HD Sports Weekly Guide Volume 1, Issue 1: A Full Week of HDTV Sports Coverage

Volume 1, Issue # 1

I was inspired to write this first edition by an article of Tim GoodmanÂ’s in the SF Chronicle titled: “It's sports heaven -- situate rear on couch”.  The article basically describes a week on TV that sports fan will love.

I realized after reading it that most of the programs he mentioned are/were to be shown in HDTV. So I decided to find out what was really on in HD this week in sports.  Sounds simple enough.  It seems like I used to scour many a TV listing to find “maybe 1” sports show in HD over a weekend.  Now I need an Excel sheet to keep track of all of them!

The programs that I mention are (I think) all National HD feeds which are noted with the, now infamous, “may or may not be available in your area”.  There are too many local HD sports shows for me to mention today.  Future issues will go into more detail on certain sports. Well, here goes, and donÂ’t blame me if you watch more HDTV this week than your rear can take! I believe all these programs are “Live” (The program start times are, I hope, correct. Check your listings!)

Beginning Monday night it was CBS with the NCAA Finals from San Antonio TX. Coming in HDTV1080i 16:9 and as with any HD/SD simulcast with graphics framed for 4x3 (graphics are set in a bit from the edges).  I am lucky in that the local sports bar, Greens in SF, CA has HDTV. I could sit and watch how 90% of the people (packed) were watching the game on 2 (one RCA WS Tube and the other rear projector) HDTV monitors and ignoring the other 16 screens in SD. Sweet thing to see!

OK, it’s Tuesday. Now it’s ESPN-HD's turn to kick in. NCAA Women’s Final in HDTV 720p from New Orleans, LA. It’s Connecticut vs. Tennessee with a 1-hour pre-game special at 7:30pm EDT followed by the 2-½ hour game, both in HD. This will be a good chance to compare the 720p of ESPN etc. with the NCAA CBS 1080i game from Monday night.

Wednesday: no HDTV Â…. Get your chores done TODAY since we now have  light late.

 Thursday: Guess what? HD Sports rolls again. Now itÂ’s USA-HD (check your HDTV provider for USA-HD feeds, itÂ’s on INHD on many Cable systems) bringing us the first round of their 2 day coverage of the  with 2 ½ hours beginning at 4:00pm EDT. See below on Sat. for more on Masters coverage. Not a Golf fan, No problem. Unless you have had enough HDTV, because Thursday, 10:00pm EDT, INHD also brings us their first MLB game & the first of 2 games in HD this week from the Padres new Stadium in  San Diego, CA. In this Western Division match-up, itÂ’s Barry Bonds & the San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres.

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OK, this brings us to Friday.  Hhmmm choicesÂ…USA-HD continues its coverage of the Masters but program time is changed to 8:00pm.  The NBA is rolling on ESPN-HD with the New Jersey Nets vs. Indiana Pacers from Concesco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN. Starts at 8:00pm EDT also.

Saturday 3:30pm EDT itÂ’s the 68^th Masters from Augusta National, Georgia in HDTV. Check out this 3 hour program in which CBS is using 42 HD Cameras along with 10 hand-held 16x9 SD cameras. An SD 4x3 480i feed will be real time. It is the 49^th Year CBS has covered the tournament. Arnold Palmer will be playing in his 50^th and, he says “his last”, Masters.  Of course, Tiger Woods will play. (Note: USA-HD network for Thurs. & Fri coverage)

You say NO to golf. OK, how about baseball?  INHD at 4:00pm EDT has MLB "Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox”.  Oh boy, where are the eye drops!  Saturday night, from Las Vegas, NV, HBO-HD brings us Boxing at 9:45pm EDT. Heavyweights  Klitschko (42-2, 39 KOs) takes on Brewster (29-2, 26 KOs) in the 12-round main event.  On the card, Cory Spinks (32-2, 11 KOs) vs. Zab Judah (30-1, 22 KOs), 12 rounds.

Sunday well you know this one, CBS again with the MasterÂ’s Final round starts at 2:30pm. INHD has MLB, 2:00pm EDT "Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox."
 

At 4:00pm we get the first look at ESPN-HD NHL StanleyCup Playoffs, itÂ’s Conference Quarterfinals Game #3, the Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators from Gaylord Center, Nashville. Then at 8:00pm, we get to see the second HD MLB game form San Diego ESPN-HD Sunday Night MLBaseball Premier. Padres new San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres.

Well as you can see it has been a great week for HD Sports. I will be bringing you lots more HD related Sports news in the coming weeks. In the next couple of months, especially in July with FOX, the HD Sports programming will start REALLY cranking it up.

Until next time, keep watching HD Sports. Forward any comments, corrections, additional info or suggestions to Dale or me.

Tom Vrolyk

San Francisco, CA

[email protected]