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Bright House adds Fox Sports Florida
In an announcement that has many sports fans in the Orlando and Tampa Bay area saying "about time," Bright House Networks and Fox Sports Florida has finally signed a carriage agreement. This isn't a moment too soon either as there are about 77 Orlando Magic games on the schedule each season. Although there is no mention of the HD channel in the release, we can only assume it's an oversight. Of course we're not sure how anyone could forget something as important as the HD channel number. Either way the SD version will be on channel 50 and will require a subscription to the digital tier.
All FSN's College Football games will be presented in HD
This may really turn out to be the year for HD football. We kinda expected the NFL to go all HD, but we were shocked to hear that all of ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN U games would be presented in HD; and we are even more shocked to hear that all 31 of FSN's College Football games will be presented in HD this year. This really just leaves the smaller providers like Jefferson Pilot in the SD world, but at this rate we wouldn't be one bit surprised to hear that it is going HD too.
FSN Prime Ticket, KCAL to deliver 150 Dodgers games in HD
Looks like the Padres and Diamondbacks aren't the only MLB clubs out west with lots of HD comin' up, as the Joe Torre-led Los Angeles Dodgers will be seen quite clearly in nearly every single game this season, too. Apparently 100 of the team's games will be broadcast in HD on FSN Prime Ticket, while 50 more will be aired in high-definition on KCAL 9 (CBS). And just think -- we figured the Blue Jays were doing something special.[Image courtesy of Frederic J. Brown / ESPN, thanks Pete]
Fox Sports, ESPN deliver all MLB games in HD
For those who tuned in to the start of the 2008 MLB season (on US soil, that is) last night, you can already see we're in for a good one. Better still, the matchups we are presented with will be doled out in HD more so than any year prior. According to a new report from The Sports Video Group, over 3,000 MLB games during this season will be aired in high-definition, including 100-percent of the tilts shown on ESPN and Fox Sports. Breaking it down by team, the Chicago White Sox will have the most games in HD with 155, while the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs follow suit with 153 and 151, respectively. So much for having to go to the ballpark to enjoy the freshly groomed grass, eh?[Image courtesy of Pablo Martinez Monsivais / ESPN]
FSN Arizona to broadcast every Diamondbacks home game, select road games in HD
Thought the flow of HD baseball games had dried up? Not a chance, as the Arizona Diamondbacks have just announced that a record 86 games will be shown this season in high-definition to go along with its massive new scoreboard. Effective this year, FSN Arizona has become the "exclusive television home" of the club, and every single home game (72 for those keeping count) will be available in HD. Additionally, 14 road matchups will be aired in high-def, and each game shown in HD will also have HD versions of the pre- and post-game show. Click on through for the full release and a breakdown of which carriers in Arizona and New Mexico will be carry the tilts. [Thanks, Bill]
Texas Rangers secure 86 HD games for 2008 season
With the start (on US soil, at least) of the 2008 MLB season right around the corner, the Texas Rangers are making darn sure their in-state rivals don't steal the HD limelight. Although a few less Rangers games will be produced in high-def compared to the Astros, there's still a healthy selection coming up. This season, a record-setting 86 tilts will be aired in HD, with 65 of those to show on FSN Southwest, 20 on KDFI (MyNetworkTV 27) and 1 on KDFW (FOX 4). Fortunately, fans in the area can get a glimpse of what they're in for when the season opener against the Seattle Mariners gets served up on FSN HD this coming Monday. For channel slots on various carriers as well as the entire 2008 HD schedule, you know where to head.[Image courtesy of DeadCode, thanks Joe]
Houston Astros find all home games, select road tilts in HD
Another day, another realization that this year's baseball season will be covered with HD. On the docket today are the Houston Astros, which have announced that every last home game (and "select" road matchups) will be presented in high-definition and carried on FSN Houston or KTHX 20 (the local MyNetworkTV affiliate). All in all, 130 tilts (4 Spring Training telecasts notwithstanding) will be shown on FSN Houston, while My 20 "takes over as the new broadcast home for Astros baseball with a 31-game package." As for FSN HD, citizens of Houston can locate it on Comcast (302), DirecTV (639-1) and DISH Network (336), while KTHX HD is only available OTA and on DirecTV (20-1).[Image courtesy of MLBlogs, thanks German]
Brewers HD onslaught leads Charter to add FSN Wisconsin "this summer"
Behold, the power of high-definition. Just days after FSN Wisconsin announced that it would be airing 65 Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, Charter has acquiesced and decided that it would finally add the channel to its high-def lineup. Prior to this season, the carrier had held back on adding the HD feed of the network because -- according to Charter regional spokesman John Miller -- "over 95 percent of its programming [wasn't] in HD." Mr. Miller recently noted that Charter felt that there would be "significant interest in the Brewers this season, [along with] more HDTVs in the marketplace," which was apparently good enough to land the channel on the "to be launched this summer" list. Catering specifically to the HD crowd? Now that's what we like to hear.[Image courtesy of RightFieldBleachers]
FSN Wisconsin serving up 65 Brewers games in HD
