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 says that Red Bulls games are done in HD. I'll keep researching.