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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.
ESPN content coming to SKY Italia
Open wide, Italian sports fans -- you're about to get a huge helping of ESPN content via SKY Italia. Announced today, ESPN's North American Sports Network (NASN) will soon be launching on the SKY Italia platform, and better still, the agreement marks ESPN's "largest-ever international high-definition programming syndication deal, with more than 800 hours" of annual HD material to be syndicated across SKY's platform. For those interested, it'll begin beaming out tomorrow (April 8th) and will be hosted on the SKY Italia sports tier.
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]
Poll: ESPNews HD is on the air, do you have it yet?
As scheduled, ESPNews HD is broadcasting to approximately 3.2 million people, the question for today is if you're one of them. So let us know, do you have the channel, and in the comments note what provider and where you are. Comcast, DirecTV and Time Warner all have carriage agreements for the channel, if you don't have it yet don't forget to check ESPN2 HD at 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. today for the simulcast. %Poll-11949%
ESPNews HD set for launch March 30
Right on schedule, ESPNews HD is coming March 30. With carriage agreements previously reported with DirecTV, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, we expect (read: demand) to get it day one. As seen in the graphics, ESPNews' traditional BottomLine now frames the top, left and bottom of 16x9 main video space. Everything's been tweaked -- it appears ESPN has learned much from the launch of its first two HD networks -- from a more moderate (and hopefully less prone to burn-in) steel blue color scheme, redone music with an orchestra-performed theme and all-new set backed by ESPN's multimedia newsroom. Called a "milestone concept" and "must have" for its exclusive HD content (a first for ESPN) ESPN VP Bryan Burns thinks it's hot, check more pics after the break then decide for yourself at 8 a.m. Sunday, March 30; if your carrier isn't up to speed, check out the simulcast on ESPN HD for the first hour, then ESPN2 HD in 30 minute chunks at 11:30 a.m. and p.m.
BattleBots headed to an ESPN near you -- now with less suck
Maybe we'll never know how Comedy Central could run a show like "BattleBots" and not have it be the greatest thing ever. Lucky for us, the concept is getting another shot at life thanks to the fine folks at ESPN 2 and ESPNU. The new show format will have an increased emphasis on the behind-the-scenes nerdmergencies in the "pits" when the bots need tweaking or full on repairs. They're also going to do away with the annoying wedgebots (similar in principle to this Microsoft bot up above, just more annoying), beef up the arena hazards and add a new experimental class for featuring other bot types competing in what are hopefully equally destructive forms. The show was going to start up in June, but is being held back a bit while the 150 or so participating college teams prep entries, and the mayhem is now slated to begin in November.
The first ESPNews HD screenshots
We know you're probably too wrapped up in the looming March Madness to actually stop and realize what month it is, but sure enough, March is the month in which ESPNews HD is slated to land. Just as 2007 was drawing to a close, we got word that designers had finalized the new channel's graphics package -- fast forward a tick, and we see this. Judging by the photo above along with a number of others in the read link below, we'd say we're more anxious than ever to feast our eyes and ears on 24/7 sporting news. Of course, we've yet to see any confirmation that these are real, but we can't imagine someone going out of their way to mock 'em up. Launch day (whenever that may be) can't come soon enough.
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]
ESPN's Winter X Games 12 debuts in HD tonight
You've known it was coming, but tonight is finally the night in which you can kick back, relax and enjoy hours upon hours of your favorite extreme winter sports in glorious high-definition. In a move made far too late (but we're thankful nonetheless), ESPN has finally decided to cover this year's events from Aspen, Colorado in HD, marking the first time in Winter X history in which the entire four-day event will be broadcast in 720p across the ESPN family of networks. Ready to cancel a few plans and check out Sal Masekela (among other things) in HD? Hit the read link for the full schedule -- the first snowflake flies tonight at 9:00PM EST on ESPN HD.[Image courtesy of Aspen / Snowmass]
ESPN and Major League Gaming team up
The good folks at ESPN identified a huge, glaring hole in their programming lineup – namely that gamers are too busy playing games – and have made moves to fill it, announcing a "content agreement" with Major League Gaming. The following marketing dream scenario describes our general lack of appreciation for major league gaming, in all its forms: when you're not playing games, what better way to spend your time than watching other people play them?With ESPN's marketing muscle and proven sports coverage formula, maybe MLG has a chance to appeal to a larger audience and, in turn, reel those advertisers in. If you're not sure this is something you'd be interested in, check out ESPN's newly launched MLG portal (with additional content from 1UP.com) by clicking on that "Read: link. If you think it sounds like a product in search of an audience, that makes all of us.
