mobile and online holdings will be able to air extensive footage.

GolTV and ESPN will alternate selections on week-to-week basis, choosing from six matches. "We will share the games with the top teams with our partner," said Garcia.

Gol TV, which makes its coverage available in both English and Spanish for positioning on sports and Hispanic tiers, expects the deal will bring it added exposure with both audiences.

"We share a common place in that we are both Hispanic networks that show soccer, but Gol TV is a hybrid service that's all about soccer. ESPN Deportes presents many sports. These are complementary, not competing services," said Lombello, adding that his network will also gain with the general market via ESPN2's La Liga coverage.

When asked if the networks would be touting each other's upcoming La Liga game coverage, Garcia said the parties had not yet gotten "granular" about marketing or cross-promotional plans.

Similarly, there was nothing definitive to report at press time about whether they would jointly sell sponsorships and advertising. "We've concluded our upfront presentations and stared to close deals," said Lombello. "We don't know how the partnership will develop, but we have yet to discuss a joint ad sales effort."

For ESPN, the deal reaffirms its commitment to the world's most popular sport, following the recent loss of the UEFA Champions League to Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports. The deal raises ESPN Deportes game, as well as the profile and live lineup of broadband service, ESPN360.com, which will simulcast the matches that air linearly on its Spanish-language sister service and ESPN2.

For its part, Gol TV has not yet finalized its broadband plans for La Liga, which previously have manifested in the form of highlights and interviews on GolTV.tv

"We're looking to expanding our efforts there," said Lombello.

Arguably, the globe's top domestic league -- proponents of the English Premiere League would say otherwise -- La Liga raised its marquee value in recent weeks with Real Madrid acquiring the rights to FIFA's top futbolers of 2007 and 2008 in the persons of Brazil's Kaka from AC Milan and Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo from Manchester United. FC Barcelona Lionel Messi, who helped dethrone ManU as the Champions League king, may earn that FIFA distinction for 2009.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/295424-GolTV_Sublicenses_Some_La_Liga_Rights_To_ESPN.php

any recent news regarding setanta's Premiere League rights? can FSC or ESPN show the really good games now?

According to Uk.News.Yahoo.com Espn bought out Setanta's rights to the Premiere league broadcasts.

Jobs to go as Setanta enters administration

Beleaguered Irish sports broadcaster Setanta Sport has gone into administration in the UK with the loss of 200 jobs.

Its UK channels went off-air just before 6pm, with a message saying the firm had "ceased trading in Great Britain".

Deloitte, which has been appointed as administrator for Setanta Sports Holdings - the parent firm which owns businesses in Britain, Ireland and internationally - said the non-UK businesses continue to trade while talks with possible buyers are under way.

On Monday, Disney-owned ESPN won the rights to show 46 live Premier League matches for the 2009/10 season and 23 matches for the following three years after Setanta was forced to give them up after missing a contractual payment.

The US sports network said it plans to make its coverage as widely available as possible, across multiple pay-TV platforms, and has already agreed for its coverage to be retailed by BSkyB, to residential and commercial customers.

For the 2009/10 season, BSkyB will show 92 games and ESPN 46. For the following three years, BSkyB will show 115 and ESPN the remaining 23.

The company still holds the rights to other major sporting fixtures including the FA Cup, some England matches, US PGA golf and, from next year, Guinness Premiership rugby.

Setanta, which employs around 430 people, hit trouble after failing to secure sufficient subscribers to cover the cost of its sports rights. It has 1.2 million direct subscribers but needs nearer 1.9 million to break even, according to analysts.

Last Friday, a potential investor in the group also walked away from a rescue deal, leaving the group's future in serious doubt.

In 2006, Setanta won the rights to break BSkyB's hold on English soccer, agreeing to pay £392 million over three seasons from 2007. The League declined to give a figure for the new deal on Monday, but analysts had said they expected the terms to be lower.

The Scottish Premier League has also taken its rights back from Setanta after a £3 million payment was missed. It said it is actively engaged in finding a new partner and BSkyB and ESPN are expected to lead the bidding.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090623/tuk-jobs-to-go-as-setanta-enters-adminis-dba1618.html

According to Uk.News.Yahoo.com Espn bought out Setanta's rights to the Premiere league broadcasts.

Could it be that we'll get to see HD versions of some EPL (and possibly La Liga) this Fall? Wouldn't that be something, even with the "bottom line" ticker?;)

Could it be that we'll get to see HD versions of some EPL (and possibly La Liga) this Fall? Wouldn't that be something, even with the "bottom line" ticker?;)
This is only referring to the UK versions of ESPN and Setanta. FSI/Setanta North America still hold US rights to the English Premier League in the US for the 09/10 season.

