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View Full Version : Shame Shame on Networks


mgd2win
06-16-2005, 02:50 PM
I can not believe that ESPN and NBC are not showing the US Open in HD --- unbelievable !!!

One of the larger sporting events and both networks dropped the ball. The USGA is also to blame for not forcing them to do so.

Good thing The Masters does it own thing and they even paid for the HD production and covered the advertising revenue themselves the last 2 years and still made money. Guess we will just have to wait until next Masters for golf in HD

NBC & ESPN must be pinching pennies trying to figure out how they are gonna pay for thier NFL deals --- still won't help they are going to lose big $$$ on the NFL, 6 years at 600 Million --- even if they do 16 games a year they have to make 6.25 mil a game to cover the NFL payment alone. Not going to happen.

shame on both....getting down off soap box now !!!

Dknow
06-17-2005, 07:09 AM
I couldn't agree more. I actually was looking forward to the US Open in HD all week because I just assumed a championship event like this would be in HD. They suck!

Harry
06-17-2005, 06:34 PM
It is bad to have no HD for a premeir event like the US open. Of course it is no different than ABC not doing the BCS or any college football in HD. I can't believe it is that much more expensive to do HD than SD.

Harry

mgd2win
06-22-2005, 09:04 PM
The networks back haul and distribution HD capabilities are obviously in place but the actual on site production costs for HD vs SD is extremly more $$$.

I have actually engineered a couple of Golf Tourney on site productions (SD at the time) and next to the Olympics it is one of the most diffulcult on site production that can be done especially complete 18 hole coverage. The amount of cameras, cabling, VTR,s, personnel, large area and in some cases RF relay with a tethered mini blimp all add to the problems.

All that said I still stick by my original post that it was a very bad call for the networks not to show this event in HD. After all they spend alot of money just for the rights to air the major events. Ok dont show the weekly PGA in HD but the Majors come on !!!