Entire 2008 IndyCar season broadcast in HD on ESPN & ABC
Fans of open wheel racing rejoice, ESPN and ABC have announced they will broadcast all 16 events of 2008 in high definition. Just like ESPN's "most advanced" NASCAR coverage, all the cameras covering the event will be HD, including in-car. The 16 races will consist of seven each aired on ESPN2 and ABC, two on ESPN, as well as 16 Indy Pro Series races that will air on ESPN2-HD. Last year's Indianapolis 500 was the first IndyCar event in HD and now its far from the last. ESPNews, ESPN U, X Games and now IndyCar have gotten the 720p treatment, we just want to know what they will do next.
ESPNews HD finalizes graphics package
If you're anything like us, you can't wait for March to arrive. And if you're one of the many who are waiting oh-so-impatiently for ESPNews HD to launch, here's a few more details to chew on while you pass the time with NFL playoffs, conference play in NCAA men's hoops and the rest of the college bowl season. Reportedly, the channel has finalized its graphics package, and we're told that the high-definition flavor will sport a "scrolling scoreboard on the left side of the screen, with tabs of specific leagues and topics across the top of the screen." Additionally, the bottom of the screen will be reserved for "breaking news and advertising," and while the video feed will be the same for SD and HD, the latter will boast more on-screen data / scores / news. For what it's worth, the SD channel will also undergo a makeover that makes it resemble the HD sibling, but only those viewing in HD will get the benefit of the new scrolling scoreboard. [Read link requires subscription]
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).
ESPN U to go HD next August
Despite all the BCS BS, we still love college football -- especially when it's in HD. We've grown to expect more and more HD every season, and with ESPN and ESPN2 presenting all their games in HD these days, we should've seen this coming. As of next August, ESPN U is going HD and will become the forth ESPN HD network (ESPNews is the thrid). In addition to the biggest college sport being presented in HD; basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, and hockey will also get the HD treatment with a total of 200 HD events on schedule in the first year.
ESPN's Winter X Games 12, now in HDTV
The 2008 Summer Olympics will have to hold on, ESPN has announced the Winter X Games is going HD in its 12th edition. Kicking off January 24th from Aspen Colorado, viewers can look forward to 15 hours of "winter action sports", as well as XCENTER, the daily highlight show broadcast in HDTV. If snow isn't your thing don't worry, the regular X Games will also make the resolution jump in August for X Games 14.
ESPN's HD content heading to Xbox Live
Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace keeps adding content, this time partnering with ESPN to offer commercial-free versions of NCAA football games and TV shows in HD. The games will be available within 48 hours of their conclusion for $4.50, and TV shows are $3 each. Digital distribution is continuing to pick up steam, but we're not sure how many people will pay that price for a replay of one NCAA game.
ESPN brings shows, games to Xbox Live Marketplace
Tired of getting college football and basketball games live, as they happen, for free as part of your cable package? Well, now you can pay extra for days-old copies of those games thanks to ESPN and the Xbox Live Marketplace.We know, some people don't have cable or a VCR or access to a sports bar or anything better to do with $3 (for standard definition) or $4.50 (for high definition), but really, unless a game is a true instant classic, we can't see paying to download a copy of a game two days after it happened. Original programs like The Contender and Madden Nation might get our $2, but if we want to see the World Series of Poker we'll just tune in to ESPN and hope that they're showing one of their ten daily reruns of the tournaments.
Extreme ESPN content headed to Xbox Live
This morning, fresh off the presses, comes word that Microsoft and ESPN have announced a partnership in which ESPN will be adding some of their programming to the ever expanding Xbox Live Marketplace portfolio.ESPN will be offering up NCAA basketball and football games, X Games sporting events and competition programs like Madden Nation to the Marketplace in the near future. The new content will come with a cost though, with television episodes sticking with the current pricing of $2 SD and $3 HD. Commercial free sporting events will be available within' 48 hours of the original air date and will cost $3 for SD and $4.50 for HD. Video games and sports, one of those odd couples that just works sometimes.