As for HD coverage of spanish games I doubt there will be any for a while. ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN360 are just going to be broadcasting the versions that they already produce for other international markets (which are SD only). In Spain they are JUST getting into digital TV right now, and have no games broadcast locally in HD. A few years back Voom broadcast one game per week in HD on WorldSport but it was a game they produced themselves rather than piggybacking off of an existing feed. That channel no longer exists.

Setanta USA and Setanta Canada are actually some of the only profitable parts of the Setanta umbrella. They may be sold off, or they may be kept by Setanta to supplement their suffering UK business. Either way, no telling where their rights would go.

Hope everyone watched Chelsea/Hull on ESPN 2 in beautiful HD.

Direct feed from the UK - British announcers, TWI feed.

One word - AWESOME.

One word - AWESOME.

QFT. It was beautiful. (Although Chelsea won...grr..)

And now we have to watch FSC in SD??

Uggh.

And now we have to watch FSC in SD??

Uggh.


LOL, I feel your pain man, looks brutal after watching the ESPN feed.

Hope everyone watched Chelsea/Hull on ESPN 2 in beautiful HD.

Direct feed from the UK - British announcers, TWI feed.

One word - AWESOME.
Will ESPN2 show EPL games now?

Will ESPN2 show EPL games now?

Yes, 47 more times, not to mention La Liga games too.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17004082#post17004082

Now we need to bombard FSC with e-mails telling them how ESPN is now the premier EPL telecaster since they show in HD. :confused:... why have they been stuck in the past (SD) for so long?

Hey guys i want to watch Bundesliga or La Liga also Turkish Premiere League..doesnt matter hd or not..what do you suggest ? which network has more soccer channels ?

Hey guys i want to watch Bundesliga or La Liga also Turkish Premiere League..doesnt matter hd or not..what do you suggest ? which network has more soccer channels ?

One of the reasons I switched to FIOS was because they have Fox Soccer Channel and Gol as a part of their normal (expanded?) plan, and Gol has La Liga and Bundesliga whereas you have to pay extra over at DirecTV. I don't know about Turkish Premiere League.

Now we need to bombard FSC with e-mails telling them how ESPN is now the premier EPL telecaster since they show in HD. :confused:... why have they been stuck in the past (SD) for so long?

i noticed a number of channels in the 460's on my directv guide that appear to be free and list champions league qualifier games for this coming week as well as an epl game, including games listed in hd. the guide description says "courtesy of directv". fsc has said they will be doing some things in conjunction with directv. if you have directv, you might check it out.

also,here is a recent podcast with executives from goltv, setanta, and fsc regarding their plans for 2009-2010.

http://www.epltalk.com/epl-talk-podcast-128-gol-tv-setanta-north-america-and-fsc-2009-10-coverage-plans/10045

One of the reasons I switched to FIOS was because they have Fox Soccer Channel and Gol as a part of their normal (expanded?) plan, and Gol has La Liga and Bundesliga whereas you have to pay extra over at DirecTV. I don't know about Turkish Premiere League.

Thanks for your answer sir.
my friend has cablevision and american sports etc nba,mlb,nhl extremely delayed.i need fast one :p cuz my job is betting on sports live.dont know about directv or fios delay times on live games..

i noticed a number of channels in the 460's on my directv guide that appear to be free and list champions league qualifier games for this coming week as well as an epl game, including games listed in hd. the guide description says "courtesy of directv". fsc has said they will be doing some things in conjunction with directv. if you have directv, you might check it out.



Perhaps related to this, the FIOS program guide lists a UEFA champions league qualifying game being shown on FSN-HD. Let's hope it will actually be in HD!

Perhaps related to this, the FIOS program guide lists a UEFA champions league qualifying game being shown on FSN-HD. Let's hope it will actually be in HD!

The FSN game will be in HD. Pregame starts at 1400, game at 1430.

is there any website about sport games listings like this one ----> www.liveonsat.com
its european :( looking for u.s website

is there any website about sport games listings like this one ----> www.liveonsat.com
its european :( looking for u.s website

The FSN game will be in HD. Pregame starts at 1400, game at 1430.

Thanks for the info, and good news! Finally we get some early round CL games in HD. :)

The FSN game will be in HD. Pregame starts at 1400, game at 1430.

