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Note to networks: don't botch the Super Bowl broadcast
When a program nets some 97.5 million viewers, the last thing you want as a broadcaster is trouble with your transmission. Nevertheless, reports are already starting to flow in from towns in which their local FOX affiliate or cable provider somehow bungled what's likely to go down as the biggest night in US sports for 2008. One report out of Kinston, North Carolina, noted that multiple disruptions during kickoff and most of the third quarter had customers at a local restaurant "cursing at the television." As for a particular family near Springfield, Missouri, it's actually considering "canceling the cable service" after SuddenLink's mishandling of the game forced them to watch it via "rabbit ears." Any of you experience unforeseen outages during Sunday's matchup? If so, are you planning a revolt at your carrier's doorstep, or have cooler heads prevailed?[Image courtesy of WiredVision]Read - Television reception leaves many Super Bowl viewers in the darkRead - WYDO Explains Fox Fumble During Super Bowl XLIIRead - Family upset about cable loss during Super Bowl
Super Bowl XLII sets viewership record, commercials still more popular
You could almost see this one coming -- a Super Bowl with one team attempting to do what no other team in league history has done? Yeah, that'll draw folks in. A game decided in the final minutes of the fourth quarter helps too, and according to research doled out by Nielsen, Sunday's tilt between the Giants and Patriots was indeed the most watched Super Bowl ever. Reportedly, some 97.5 million viewers tuned in on average, with 105.7 million fixing their eyes on the game between 9:30PM and 10:00PM EST. More interesting, however, was TiVo's research data, which showed that more folks (in its sample, at least) were interested in watching / rewinding commercials than actually pausing to gaze into Brady's eyes. Oh, and for those curious, E-Trade's "Baby" spot snatched the number one rank this year in term's of ad popularity (sorry, Toshiba). Hit up the read links below for oodles more data about the game.[Image courtesy of Getty Images / WNBC]Read - Nielsen's research dataRead - TiVo's research data
NFL still clamping down on churches for illegal Super Bowl parties
Restaurant and bar owners, fret not, you're free to broadcast tonight's matchup between the Giants and Patriots on a screen larger than life, but for churches, movie theaters, casinos and the like, throwing that Super Bowl XLII party is likely a no-no. After a well publicized tilt last year between the league and Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, it seems that Goodell and company aren't backing down from the 55-inch image restriction nor the stipulation that the big game cannot be used to "promote a message." According to a recent article at The Wall Street Journal, many venues are renaming the event, scaling it back or simply not having a single large gathering in order to stay within the guidelines. One more reason to just blow it out at your place, we guess.[Image courtesy of ChristianPost]
Poll: Who's not watching Super Bowl XLII?
Believe it or not, there actually are a few upstanding citizens around the globe who couldn't care less about tomorrow's so-called "big game." Granted, if you live in America, you're likely in the minority there, but we digress. For those of you adamant about not watching Super Bowl XLII tomorrow (and anxious to never hear it spoke of again), why not tell us how you'll be getting your HD fix on Sunday evening? %Poll-8930%
Hardcore Giants fan opts for HDTV over trip to Super Bowl XLII
We've polled you fine folks before to get your take on whether sporting events are better seen live and in person or on an HDTV, and while responses tend to vary, one particular Giants fan recently made the decision to enjoy Super Bowl XLII from the comfort of his own home rather than jetting down to Arizona with a pocketful of Benjamins. Said fan has yet to miss a New York Giants home game in 17 years, but after mulling it over with his better half, they collectively decided to plunk down two large on a new Samsung and made plans to host a sure-to-be-riveting party. Of course, judging by recent HDTV sales and home theater installations in the New York region alone, it's pretty safe to say that they aren't the only ones making this choice. Our only concern is that the fan somehow believes his TV purchase will last (read: not be replaced) "for 15 years" -- something tells us he was misinformed.
Super Bowl XLII heads to 28 countries in HD, takes Neural-THX with it
It seems like just yesterday that we were stoked to hear that Sky would be broadcasting Super Bowl XLI in HD across the pond, but a release this year put forth by THX is proclaiming that out of the 223 countries in which Super Bowl XLII will be shown, 28 of them will have the luxury of seeing it in high-definition. Additionally, Neural Audio Corporation, THX and the NFL have teamed up to deliver the international HD broadcast of the big game in Neural-THX Surround. For those still unfamiliar with the technology, it takes the 5.1 sound from the field, beams it over stereo channels to minimize bandwidth usage and then gets decoded by specially equipped receivers to deliver "5.1 surround" in the living room. Still, the trio of entities are pretty jazzed about the whole idea -- you know, considering it's the first time ever that international viewers get even a shadow of true surround sound for the Super Bowl.
Check for HD before RSVP-ing that Superbowl party
Okay, everybody knows the Superbowl is going to move a lot of HDTVs (and maybe HD DVD players as well), and we've even done our PSA on how to make sure you're watching the game in HD. But our HD zeal puts us on the fringe of public opinion, right? Not so, true believers -- a survey conducted by Comcast shows that almost half of those polled will make an effort to see the game in HD. That's right, with 52% of men (and 41% of women) making a little extra effort to see it in HD, you're in good company. Better yet, with 43% saying they'd be more likely to attend an HD Super Bowl party than a non-HD one, you don't need to feel like a heel when your RSVP includes questions like "Will it be in HD?" As a good citizen, please show restraint when asking about the gear to be used for the viewing, however.[Image courtesy miggle.com]
How to make sure you're watching Super Bowl XLII in HD
The big game is almost upon us and Engadget HD readers know all too well how many people out there have HDTVs, but aren't watching HD. And since many of us will be at Super Bowl parties, it is our duty to get to the party a little early and make sure the HDTV is setup properly. Or if you think your HDTV is setup properly it never hurts to double check and here are some rules that should go without saying, but we're not going to let that stop us. Just because you have an HDTV, doesn't meant you're watching HD. Just because you have an HDTV STB, doesn't mean you are watching HD. And just because you have an HDMI or component cable connecting your HD STB to your HDTV, doesn't mean you are watching HD. Setup steps after the break.
