[Radiomike]

Possible good news for NFL fans and others interested in US sports today.

www.broadbandtvnews.com reports that SES New Skies and SM2 Sports Media Solutions have signed a contract for 18MHz bandwidth on the NSS-7 satellite at 22 deg West. Under the contract SM2 will deliver North American sports events in HD to Europe for 5 years.

Existing clients include BSkyB and other European Satellite Programmers, NFL international, TNA Wrestling, ESPN International, USGA, Fox Sports International, Augusta and US Figure Skating.

Bodes well for more NFL in HD and other sports too hopefully. An NASN HD or ESPN HD channel might be a possibility but NFL Sunday on Sky in HD has to be something Sky would be aiming at.

[Goodoldbakes]

Originally Posted by Radiomike

......but NFL Sunday on Sky in HD has to be something Sky would be aiming at.

Oh yes...!!!

[kingdannyb]

I've seen the baseball in HD in the States and it was fantastic.

You can see the spin on the pitches and if the runner got to second before the tag . . . .

[Nik73]

Yeah baby, can't wait for this! Best news I've had all year. I saw some football and baseball in the US too and it's amazing, the NFL especially.
I'd love ESPN to have their own channel but think it's unlikely, or at least one that is predominantly US sports. Didn't Setanta say they had no immediate plans for HD but that doesn't mean NASN wouldn't break off on it's own as its owned by ESPN.

Does anyone know when this will kick in? Fingers crossed for HD NFL on Sky being this season!

[Boozyuzi]

All 14 days of the US Open tennis on Sky will be HD starting end of August.

Hopefully the Eurosport coverage will be in HD as well.

[NuclearWinter]

NHL in HD, please!

[flushingmeadows]

Originally Posted by Boozyuzi

All 14 days of the US Open tennis on Sky will be HD starting end of August.

Hopefully the Eurosport coverage will be in HD as well.

Fantastic! And about time too!

Flushing Meadows always looks great!

[uno]

I see Eurosport HD are showing some Womens tennis next week from Canada in HD so that will be a nice addition and fully expect them to cover their US open matches in HD

[Jaycee Dove]

Originally Posted by Nik73

Didn't Setanta say they had no immediate plans for HD but that doesn't mean NASN wouldn't break off on it's own as its owned by ESPN.

I think NASN (ESPN) needs to break away from Setanta as it is saddled to its football agenda and their pricing structure that is giving away viewing to Virgin who have no intention of having an HD channel.

They have reitterated this in the past few days that they see no need to offer more than BBC HD and VOD programming. Because really they cannot compete with satellite for HD capacity, of course.

Whilst this governs their agenda Setanta HD will be miles off and NASN HD even further.

A US HD sports channel would be a perfect fit for Sky HDs generally better off customers and there really ought to be discussions afoot as it would help Sky sell HD set ups if this were offered and free NASN from being part of a channel structure not really interested in US sports (a charge you cannot levy against Sky).

Anyone know how tied NASN are to the Setanta package?

[Nik73]

A US sports channel on Sky would be great Jaycee. On a similar subject, the NFL is planning to bring the NFL Network to the UK and actually wanted it to start this season as a free to air channel!!
However a few problems have meant it's looking more like next year now. While chuffed, I'm a bit surprised tbh as it's still a niche sport here. Still be great.
Personally my ideal situation would be to just get the US version of ESPN. Possible but veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery unlikely.

Out of interest, does anyone know if the NASCAR is shown in HD on Sky? I've seen some of that and it looks great as well.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Nik73

Out of interest, does anyone know if the NASCAR is shown in HD on Sky? I've seen some of that and it looks great as well.

Daytona was but nothing since but the coverage on SS1 in SD is stunningly good, a huge leap over the pretty poor IRL feeds

[dpgs]

Originally Posted by uno

I see Eurosport HD are showing some Womens tennis next week from Canada in HD so that will be a nice addition and fully expect them to cover their US open matches in HD

Not sure if this is in HD or not - only says W on the epg information, unless I've got it wrong. Be pleased if I am wrong, Eurosport HD has been outstanding - a great addition to the HD lineup.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by dpgs

Not sure if this is in HD or not - only says W on the epg information, unless I've got it wrong. Be pleased if I am wrong, Eurosport HD has been outstanding - a great addition to the HD lineup.