????? What channel (I assume today) and I assume 1400 is military time?

????? What channel (I assume today) and I assume 1400 is military time?

Local Fox Sports Net channels.

????? What channel (I assume today) and I assume 1400 is military time?

Yeah, 2:00pm EDT.

Your local FSN affiliate used to be FSN New England, now CSN New England. They should have the game.

It looks like FSN and Fox Soccer will each show a live game during the 2:30 timeslot and then swap and show the other one (delayed) later in the day. However the time of the second game on FSN will depend on whether or not your affiliate has a local game to cover. Therefore, at least for this week, we should have access to all games in HD either live or on delay

Tomorrow:
FSN-HD (in my case MSG+ HD)
2:30pm EST Celtic vs Arsenal (Live HD)
8pm EST Sheriff vs Olympiacos (delay, but HD)


Fox Soccer:
2:30pm EST Sheriff vs Olympiacos (live, but SD)
5pm EST Celtic vs Arsenal (Delay, SD)

Just set my local RSN showing it to record.

Seeing all of these international games in HD is giving me that funny feeling like when I climb the rope in gym class.

I can't stand Arsenal, but I can let it pass this time.

Just had the local cable installer here to fix my box. He told my wife that here in NY, FSC will be in HD on 1206 by the end of this month!!! Can't wait!! This is Time Warner in my area.

Just had the local cable installer here to fix my box. He told my wife that here in NY, FSC will be in HD on 1206 by the end of this month!!! Can't wait!! This is Time Warner in my area.

There is no FSC-HD to add at this time. Launching Jan 2010.

Funny that the calbe guy says end of the month, guess time will tell. Unless you work for FSC?!

Funny that the calbe guy says end of the month, guess time will tell. Unless you work for FSC?!

No please get all your info from the cable guy. JG knows more about HD news and he's been dead 14 years. Also the line is...Once in a while you get shown the light.

Edit:

Will Fox Soccer Channel be offering broadcasts in high definition (HDTV)?
FSC is targeting January, 2010 as the date to offer select programs in high definition (HD) where rights and access to HD feeds are available, including the UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League and Serie A.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5648992

QFT. It was beautiful. (Although Chelsea won...grr..)

Yeah, I can't stand them, but that was a helluva goal by king flopper, Drogba.

No please get all your info from the cable guy. JG knows more about HD news and he's been dead 14 years. Also the line is...Once in a while you get shown the light.

Edit:

Will Fox Soccer Channel be offering broadcasts in high definition (HDTV)?
FSC is targeting January, 2010 as the date to offer select programs in high definition (HD) where rights and access to HD feeds are available, including the UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League and Serie A.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5648992

Hmmmmm, never thought to check the site. Wonder if maybe the cable guy just meant the channel will be up and running. Then FSC will go to the actual HD feed in Jan. Didn't ever realize it has been 14 yrs. since his passing. My how time slips by sometimes.

is there any website about sport games listings like this one ----> liveonsat.com
its european :( looking for u.s website

If you're looking for a website with soccer specific listings for the US, check out this one: soccerstation.tv

The best for soccer is: http://www.livesoccertv.com/

And for sports in general: http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

If you're looking for a website with soccer specific listings for the US, check out this one: soccerstation.tv

This is the site to check out for sure!

Yeah, 2:00pm EDT.

Your local FSN affiliate used to be FSN New England, now CSN New England. They should have the game.

Thanks, I appreciate that. Does it continue into the weekend?

I have to say thanks to DirecTV for making this possible. Multiple HD games, mid-week: awesome. Love it. Thanks.

Fox Soccer Nets Viewer Gains

English, Italian and U.S. Soccer Leagues Boost October Audience by 125%

by Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 11/2/2009 2:00:00 AM

With its first year-over-year comparisons, Fox Soccer Channel has netted ratings and viewership gains across its key properties and news programming.

Fox Soccer, which became rated by Nielsen for the first time in October 2008, scored advances with its coverage of Barclays English Premier League, Italian circuit Serie A and domestic league Major League Soccer, as well as news fare and ancillary programming.

Gauged on a total-day basis, viewership rose 125% to 27,000 in October 2009 (Sept. 28-Oct. 25, 2009) from 12,000 in October 2008 (Sept. 29 through Oct. 26, 2008), according to Nielsen. Among men 18 to 49, impressions improved to 15,000 from 5,000.

“The delivery has exceeded our expectations, and has been greatly expanding over the past year,” said Fox Sports International executive vice president and general manager David Sternberg, who attributes the gains to the quality of matches, the increasing interest in soccer in the U.S. and the channel's grassroots marketing efforts.

