If you don't see the value in high-definition television because you don't watch movies or network dramas, you might be pleased to learn that programmers are gearing up for the fall and winter sports seasons with new HD offerings.
The National Hockey League last week announced that 52 games will be shown in high definition on HDNet, a network found mostly on satellite systems. Coverage begins Wednesday with Wayne Gretzky's coaching debut as his Phoenix Coyotes meet the Vancouver Canucks.
"No sport benefits as much from HDTV as hockey," HDNet president Mark Cuban said in a statement. That's pretty generous coming from Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.
The Outdoor Life Network, which will carry the NHL season in standard definition, is signing deals with some cable companies to carry NHL games in HD.
There are usually several high- definition National Football League games available each weekend. Fox typically has six Sunday games in HD, and CBS usually has three. The Sunday night game on ESPN-HD and the Monday night game on ABC also are in high-def.
Four college football games usually air each Saturday in HD - one each on CBS, ESPN-HD, ESPN2-HD and INHD. Also, Notre Dame's game is replayed on Universal HD at 10 a.m. Sunday (assuming you go to Mass on Saturday).
NBA fans will find HD games in four places this year. NBA-TV will air 96 HD games. Three networks owned by Disney - ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 - will carry a total of 90 games. All three networks have high-definition capability, but they haven't announced how many games will originate in high definition. During the first week of the season, ESPN will carry the Cavaliers game against the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs Friday, Nov. 4.
How important is sports programming to the success of high- definition television? A 2004 survey by Lyra Research showed it was the second-most important reason. On a scale of 1 to 5, men said it ranked an average of 4.46 and women ranked it 3.86. Only movies were rated higher: 4.71 for men, 4.52 for women. There was no listing for movies about sports.
Source
The National Hockey League last week announced that 52 games will be shown in high definition on HDNet, a network found mostly on satellite systems. Coverage begins Wednesday with Wayne Gretzky's coaching debut as his Phoenix Coyotes meet the Vancouver Canucks.
"No sport benefits as much from HDTV as hockey," HDNet president Mark Cuban said in a statement. That's pretty generous coming from Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.
The Outdoor Life Network, which will carry the NHL season in standard definition, is signing deals with some cable companies to carry NHL games in HD.
There are usually several high- definition National Football League games available each weekend. Fox typically has six Sunday games in HD, and CBS usually has three. The Sunday night game on ESPN-HD and the Monday night game on ABC also are in high-def.
Four college football games usually air each Saturday in HD - one each on CBS, ESPN-HD, ESPN2-HD and INHD. Also, Notre Dame's game is replayed on Universal HD at 10 a.m. Sunday (assuming you go to Mass on Saturday).
NBA fans will find HD games in four places this year. NBA-TV will air 96 HD games. Three networks owned by Disney - ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 - will carry a total of 90 games. All three networks have high-definition capability, but they haven't announced how many games will originate in high definition. During the first week of the season, ESPN will carry the Cavaliers game against the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs Friday, Nov. 4.
How important is sports programming to the success of high- definition television? A 2004 survey by Lyra Research showed it was the second-most important reason. On a scale of 1 to 5, men said it ranked an average of 4.46 and women ranked it 3.86. Only movies were rated higher: 4.71 for men, 4.52 for women. There was no listing for movies about sports.
Source
