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ESPN lays out X Games 16 coverage via online, HD & 3D formats, including in-car 3D cams
We're just a couple of days away from the beginning of X Games 16 in Los Angeles, and beyond just the high flying acrobatic stunts, it should be also be a broadcasting technological showcase. Just two years removed from making its HD debut, this year's summer X will get 31 hours (up from 20 last year) of dedicated HD coverage on ESPN & ESPN2, 27 hours of simulcast coverage + 10 hours of exclusive video on ESPN3, 28 hours of live video on the ESPN Mobile platform, a YouTube channel plus daily updates on Facebook and Xbox Live. As for that newly launched 3D network? Expect eight hours of live coverage from 14 native 3D cameras (including the "3D Mega Mo" ultra slow motion camera) including men's and women's Super X racing, the Big Air Skateboard competition, and rally car events featuring the first live use of wireless 3D cameras mounted in the car. Even more details are in the press release after the break.
ESPN2 and ABC bringing 2009 WNBA season home entirely in HD
The NBA season is winding down, with the conference finals finally under way, but for the first time there will be plenty of high definition basketball all summer thanks to the WNBA. every regular and postseason game broadcast on ABC and ESPN2 will be in HD, starting with the Shock vs. Sparks, June 6. Not close to your HDTV, or in the U.S.? No problem, the games will be on ESPN360.com, ESPN Australia HD and ESPN Brazil HD (there is a ESPN Brazil HD?) Things got kicked off with the HD WNBA draft and while there might still not be much dunking, the league is at least ready to provide the high quality broadcasts enjoyed by the NBA.
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.
DirecTV provides best HD view of Grand Slam tennis tournaments
We tell ya, DirecTV has the cable carriers at their mercy when it comes to these Mix Channels. For tennis enthusiasts in particular, you'll be hard pressed to find a viewing setup superior to this. Starting on January 18th with the Australian Open, the company will be integrating ESPN2 and Tennis Channel feeds into its six-screens-in-one Mix Channel, and for the first time ever, it will all be in high-definition. Viewers will be able to see the network channel and five court channels on a single screen, with each screen providing its own audio stream. Better still, DirecTV subscribers can expect the same kind of coverage for the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open tournaments later this year. And don't be shocked to hear of something similar for the upcoming golf season -- we get the feeling DirecTV is really going for the jugular here.
DirecTV keeps multi-screen trend alive with Wimbledon Interactive coverage
If you enjoy juggling six screens at once, you should seriously considering switching to DirecTV or DISH Network. As the back-and-forth action between the two continues, DirecTV is serving up Wimbledon Interactive in order to provide viewers with a multi-screen montage of grass court action. The satcaster is teaming up once again with ESPN2 in order to "provide nearly 200 hours of live interactive coverage of the first five days of the 2008 Wimbledon Championship." The half dozen screens will include live ESPN2 coverage, a Wimbledon Extra for keying in on crucial matches / highlights, and shots from four other courts which can be expanded to full screen at the touch of a button. As you know, the first fuzzy ball flies on June 23rd.
All live 2008 NCAA Football games on ABC / ESPN networks to air in HD
Not that we're trying to rush the summer away or anything, but August can't get here soon enough. Shortly after hearing that CBS would be producing every single NFL game in high-definition, in flies word that all live 2008 NCAA College Football games shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN U will also be available in glorious HD. Granted, there's a shot you won't even have those four networks in HD before the season begins, but at least your local watering hole will. For a look at the current schedule (which is far from complete), check out the goods in the read link. Rest assured, we'll be geared up for the network opener (August 28, 8:00PM on ESPN HD) as NC State shows South Carolina how it's done down at Williams-Brice Stadium.
ESPN makes known Euro 2008 broadcast schedule
For folks across the pond, catching all 31 UEFA Euro 2008 matches in high-def shouldn't be an issue, and thanks to ESPN / ABC, doing so here in the US won't be either -- well, almost. The network(s) have just released their broadcast schedules for Euro 2008, which is schedule to start on June 7th (ESPN Classic) and conclude on June 29th (ABC HD). Out of the 31 total tilts, 26 of 'em will be readily available on either ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD or ABC HD, and all but the two ABC matchups will also be available via ESPN360. Who says there's no good football in June?[Via EPL Talk]
ESPN2 makes Tuesday movie night starting April 22
ESPN2 HD is following up its well received Black Magic documentary (the network's most viewed doc ever) with four more, starting April 22 each Tuesday gets a little more inspirational. Hellfighters and The Streak tell the story of Harlem football team and a Florida wrestling squad holding onto a 30+ year winning streak when they debut at the end of the month, while May brings Bud Greenspan: The Heart of the Games and The Zen of Bobby V. Expect to see more HD content on the way from the ESPN Film initiative, especially in light of Black Magic's ratings wins.
