New HD Sports on "D"

[Chinatown]

New HD Sports on "D"

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 DIRECTV Expands HD Sports Programming with MLB Games from Regional Sports Networks; HD Games Now Available in 13 Major Markets; Six More Markets to Launch in Coming Weeks

E-mail | Print | | Disable live quotes Last Update: 4:42 PM ET Jul 10, 2006


EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jul 10, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV is stacking the lineup with more HD sports programming by delivering Major League Baseball games produced in HD by regional sports networks (RSNs) in 19 major markets.
DIRECTV is now broadcasting all MLB games produced in HD from the following RSNs: FSN Prime Ticket (Los Angeles Dodgers), FSN West (Los Angeles Angels), FSN Bay Area (San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's), FSN South (Atlanta Braves), FSN Houston (Astros), FSN Detroit (Tigers), FSN Florida (Marlins, Devil Rays), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland Indians), FSN North (Minnesota Twins), FSN Northwest (Seattle Mariners), FSN Arizona (Diamondbacks), FSN Rocky Mountain (Colorado Rockies) and Turner South (Atlanta Braves).
On July 18, HD MLB games from YES Network (Yankees) and FSN Southwest (Rangers HD games will be seen only in the Dallas DMA) will be available, as well as a continuous 24/7 HD feed from NESN HD (Red Sox). In August DIRECTV will deliver HD MLB games from SportsNet New York (Mets), as well as continuous 24/7 HD feeds from Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic HD (Orioles) and Comcast SportsNet Chicago HDTV (Cubs, White Sox).
The RSNs' HD games will be broadcast by DIRECTV via a local market spot beam, and as a result, the RSN programming will be available only to those customers who live within the local DMA (designated market area) spot beam and the RSN team territory. The games will be available at no extra charge.
In addition to the MLB games, DIRECTV will also carry NHL and NBA games that are televised on the RSNs when their seasons start in the fall.
"If we hear one thing from our HD customers, it's 'give us more sports programming in HD,' and we plan to do that throughout the year, beginning with more Major League Baseball games in HD via the RSNs in several of the largest markets," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. "With all of the regional sports networks' games produced in HD -- including MLB, NHL and NBA, and the more than 110 NFL games DIRECTV will broadcast in HD this fall, we'll offer fans the best selection of HD sports programming available anywhere."
Customers who live within the RSN team territory and the spot beam area will also be required to have the H20 (MPEG4 compatible) HD receiver along with a five LNB dish to receive the RSN's HD programming. The HD games will be available on viewer channel 96 or 97 in each market, and the 24/7 RSNs will be seen on a separate channel that will have the same viewer channel number as their standard definition feed. For customers outside the spot beam, select HD games may be available on channel 95.
Customers can visit DIRECTV.com to determine if they are within the team territory and spot beam and can receive the games.

[the_heller]

Doesn't do us in the Milwaukee area any good (yet).

[Chinatown]

Is what they told me regarding Fox North. In addition, to upgrade to the H20, the cost is $120.00. However, they did say that Fox & ABC East would be retained, through a grandfather clause. Still mulling the choice.

[Joseph S]

They should all join together like NFL for MLB package. I get YesHD and NESNHD right now because of DMA, would probably qualify for SNY too. Although if I was still there I would gladly pay $150 a year for all MLB games in HD on EI package, probably $300.