Why no Spanish Primera Division on Skysports-HD?

[Bengbeng]

I noticed that the last Barcelona football match was not in high-def on Sky, just SD.
Here in Holland the match was in true HD glory @ Sport1-HD.

Why doesn't Sky broadcast Spanish matches in HD?

[derek500]

Sky currently only have two HD enabled studios, that are shared mainly between Sky Sports and Sky Arts.

They can't do SD studio, mixed with HD feed.

Some of their studios aren't even 16:9 enabled, which is why some programmes like Spanish football and Golf Night are presented in SD/4:3, even though with the golf it's already been shown in HD during the day!!

They're currently building new studios.

BBC have similar problems, which is why MOTD can't be shown in HD.

[uno]

Personally I think this studio issue is unacceptable for Sky sports and it is not going to get any better for quite a while yet as the new studio complex is not due to open until late summer 2011 so we are nearly 3 years away from it getting any better.

What I do not understand is there are a number of indie HD equipped studios available so why do they not present the programmes from there instead of not showing HD content in the correct format below is a list of sport that is filmed and broadcast in HD elsewhere but sky show only in SD due to issues over studios

A1 GP
Golf Night
Spanish Football
Grand Prix Speedway
Some Nascar
Australian Cricket although there are issues with getting content back to UK in HD although Eurosport managed it fine using new codecs

[wednesday83]

Personally the SD studio excuse is rubbish. im pretty sure they could show the Footy in HD and have the studio segments in SD. Afterall, except revista, the football takes up most the show anyway. Just an excuse not to pay for an hd feed. Its like the Masters Tennis. Eurosport show the womens in HD yet the mens on Sky is SD.

La Liga this year walks over the English Prem. Its just a shame about the picture.

[Bengbeng]

Originally Posted by derek500

They can't do SD studio, mixed with HD feed.

This is no problem for Premiere-HD in Germany and Sport1-HD here in Holland.
All the studio talking is SD, mixed with (live) matches in HD.

[wednesday83]

im sure they could send the presenters out to spain to present the show. Im sure 1 HD camera would be sufficient.

[Coffin]

Whilst football in itself is obviously very popular in the UK; when you consider only now for the first time Sky are broadcasting overseas cricket in high def, it's of no surprise Spanish football is yet to follow.

It'll happen..one day

[uno]

I'm not sure about Spanish football but I know for Speedway GP,Nascar and A1 GP they actually recieve the HD feed but then downscale it for broadcast due to the studio issues I suspect this is the same for the Spanish pimera league matches if I remember correctly though its only certain matches that are filmed in HD as the matches are on two different platforms and one doesnt do HD.

The issue of sending the presentation team out to events is too costly as you all the travel,hotel expenses plus will need a dedicated feed where as they just pick up a clean world HD feed at present.

I am sorry to say that I do not see the situation improving until the new studio complex is open in 2011 as Sky seem reluctant to use other private HD studios or jsut show the presentation in SD

[IanMerseyside]

Originally Posted by wednesday83

Personally the SD studio excuse is rubbish. im pretty sure they could show the Footy in HD and have the studio segments in SD. Afterall, except revista, the football takes up most the show anyway. Just an excuse not to pay for an hd feed. Its like the Masters Tennis. Eurosport show the womens in HD yet the mens on Sky is SD.

La Liga this year walks over the English Prem. Its just a shame about the picture.

I totally agree. I would much rather watch a La Liga game than one from the Premiership. Give me Barca v Real Madrid rather than Liverpool v Chelsea any day of the week! I hope we don't have to wait too long before La Liga is ion HD.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by wednesday83

Just an excuse not to pay for an hd feed.

Then why would they cover the European golf live in HD and do the highlights SD/4:3? It's because of the studios.

It's even worse at the BBC. The only HD sport they can cover is 100% OB, as they have no suitable studios converted to HD.

[Goodoldbakes]

Originally Posted by wednesday83

La Liga this year walks over the English Prem. Its just a shame about the picture.

I've noticed a considerable improvement in the La Liga PQ over recent weeks. Not HD but much, MUCH better than previously.

Could be that Sky have started taking the HD feed and downscaling (or whatever it's called) to SD, which I think would give that improvement in quality.

[IanMerseyside]

Originally Posted by Goodoldbakes

I've noticed a considerable improvement in the La Liga PQ over recent weeks. Not HD but much, MUCH better than previously.

Could be that Sky have started taking the HD feed and downscaling (or whatever it's called) to SD, which I think would give that improvement in quality.

I've also thought that. Earlier in the season the pictures were quite poor, almost like watching something off utube. The last few weeks have been a lot better.

[wednesday83]

Ive noticed a major incrase in quality for the sunday games, but the quality of the games on a saturday (usually on Sky sports extra) is simply awful and only watchable on my CRT screen. I think the Sunday games are covered by a different channel over there though. I think spains version of Setanta get the saturday games and Spains version of Sky get the sunday games.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by wednesday83

I think the Sunday games are covered by a different channel over there though. I think spains version of Setanta get the saturday games and Spains version of Sky get the sunday games.

Here in Spain today I can find eight matches being covered.

There's seven matches on PPV at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm CET, in SD and Atlético v Getafe on subscription in HD at 9pm CET.

[Bengbeng]

I wonder what the argument that Skysports only has 2 HD studio's has to do
with the fact that they don't cover Spanish football in HD. Tomorrow evening, during Barcelona-Athletic Bilbao, Sky doesn't cover any HD football, so they should have feed space for Barcelona

Here in Holland the match is in HD on Sport1-HD;

Zaterdag 7 maart 2009 | Programmagids | Sport1.nl