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2009 WNBA Draft will be the first in HD
With the women's NCAA basketball season concluded it's time for the WNBA Draft, and we might have found a reason for you to watch, since this is the first time it will be broadcast on high definition. Covered as usual on ESPN, things get started with the first round on ESPN2 HD at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, followed by the second and third rounds on ESPNU HD and NBA TV. No word on any 720p regular season games, we'll tune in for the Atlanta Dream's #1 pick, but with very little dunking and HD on the schedule we make no promises after that.
TWC adds ESPNU HD, about to add Big Ten Network in Columbia, SC
Not that many (any?) Gamecock games are relegated to ESPNU or anything, but folks in the Columbia region of South Carolina can now tune into ESPNU HD on slot 952. The channel is being arranged beside ESPN HD (950), ESPN2 HD (951) and ESPNews HD (953). Also of note, Dan Santelle, Time Warner vice-president of programming and product development for the Carolina region, has suggested that his company is finalizing an agreement that will bring Big Ten Network to the system, which ought to make the scads of transplants and legions of sports fans in general quite pleased. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Bright House snags Big Ten Network, ESPNU HD and CNN HD
Bright House Networks subscribers in Michigan already noticed Big Ten Network on the EPG, but now the carrier has fessed up and confirmed that it will soon be landing in other markets. Additionally, ESPNU HD and CNN HD will be coming along for the ride, though there's no indication of when. Thanks, BHN -- we'll just twiddle our thumbs and hope they show up.[Thanks, Jamie]
TWC adding ESPNU HD / Planet Green HD in Greensboro, NC
One word Time Warner Cable: pathetic. Look, we're as stoked as we can be for our pals up in the Triad area of North Carolina -- after all, ESPNU HD and Planet Green HD are coming just months after a trio of others arrived -- but the lack of attention in the Triangle is sickening. While the Raleigh area limps along with an absolutely anemic HD lineup, Greensboro is being promised two more on Friday. The stations will be available on slots 570 and 559, respectively, and at least the former should provide plenty of entertainment as the football season really gets going. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
ESPNU HD preps for launch Thursday
After ESPNews, now it's time for ESPNU to make the jump to 720p, as promised last year, on August 28. So far Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, RCN, Atlantic Broadband and Broadstripe are signed on to distribute the channel, with ESPN "working on" deals with other providers. The debut event is the Vanderbilt vs. Miami (OH) football game at 7:30 p.m., with ESPN's fourth U.S. high definition station expecting to air over 200 HD events in its first year -- Thursday and Saturday live college football games, plus basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling and hockey. Coupled with a 15-year agreement to air SEC matchups on its family of networks, there should be plenty of SPEED on tap for ESPNU HD.