Pac-10, Big Ten and Big East to cut down the nets in HD
Oh yeah, more good news for college hoops fans. Fans of Pac-10, Big Ten and Big East NCAA men's basketball will not take a backseat to the ACC, and will be treated to their conference tournaments in HD as well. The Big East tournament will be covered by ESPN HD. The Big Ten series gets help from, The Big Ten Network (naturally), ESPN2 and ESPN. And the tournament for this year's critic-favorite, the Pac 10, will be on Comcast SportsNet (with the championship on CBS). Check the schedule listings below and start lining up your multi-tuner setup plan!
ACC brings its HD A-game to the tournament
Pundits may be calling men's basketball in the ACC "weaker" this year than in the past, but the conference will be bringing the HD to you strong during its tournament. Between Raycom, ESPN and ESPN2, all the conference tournament games will be available in HD. This is a great way to start off the season that is March Madness, so consult the listing of local Raycom affiliates and the ACC Tournament schedule after the break and start planning your "sick" days early, folks!
ESPN promises around 1000 games in HD this year
As if this year wasn't looking big enough for ESPN HD, it seems that the network will be dedicating even more resources to high-definition programming than in years past. 2008 already marked / marks the channel's first Winter and Summer X-Games in high-def and the looming launch of ESPNews HD / ESPNU HD, and now vice president of strategic business planning and development Bryan Burns has claimed that sports addicts everywhere will be able to catch "around 1,000 games" in HD during the rest of 2008 on ESPN HD / ESPN2 HD, while "over 100 more" will be shown on ESPNU HD. For more on ESPN's future plans in regard to HD, hit up the read link below.[Image courtesy of TVTechnology]
Cablevision finally gets around to adding ESPN2 HD
We're not exactly sure how adding a 45th HD channel to the lineup will affect Cablevision's 44 Days in HD promotion, but we're pretty certain the subscribers who have been waiting ages for ESPN2 to finally go HD on their provider won't care. Yes, the poor, tortured Cablevision customers can finally look forward to catching the Deuce in high-definition, as today marks the first time it'll be broadcast as such to iO TV users. You've waited long enough, so without further ado, head on over to channel 735 (and feel free to be extra celebratory this weekend).
DC-area Madden pros heading to Hawaii
The Washington City Paper this week has an interesting look at how two D.C.-area Madden players struggled to win a spot on ESPN2's Madden Nation. The pair criss-crossed the country to win two separate regional finals and an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii, where they'll face off against 30 other finalists for a $100,000 grand prize on national TV. Not all is wine and roses for these pro-level players, though. Maddener R.J. Warren got fired from his job at a video game store because of his obsession. Justin Chow has fallen a year behind in his studies at Radford University because of time spent with the game. What's worse, Chow says "this Madden thing, and the ability to make money on it, that has ruined me for other games. I'd just feel like I was wasting my time." The Madden, she is a harsh mistress.
Cold Pizza to go HD in June
Mediaweek is reporting that in June ESPN will move Cold Pizza and ESPN sports debate show 1st and 10 to the Bristol Conn studio which means they will now be produced in HD. This will add more HD to ESPN2-HD which adds value to the channel and with any luck will motivate cable companies like Time Warner to add the channel (hopefully). [Via TVPredictions.com]
Chicago Comcast subscribers getting new high-def stations?
Rob H. just dropped us a note indicating that he is now getting MHD (MTV's high-def station) and ESPN2HD on Comcast. He lives in the Chicago area so we are wondering, did anyone else just get these station too? Rob indicated that the programming guide doesn't seem to be totally downloaded so if you are running through your guide, you might want to look out for "Promotional Programming." Now we are hoping that the word "promotional" does not mean that this is just a tease. We hate it when Comcast does that.So everyone check out their Comcast line-up once again and look for MHD. Most of you should have ESPN2HD by now but if not you may want to check for it too.[thanks for the tip Rob]