He noted that most of the audience gains have emanated from people seeking out the service, as its distribution base has only expanded by some 400,000 to 34.7 million since October 2008.

Not surprisingly, the Barclays Premier League, the network's top property, is its strongest Nielsen producer. Fox Soccer saw its ratings double to a 0.2 in October 2009, averaging 142,000 viewers for live and first-run matches, according to Nielsen data. That represented 69% amelioration from 84,000 watchers for similar Premier League contests in October 2008.

The Oct. 25 Liverpool-Manchester United match was the fourth highest-rated, ad-supported cable program among men 18 to 49 (a 0.7 mark against the demo), and the third highest-rated, ad-supported cable program against men 25 to 54 (0.8) demo during the Sunday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (ET) time slot.

Sternberg is pleased that parent Fox Sports International has been able to retain rights for FSC and sister service Fox Sports en Espanol for the 2010-11 through 2012-13 seasons.

Sternberg wouldn't discuss the particulars of the Premier League rights extension pact, covering all 380 of the circuit's annual games. “We're looking at all distribution options for the package,” which also include broadband mobile rights, he said.

Asked about sublicensing negotiations, Sternberg anticipates having “something more to say about that before the end of the year.”

For their part, Serie A live and first-run matches were up 48% to a 49,000 viewer average in October, while Major League Soccer audiences surged 89%, averaging 51,000 viewers to 27,000 over the same period in 2008, according to Nielsen.

Relative to non-match fare, the 10 p.m. edition of Fox Soccer Report advanced 142% to 29,000 viewers, and 63% to 13,000 at 1 a.m. Sky Sports News at 7 p.m. jumped 350% to 36,000 from 8,000 and 600% to 21,000 in its noon time slot.

FSC ancillary fare, Super Sunday Plus was up 252% from 21,000 to 74,000 impressions in 2009, while Fox Football Fone-In scored a 108% gain from 12,000 to 25,000 average viewers.

Sternberg said having the ratings data available has helped FSC attract new advertisers like Quiznos and Tires Rack, and expand schedules with others like Volkswagen.

“We have seen increases with auto category and retail. They see Fox Soccer Channel offering an important audience, with a strong proportion [of men 18 to 49] within our subscriber base,” Sternberg said.

Sternberg added that the results have more than justified incurring the daily ratings expense with Nielsen.

Although it has not yet firmed up a specific date, January will mark the launch of a high-definition Fox Soccer Channel.

“We're talking to distributors about how quickly they can get up and running,” said Sternberg, noting that FSC could pick up some incremental distribution from the HD bow, en route to being in a projected 40 million homes in 2011.

At the outset, the network will feature a pair of BPL matches in the enhanced format — the late Saturday (12:30 p.m.) and Sunday windows (11 a.m.), and can draw from four live Serie A matches, all of which are presented in high-definition. Sternberg said the Saturday MLS Game of the Week also would be presented in HD when the 2010 season kicks off in March.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/367028-Fox_Soccer_Nets_Viewer_Gains.php

UEFA Champions League Soccer Barcelona vs. Inter Milan is airing live and in real HD on Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic right now. It's the first time I've seen any HD soccer on that channel other than DC United matches.

What a game that was!
cant wait for FSC-HD to show up.

When and Where Will Fox Soccer Channel Be Available In HD?

by The Gaffer on December 15, 2009

Fox Soccer Channel has confirmed that the 24/7 soccer network will begin broadcasting in high definition (HD) in January, 2010. Here’s what we know so far:

To find out if your local cable or satellite provider will have Fox Soccer Channel available in HD, visit the Fox Soccer Channelfinder and enter your zip code and select from your provider from the drop-down menu. The Fox Soccer Channelfinder will then tell you whether Fox Soccer Channel is available from your provider and if it’ll be available in HD. If Fox Soccer Channel is not yet available in HD from your provider, the tool includes a feature to contact your provider to request the channel in HD.

Fox Soccer Channel does not have a list of HD carriers available as of press time, but as soon as it’s available, I’ll post it here on EPL Talk.

When Fox begins broadcasting in HD in January, the following games will be available in native high definition: Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Serie A, MLS and FA Cup matches. Plus all studio programming, including Fox Football Fone-In and Super Sunday +, will be broadcast in HD. All non-HD programming will be upconverted.

