ESPN-HD Announces Cable Affiliates

[Gregg Lengling]

Greg Tarr
TWICE
3/28/2003 9:15:00 AM
   BRISTOL, CONN. — ESPN-HD, the 24/7 high-definition simulcast service of ESPN, will launch March 30th on cable systems operated by Insight Communications, Cox Communications, the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), Service Electric Cable TV, Utilacom and Comporium Communications systems, the network announced.

ESPN said affiliated ESPN-HD cable systems combined serve over 22 million subscribers, However, not all territories of each company may be capable of HD carriage on the launch date.

ESPN said it would announce additional agreements over the next several weeks.

ESPN-HD will debut at 6:30 p.m. E.T. March 30, with Baseball Tonight, live from Anaheim, site of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball telecast of the Texas Rangers at the World Series champion Anaheim Angels game at 8 p.m, ESPN-HD's first HDTV game presentation.

Over the course of the year, ESPN-HD plans to carry HDTV productions of live, high-profile telecasts including games from Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and the NCAA Women's Basketball Championships.

"The rapidly growing base of HDTV users is hungry for more high-definition content, and ESPN is committed to providing them the compelling content they seek," said Sean Bratches, ESPN executive VP, affiliate sales and marketing. "These affiliates, both large and small, have a long history of bringing customers innovative programming and services, and we are thrilled to provide a product that will generate substantial interest and demand in their markets."

[agrundman]

Here is the extremely informative reply I got from TWC re: ESPN HD (despite the fact that I specifically asked for non-canned response):

"I have recently received your email to Time Warner Cable regarding your request for ESPN in HDTV format. This programming is not yet available in Southeastern Wisconsin, nor has there been any timeline given to release this programing to our Customers. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your suggestion for channel lineup change to our Marketing Department. Thank you for your suggestion as we continue to provide the best in home entertainment.

If we can assist you with any future questions or account concerns, please feel free to call our Customer Contact Team 24 hours a day at 1-800-627-2288 or you may also visit us online at http://www.timewarnerwi.com.

Thank you for using Time Warner Cable!"


I can only hope that if we bug TWC enough they will wake up and get ESPN HD as soon as possible!  It doesn't sound like Direct TV has signed on for this coverage at this point either.

[syrett4]

I found this post on another HDTV forum:

More info from Judy at TWC Houston:


Well I did just hear that "we're close" to an agreement so I guess we just keep our fingers crossed. I'm also told that no one else has finalized an agreement with them either....no other cable companies and no satellite companies. So maybe we'll be the first!!
Judy Dunn