The good news for MLB fans just keeps on coming. Hot on the heels of a number of regional announcements to broadcast oodles of MLB matchups in high-definition this year comes a similar edict from FSN Wisconsin. The network is gearing up to broadcast 65 of the Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, which is up from 17 last year but still less than half of the club's total games. Fans in the area can catch the first Brewers HD telecast when it opens the season against the Chicago Cubs, but alas, Charter subscribers still won't be able to join in. As it stands, DirecTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and Tri County Cable are all signed on to serve up FSN Wisconsin content in HD, but we can only hope that this pledge to put more high-def material on the channel will convince Charter of its worthiness. Check out the read link for the full HD schedule.[Image courtesy of New York Times]
FSN Kansas City to carry 88 Royals games in HD
Although the Royals were already receiving the "world's largest" HD LED scoreboard in their home stadium, fans having to watch from the comfort of their own couches were yearning for more. Thankfully, FSN Kansas City -- the "new television home of the Royals" -- will be helping you folks out, as it's gearing up to broadcast 88 of the club's games this season in gorgeous high-definition. As you well know, 2008 marks the first year in which the Royals matchups will be aired in HD (regionally, at least), and FSN KC isn't wasting any time in delivering the goods. Starting on March 31st, Royals fans can catch the team's opener at Detroit in HD, and the home opener on April 8th (against the Yankees) will also be shown in high-def. Heck, even the pre- and post-game shows will be seen in HD on HD game nights. Check out the full HD schedule in the read link below.[Image courtesy of VisitKC, thanks Jim]
FSN Bay Area re-launching as Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
While FSN New York became MSG Plus over on the east coast, it looks as if the Bay Area flavor of FSN will be keeping the balance in tact here on the left coast. Effective March 31st, FSN Bay Area will be known as Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and in celebration, a special pre-game ceremony will be aired on said channel to showcase the new outfield signs at McAfee Coliseum on April 1st. The Pregame Live show will commence just 30 minutes prior to the first of 70 Oakland A's games that will be aired on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and for those not up to speed on schedules, it'll be a home opener against the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. For more details on specials slated to hit the network, check out the read link below.
FSN Detroit looks to air more games overall, in HD
While Ohio residents are certainly getting their fill of local sports in HD, it seems as if Motor City dwellers could be experiencing the same in the not-too-distant future. Reportedly, FSN Detroit has locked up deals with the Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings to "televise nearly all their games -- exhibition, regular season and playoff -- for at least the next decade." Apparently, the revised deals will enable FSN to pick up the rights to all telecasts not claimed by a national network, and we're already told that it'll air 152 Tigers games this season, with 103 being in high-definition. According to FSN senior vice president and general manager Greg Hammaren, the firm is "stepping up its investments and is clearly committed to HD." That's what we like to hear, Mr. Hammaren.[Image courtesy of mlive]
FSN New York becoming MSG Plus HD, more HD coming to Staten Island
We're not certain if this change will affect more than a few key areas of New York and New Jersey (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bergen, Mt. Vernon and Hudson Valley to be precise), but Fox Sports Net New York is set to become MSG Plus in mid-March. As expected, FSN NY HD will also become MSG Plus HD, but channel slots on TWC aren't expected to change. Around the same time, YES HD in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island will be relocating from channel 730 to 753, while NY1 HD gets added to the Time Warner Cable lineup in Woodside and Staten Island (only, unfortunately) on slot 701. For subscribers on Staten Island, you can also look forward to seeing Discovery HD (766), Animal Planet HD (786), TLC HD (752) and Science Channel HD (755). Needless to say, Manhattan gets the proverbial shaft yet again, but we'll keep you posted if things change. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
DirecTV adds MSG HD, FSN NY HD
Believe it or not, it appears that DirecTV has somehow wrangled both MSG HD and FSN NY HD away from Cablevision -- or, at least they've agreed to share. Whatever the case, users across the web are now reporting that the aforementioned channels are indeed available through the satellite operator, giving Rangers, Knicks, Sabers, Devils and Islanders fans (just to name a few) a very worthwhile reason to celebrate. Two more down, lots more to go.[Thanks, Jim S.]
Comcast gives Twin Cities 11 new HD options
It is the season to give, you know, and while we've heard that Comcast will be on the receiving end of things when it hikes rates in 2008, at least users across the nation are receiving a boost in their HD lineup before having the family over this holiday season. Up next on Comcast's list is St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota (and western Wisconsin), which is receiving 11 new channels to complement the 22 already available. Among the newcomers are CNN HD, Animal Planet HD, Discovery HD, Food HD, Sci-Fi HD, TLC HD, Universal HD, USA HD, TBS HD, History HD and FSN North HD. Reportedly, customers in the area are already able to view USA, Sci-Fi, Universal and Food, and the rest of the gang is slated to go live on or before December 17th.[Thanks, Ed]
