Boo for 53 - No Indians OTA Home Games to be in HD

[esb100]

All Indians home games, including those broadcast OTA, are to be in HD. I spoke to Ch. 53's engineer today, who told me that the station would not be broadcasting any of its games in HD, as this would entail extra costs. I'm disappointed in Channel 53 for this decision and in Sportstime Ohio for contracting the OTA games to an affiliate which refuses to run the home games in HD.

[bucketosand]

I don't think I've ever seen HD programming from them. If they're going to be so picky about the extra costs of HD, why do we even have the channel? What a waste...

Why can't WKYC get...I don't know...maybe their NBC Columbus affiliate to show the games?

[spudohio]

I sent an e-mail using to the "Contact Us" page on the WWHO website asking about the Indians games. This is the response I received today:

Thanks for your e-mail.

According to my current info, WKYC does NOT distribute an HD feed to stations outside Cleveland that are carrying the Indians schedule. We are looking into the possibility of having games in HD near the end of the season, but my guess is that it may take until next year for the feeds and special equipment to be in-place.

Broadcast and cable networks have established HD delivery systems, but "syndicated" programs are running behind in setting up HD distribution. The same situation affects the ESPN College Football and Basketball games that we carry----ESPN may produce games with HD equipment, but they do not have the capability to send them out to stations in HD. They make an exception with pre-season NFL Football, since the high license fees cover the extra expense of HD. I think this situation will change over the next year, and you will see an increase of non-network programming in HD..

Thanks again for your interest in our programming.

Lance Carwile
WWHO Programming

Guess we are going to have to wait until next year........

[willcail]

I'm dissapointed. I find out that they did air Zulu in its correct aspect ratio. Was it in HD no. 16:9 image in a 4:3 window box. Ghaaaaaaaa. They do air CW reruns in its correct format, somewhat. If Sinclair is going to spend money to air some of its programming in HD why can't 53?