ESPN semi HD broadcast

[dissco]

Has anyone else noticed this, (watching Liverpool Vs Villa game last night), that it's only the game itself is in HD, everything else is standard and upscaled? That includes replays, analysis, pre-game pitchside reporting, post game pitchside reporting. It just doesn't make sense!!

[Brookster]

yeah I noticed more than their first game (Everton - Arsenal) last night.

Its been written before here that the game itself is produced by Sky, and is in HD. The studio stuff is upscaled, according to some things here that should change in future.

To be fair ESPN as a channel and EPL broadcast has only existed for a few weeks and was born in June when setanta went under.

Its going to get better, its not a bad start though. As least Rebecca Lowe is still around!

[Jaycee Dove]

The fact that ESPN do not yet have their own facilities (it takes time to build them and they have only had two months) is the reason for the studio upscales and why there has been virtually nothing on ESPN HD actuallty in HD.

Aside from the EPL and SPL games so far (filmed for them by Sky) just one single live MLB game last Friday has been shown in HD - all the rest and all the other live spirts in the channel have been upscaled.

Rumour says September should see the facilities ready.

[tom 2000]

My mate has taken out a subscription starting last night. His comment to me was that HD PQ seemed v good. Is it possible that it can vary?

[Soulfinger]

Considering ESPN show huge amounts of sports in HD in the US I assumed that at least the US sports they show would be in HD. I understand they need to gear up nd get their own HD cameras etc but if they can broadcast HD material surely they can broadcast HD material they get from ESPN in the US.

Surely UFC etc can be bought in HD unless they just don't think its financially viable at this stage.

[kmark40]

I think they're doing a grand job, considering the time frame. IMO they're already ahead of what we had with setanta. I have it for the UFC mainly and some footy. Upscaled UFC and HD football coverage is more than what I did have. Though I would expect HD UFC in good time.

[Jaycee Dove]

Originally Posted by Soulfinger

Considering ESPN show huge amounts of sports in HD in the US I assumed that at least the US sports they show would be in HD. I understand they need to gear up nd get their own HD cameras etc but if they can broadcast HD material surely they can broadcast HD material they get from ESPN in the US.

Surely UFC etc can be bought in HD unless they just don't think its financially viable at this stage.

As I noted above they are still building the studio,

They are getting HD feeds in for many of their US sports. That is why these are in widescreen. A few in 4:3 are SD, that is why these look poorer PQ as reported by someone above.

In the US feeds are either/or - widescreen and HD or non widescreen and SD.
This is why even Sky have recently shown some NFL games in 4:3.
If they are not getting an HD feed from the states it is as a result not widescreen.

The fact that ESPN HD are getting HD feeds quite often (eg most of the MLB like last nights live game) allows them to transmit a decent upscale of that feed and produce a good picture. But bar one thing (last Fridays MLB game - which WAS shown in HD somehow) all the transmissions have just been good upscales from that HD source.

Often at midnight the same MLB game is on all three channels. ESPN SD and HD show the widescreen/HD feed in SD or upscaled but not HD. Compare that with ESPN America which gets only the SD (and so non widescreen) feed. The difference will be obvious.

However, the difference between the current upscales and REAL HD when we get it will be very apparent.

I would presume that the machinery to transmit the feed in HD is coupled to the machionery to screen live studio feeds from the EP/SPL in HD. When they have built these facilities ESPN will show all they can in HD.

I would imagine they will, anyhow.

They did say when announcing the channel 2 months ago that HD might be delayed (September was mentioned) as they needed a few extra weeks to get their studio and transmission facilities up and running.

The EPL/SPL games are filmed for them by Sky - hence these are seen in HD. I believe this is why they go out in HD (using a hired facility) but the studio feed can only be SD as can all other HD feeds coming in go out in SD upscaled and at the greater bandwidth of the HD channel (so looking better). Because these both rely on the ESPN studio facilities which are not yet built/

[mad_matt]

To be honest as long as the game is in HD I don't care about the studio shots being upscaled. Usually replenishing the beer during those bits anyway lol.

ESPN are doing a good job, at least they have a HD channel unlike Setanta whose SD channel was terrible.

[mitch]

Originally Posted by kmark40

I think they're doing a grand job, considering the time frame. IMO they're already ahead of what we had with setanta. I have it for the UFC mainly and some footy. Upscaled UFC and HD football coverage is more than what I did have. Though I would expect HD UFC in good time.

ufc 102 has been confirmed as being hd by espn

[kmark40]

Originally Posted by mitch

ufc 102 has been confirmed as being hd by espn

[Jaycee Dove]

They had two MLB games in HD last night.

So things seem to be coming together at ESPN.

[djcla]

Originally Posted by kmark40

Not showing as in HD in the planner?

[kmark40]

Watching now. It is HD. Looks very good. Shiny

[djcla]

Originally Posted by kmark40

Watching now. It is HD. Looks very good. Shiny

yeah was in 5.1 too sweet

[packerbully]

ESPN now have a note about HD on their website

Basically they have nearly completed getting their HD facilities built / up and running.