ABC Sports and HD - When Will They Get it Right?

[jpdublin]

Thanks for keeping us updated and yes it would be nice to get some of the ABC College Football Games in HD.

[Scott]

Thanks for keeping us updated and yes it would be nice to get some of the ABC College Football Games in HD.

Welcome to the forum jpdublin! And yes, ABC Sports is definitely "HD challenged." I could not believe that they did not have the OSU/Texas game on in HD. If fact, I sent this letter to Stephen Ferrara, the director of ABC Sports programming the week of the game:

Mr. Ferrara -

I am writing you to express my disappointment in the decision by ABC Sports to not broadcast the Texas/Ohio State game in HDTV. I think this disappointment stretches far and wide over the ever-growing HDTV population and should be addressed by ABC Sports.

I am even more frustrated that ABC Sports--an industry leader--has chosen to broadcast only 2 other regular season games in HDTV. This logic doesn't make sense to me because both NBC and CBS Sports—ABC competitors—made a virtual leap over ABC Sports by broadcasting primetime SEC and regularly scheduled home Notre Dame match-ups in HDTV.

The game between Texas and Ohio State has been hyped with National Championship implications for months. Two National Championship contending top 5 teams, two Heisman candidates, ABC Sports moving the game to primetime—this game is a marketing dream! Yet, ABC chose to not put their best foot forward.

HDTV enthusiasts all over the United States were given a glimmer of hope when the ABC website displayed in more than one area that the game in fact was in HDTV. However, this proved to be a mistake--a mistake that still exists on the website today.

If ABC Sports wants the big games, then please give the people what they want--the best quality broadcast possible, HDTV.

Thank you,
Scott B

Of course, I never received a response, but at least it made me feel good!

[jpdublin]

That letter was great, it is unfortunate that we continue to have this issue with ABC Sports.

[Scott]

It's quite possible that ABC Sports will wait to upgrade to HD until the last day of the mandated switch. I was completely shocked to find out that they are going to have all of their BCS games in HD--the past couple of years it has only been the National Championship game.

[nakedeye]

It's quite possible that ABC Sports will wait to upgrade to HD until the last day of the mandated switch. I was completely shocked to find out that they are going to have all of their BCS games in HD--the past couple of years it has only been the National Championship game.


There is no hd mandate. as long as the individual stations braodcast in 480i ATSC they follow they letter of the law

[nate358]

I was so angry as well!!!!

[tdhdfan]

the OSU UM game was broadcast in SD on DTV - I understand that it was broadcast in HD over Insight - is this correct? Why is this different? I thought it was all dependent about WSYX?

[Scott]

tdhdfan, this is incorrect. ABC did not broadcast the OSU/UM game in HD. Hopefully, next year they will get their act together and broadcast their national matchups (at least) in HD.

[frenchophile]

FYI, the Mich-OSU game wasn't national. west coast viewers got Stanford-Cal. I don't think ABC will braodcast any college games in HD next year. They seem to focus their efforts on ESPNHD and ESPN2HD...perhaps it's part of the grand plan to take away free OTA HD. I think the masons are probably involved in this plot, too!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.