"D" Nfl Network in HD

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News
DIRECTV Will Carry NFL Network Games In HDTV
The satcaster confirms an earlier report by TVPredictions.com.
By Phillip Swann
 
Washington, D.C. (November 20, 2006) -- DIRECTV confirmed tonight that it will carry the NFL Network's 2006 regular season games in High-Definition TV, beginning with the Thanksgiving night broadcast between Denver and Kansas City.

You will not need a subscription to DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket to watch the games in high-def.

Based on two sources close to the situation, TVPredictions.com reported last month that DIRECTV would broadcast the games in HD. However, the satcaster had not publicly confirmed that until now.

For the first time, the NFL Network has the rights to broadcast eight regular season games. The channel will air seven more games after Thanksgiving night -- four on Thursday nights and three on Saturday nights.

The eight games will be shown on NFL Network HD, the channel's high-def feed, as well as its non-HD channel.

However, DIRECTV currently does not carry NFL Network HD, which left many fans wondering if the satcaster would broadcast the games in HD. But DIRECTV spokesman Robert Mercer said the games would air in high-def on channel 95, the satcaster's channel for special HD events.

EchoStar, DIRECTV's main satellite rival, added NFL Network HD to its lineup of high-def channels earlier this year.

Cable operators, including Comcast, are also expected to broadcast the NFL Network games in HD. But some cable companies are still negotiating for the rights to air the contests.