I used the Channelfinder tool to see if my local cable provider (Comcast) will be showing Fox Soccer Channel in HD, but the answer is no right now. That doesn’t mean that your local Comcast provider won’t be showing it, so be sure to enter your zip code to find out.

If you find that your provider isn’t showing Fox Soccer Channel in HD, definitely go ahead and request it using the Channelfinder tool. There’s no guarantee they’ll provide it, but the more requests that are submitted the more likely the provider is to pay attention.

http://www.epltalk.com/when-and-where-will-fox-soccer-channel-be-available-in-hd/13831


Fox Soccer Channelfinder/request form (SD and HD):

http://foxsoccer.channelfinder.net/start.asp

I'm sure comcast will get right on that. Those 2014 EPL matches are going to look awesome.

I'm sure comcast will get right on that. Those 2014 EPL matches are going to look awesome.

I'm sure areas that have gone through Cavalry will have the room to add it....it's just a matter of Comcast getting around to it.

I'm happy we have FX HD so we can see the UEFA final...I hope they add FSCHD here when it launches...Comcast here in my system is always on the ball when it comes to sports channels in HD.

I reckon DTV will be on it after the satellite launch! Sweet

I reckon DTV will be on it after the satellite launch! Sweet
DTV = Digital TV, as in over-the-air

DirecTV = D*

I'm sure comcast will get right on that. Those 2014 EPL matches are going to look awesome.

I'm hoping Verizon FIOS will obtain the rights ASAP. Watching EPL matches in SD after viewing some in HD (on ESPN2) is quite painful!

I'm hoping Verizon FIOS will obtain the rights ASAP. Watching EPL matches in SD after viewing some in HD (on ESPN2) is quite painful!
Shoot, watching ones that are not in HD on ESPN2 is painful. However, not near as bad.

Shoot, watching ones that are not in HD on ESPN2 is painful. However, not near as bad.

Agreed. Here's hoping that we won't be treated to many upconverted widescreen SD broadcasts, instead of HD, when FSC-HD launches.

Does anyone know if that form on the FSC website actually sends the request on to the cable providers? Or is it just an email address harvester for future spam?

I tried requesting the channel from my local provider (Time Warner San Diego) but their customer contact form is broken. :rolleyes:

I'm really glad to see this finally happening, but I just don't see it getting added to the local lineup for a long time. If it's in place for next EPL season I'll be pleased.

The person managing their Twitter feed says Jan 1 2010

just got off chat and it looks like comcast will be getting the channel sometime the middle of 2010 below is the posted chat:

Greg(Wed Dec 23 2009 15:46:45 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

hello, i was just wondering if comcast will be carrying fox soccer channel in HD in early 2010

Hello greg_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Sunshine. Please give me one moment to review your information.

I see here your inquiry is about fox soccer channel in hd be available in 2010.

Sunshine(Wed Dec 23 2009 15:48:20 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

Let me check it for you.


Sunshine(Wed Dec 23 2009 15:52:22 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

Greg, I see here that Fox soccer channel will be available in HD this middle of 2010.


greg_(Wed Dec 23 2009 13:44:27 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

damn i was hoping earlier but at least we are getting it


Sunshine(Wed Dec 23 2009 15:53:22 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

That is gradually added per market.


Sunshine(Wed Dec 23 2009 15:53:43 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

We will give notification if we will add a certain channel in your area.


greg_(Wed Dec 23 2009 13:45:35 GMT-0700 (Mountain Standard Time))>

cool thanks again

FSC-HD is all over foxsoccer.com site.

Any annoucements which providers will carry it from day one?
something about newscorp.com owning D* and FSC might be helpful/relevant?

I'm praying since the NFL regular season will be almost over with by then Directv will be able to add FSC HD on the day it launches. I know I'm being too optimistic but I'm dying for more Soccer in HD. Now if only Setanta would get off their duffs and start broadcasting HD so I can see some Rugby in HD.

I just called DirecTV to see if they had Fox Soccer Channel HD on their radar, and they don't (actually I was on the phone with them for a different reason, but asked because I could).

So I'd assume we'll see DirecTV pick up FSCHD around the same time as everyone else - probably mid-year. Hopefully they'll pleasantly surprise us and get it up even sooner than that.

I was just told by a FSC representative that D* will have the HD feed on 1/1/10. It'll be in 1080 on channel 619-1. :)

Apparently it's up on some cable systems already (not including TWC, heh).

Anyone else getting FSC for free right now? Is there a free preview going on? Trying to get us to want FSC HD?

FSC-HD is all over foxsoccer.com site.