According to DigiGuide it's SD on Tuesday, but HD later in the week!!

[dpgs]

Originally Posted by derek500

According to DigiGuide it's SD on Tuesday, but HD later in the week!!

Thanks for that. Look forward to seeing it, great news.

[cliveuk]

not nascar as such but i caught the end of a nascar advert on rush HD last night, checked the website and can only see nascar:quest for the cup so i guess that was it.
dont know if it will interest anyone

[derek500]

Originally Posted by cliveuk

not nascar as such but i caught the end of a nascar advert on rush HD last night, checked the website and can only see nascar:quest for the cup so i guess that was it.
dont know if it will interest anyone

The Nascar programme/s on Rush HD are upscaled SD.

[flushingmeadows]

[QUOTE=Boozyuzi;7423975]All 14 days of the US Open tennis on Sky will be HD starting end of August.QUOTE]

Oh no, according to Sky's website, their US Open coverage is going to be on SSX (aka Sky Sports Blurry!).

Therefore that just leaves Eurosport to provide HD coverage (which of course is stunning and most welcome!).

Does that mean Sky are getting left behind by Eurosport, remind me, who is it I actually pay my £10 per month to....?

[derek500]

[QUOTE=flushingmeadows;7441561]

Originally Posted by Boozyuzi

Does that mean Sky are getting left behind by Eurosport, remind me, who is it I actually pay my £10 per month to....?

Just checked DigiGuide. The US Open is on Sky Sports HD3, in HD!!! The HD sports channels don't always simulcast.

[Nik73]

Originally Posted by Starburst

Daytona was but nothing since but the coverage on SS1 in SD is stunningly good, a huge leap over the pretty poor IRL feeds

Just recently resubscribed to Sky for the first time on my Panasonic PX80 and have to say I'm amazed by the quality of the sports and movie channels. Watched the NASCAR tyre debacle last night and was very impressed. If they up the NASCAR and NFL in HD I may just pee my pants in excitement!

[Goodoldbakes]

Just looked on Digiguide and none of the Sunday or Monday live NFL games in September are flagged as HD...


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..!!!!!

[johnscarlet]

Moving to HD TV Programmes

[Nik73]

Originally Posted by Goodoldbakes

Just looked on Digiguide and none of the Sunday or Monday live NFL games in September are flagged as HD...


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..!!!!!

Gutted, I'm hoping they'll make an announcement one way or another during the first pre-season game on Sunday night.

[Nik73]

Got the follwing email today...............


Dear Nik

Thank you for your email about NFL.
I have today received confirmation that we should be showing the Monday night games in HD this season.
Should you have further questions of a programming or scheduling nature, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above address.

Kind regards



I say again...........

[Goodoldbakes]

Originally Posted by Nik73

Got the follwing email today...............


Dear Nik

Thank you for your email about NFL.
I have today received confirmation that we should be showing the Monday night games in HD this season.
Should you have further questions of a programming or scheduling nature, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above address.

Kind regards



I say again...........

Well, that's better than nowt although I'll be recording them all unless it's the Phins, in which case I usually make a special effort to stay up and watch live. I'm stupid like that you know....

[EEC3]

The US open will be in HD - they mentioned it after the Murray game on Sunday

Good news about the NFL - shame the Monday game is usually the one I don't watch

[uncletupelo]

Originally Posted by eec3

The US open will be in HD - they mentioned it after the Murray game on Sunday

Good news about the NFL - shame the Monday game is usually the one I don't watch

Same here. Great they have HD but I have work in the morning so never watch the Monday night game. If they could do either the Sunday 6pm or 9pm (UK Time) then that would be fantastic

[Nik73]

Sadly I got another email from Sky yesterday..........


Thanks for your most recent email about NFL.

Please accept my apologies for the misinformation in our last response. At present although we are looking into providing Monday Night matches in HD, this has not yet been confirmed.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us and should you require any further assistance with programme related issues you may wish to contact me at the above email address.

Kind regards


Still hopping and being positive!

[Goodoldbakes]

Bah!

Still, at least they got back to you after realising their mistake. Well done Sky for that.

[badkarma]

Posted a reminder in the SkyHD section but no takers but the US PGA championship starts tonight 6.30pm SS1HD

US PGA Starts this week SS1HD