Any annoucements which providers will carry it from day one?
something about newscorp.com owning D* and FSC might be helpful/relevant?

News Corp doesn't own D* any more. They sold it to Liberty Media 2 years ago!

Comcast confirmed to me that they will be adding FSC HD sometime in 2010. Hopefully the quality of the HD doesn't suck.

I think we can all assume the D* won't launch FSCHD until their new satellite is working, and according to this story (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/article.jsp?assetId=P6590082), that won't be until "early in the second quarter of 2010."

Looking at the official HD channel lineup thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081), there are only 3 HD channels listed as 'announced,' and I don't think D* would launch their new satellite with only 3 channels ready. There are only a handful more (about 10?) channels listed as available by 2Q10, so I'm hopeful that, assuming contract negotiations go smoothly, that FSCHD might be one of the new channels made available to us when the satellite is brought into production.

I guess we'll just keep watching and hoping!

I think we can all assume the D* won't launch FSCHD until their new satellite is working, and according to LINK, that won't be until "early in the second quarter of 2010."

I will be sending some angry messages if the FSC representative (he's the senior columnist for Fox Soccer) gave me wrong info about FSC HD on D*. It's information given to him by the people at FSC who are responsible for it.

We'll see in 2 days. :)

I was just told by a FSC representative that D* will have the HD feed on 1/1/10. It'll be in 1080 on channel 619-1. :)

Apparently it's up on some cable systems already (not including TWC, heh).

Really, man I'm feigning for this channel in High Def. I am tired of seeing stretched, standard def video on my HD set.

I was just told by a FSC representative that D* will have the HD feed on 1/1/10. It'll be in 1080 on channel 619-1. :)

Apparently it's up on some cable systems already (not including TWC, heh).
How did they get the channel before it's go live date? Getting an extra special free test preview of it?

Fox Soccer Channel HD mentioned on the DirecTV website:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4630030&topnavtype=3

Fox Soccer Channel HD mentioned on the DirecTV website:

LINK

Interesting. Now why isn't it available for the regular D* customer yet...

The link takes you to the " bar and restaurant programming page." Interesting, but of no great relevance to home viewers.

The link takes you to the " bar and restaurant programming page." Interesting, but of no great relevance to home viewers.

It is of relevance because it shows that FSC HD is in fact available on DirecTV now, on January 1st... just not for regulars customers yet.

Was just told on the phone that there may have been an agreement reached for commercial customers but not regular users yet but she assumed that there'd be updates to lists and packages in Feb/March. Their current list of upcoming HD additions hasn't been updated since Feb 09 apparently...

It is of relevance because it shows that FSC HD is in fact available on DirecTV now, on January 1st... just not for regulars customers yet.

Was just told on the phone that there may have been an agreement reached for commercial customers but not regular users yet but she assumed that there'd be updates to lists and packages in Feb/March. Their current list of upcoming HD additions hasn't been updated since Feb 09 apparently...

Thanks for making the predictably unsatisfying call to D*. Getting concrete information on any HD expansion is extremely frustrating. More waiting...

This is like brain surgery to try and figure out FSC HD and what is up with it.

* Is it actually broadcasting in HD as yet, all I kept hearing was beginning in January 2010, is that January 1st or January 31st. Goodness this can't be that hard for Fox to say, could it. It is January 2010 after all.

Thanks for making the predictably unsatisfying call to D*. Getting concrete information on any HD expansion is extremely frustrating. More waiting...
I wouldn't trust what a D* CSR tells you.

I wouldn't trust what a D* CSR tells you.

Nor would I, but speculation and rumor is all we are going to get for now...

I wonder how far behind GolTv is to going HD, they have been showing alot of letterbox games the last few months.

So now that we're after the 1/1/10 launch date for FSCHD, is anyone anywhere receiving FSCHD on their cable/satellite carrier? Anyone?

So now that we're after the 1/1/10 launch date for FSCHD, is anyone anywhere receiving FSCHD on their cable/satellite carrier? Anyone?
FSC is showing commercials saying FSC HD is coming soon. So I would expect no one is getting it.

Can Americans get Rogers Sportsnet Ontario, Pacific, West and Central? or are these HD channels strictly CanEHdian?

Nope, can't get them down here. I've always been jealous of how you gets get all our channels, but we can't get any of Canada's. I'd love to get the CBC lol.

my cousins in buffalo get CBC. why not complain to the american cable companies and request it? your laws of watching our networks are less strict than we getting us feeds.