ESPN2HD on Directv

[mrm64]

Has anyone heard any updates or received any mail from directv about ESPN2HD. Last I saw posted was September.

[borromini]

No additional news...please stand by.

[mrm64]

Thanks we will keep watching. Hey I am also a huge Vikings fan. I have followed them since 1970. Should be a fun and successful year in Viking land this year. Hopefully that new defensive will rise up and lead us to our first SuperBowl victory. I hope it's against the Steelers because we have some payback coming!

[cbfjeff]

Just saw on this website that it is Sept 8. Read this...

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/news.php

[mrm64]

Thanks for the link.

[Smthkd]

HERES D* OFFICIAL RELEASE!

For Immediate Release,
August 24, 2005


DIRECTV Delivers First Nationwide Distribution of ESPN2 HD
ESPN2 HD to LAUNCH on DIRECTV SEPTEMBER 9

El SEGUNDO, CA and BRISTOL, CT August 24, 2005 – ESPN2 HD, a high-definition simulcast of ESPN2, will be available for the first time nationwide Friday, Sept. 9 via DIRECTV, the nation’s leading digital television service provider. The launch of ESPN2 HD will coincide with the college football match-up between Pittsburgh and Ohio at 8 p.m. EST.

ESPN2 HD will be available on DIRECTV channel 72 and added to the DIRECTV® HD Package, at no additional cost. The DIRECTV® HD Package currently includes ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater™, HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD, and is available by subscription for $10.99 per month.

ESPN2 HD recently announced new content from the US Open Series in tennis, The Little League World Series and the Men’s U.S. National Soccer Team, in addition to its coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Hot Rod Association.

“We are pleased that DIRECTV fans will now have the opportunity to see the quality games and events not only on ESPN HD, but now on ESPN2 HD,” said Sean Bratches, president, Disney and ESPN Networks, affiliate sales and marketing. “With over 450 events slated for 2005 across both of our HD services, ESPN2 HD has clearly become a ‘must have’ in our HD fans’ eyes, making the service a real value for our affiliates.”

“The launch of ESPN2 HD gives our sports and HD fans the same programming they love in the best television quality available and also reinforces DIRECTV’s commitment to providing the most compelling HDTV content available,” said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisitions, DIRECTV, Inc. “DIRECTV was the first to launch an HDTV channel for customers back in 1998, and we intend to remain a leader in this new and developing technology.”

“From our first high definition telecast 29 months ago, we have worked from a ‘quality first’ concept as we have selected events for telecast on our two HD services. The new sports we have slated to appear on ESPN2 HD, give us a tremendous opportunity to open the door to new owners of high definition sets, and let them see what they have been missing,” said Bryan Burns, vice president strategic planning and business development, ESPN. “We continue to increase our commitment to high definition and make ESPN2 HD a must have for our distributors and fans.”

In addition to the DIRECTV® HD Package, DIRECTV customers with HD-enabled equipment can also receive HBO® HDTV and SHO® HD as part of their premium package subscriptions, as well as High-Definition Pay Per View movies for $4.99 each (when ordered by remote).

ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD
ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will combine to deliver over 450 major events plus over 2,000 programs totaling more than 6,000 hours in high definition in 2005. The ESPN Digital Center, a 120,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, all digital high-definition facility at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn., began operation on June 7, 2004. The building contains over seven million feet of cable and three HDTV studios that are home to ESPN Bristol-based studio shows - SportsCenter, NFL Countdown, NFL Primetime, NFL Live, Monday Night Countdown and Baseball Tonight. All high-definition programming on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD is delivered to cable systems and satellite providers in the 720p high-definition format.

[ivanl]

smthkd,

Where did you find that press release? Is there a link you can provide? I cannot find it on the DTV web site or the ESPN web site. I am going to check yahoo financial now.

[Smthkd]

I got from my friend who works for D*. I also saw that it was posted on the DBSForum!

PLUS!!! Heres D* Newly release today on their website:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....9496&highlight=

[Smthkd]

Now we need TNTHD!!!!

Heres a Schedule for ESPNHD & ESPN2HD:

http://media.espn.com/MediaZone/Pres...h/schedule.htm

[daveinva]

I checked the link.
WORDUP!
(Finally some new hd content, hopefully more where that came from)

[mrm64]

Thanks for the links. Yes we do need TNTHD. It seems like Directv could add TNTHD also. Have you heard if there are any talks between Directv and TNT to make this happen.

[Smthkd]

Originally Posted by mrm64

Thanks for the links. Yes we do need TNTHD. It seems like Directv could add TNTHD also. Have you heard if there are any talks between Directv and TNT to make this happen.

I have no more info about TNTHD than what people have all ready posted in the past, but the last rumor I heard from my source is theirs a possibility that we will see it around Nov. however this is only a rumor and will reamin as that! I do not intend this statement to go any further than that! I just hope we get it this year!

[hdtv4me2]

I wonder what the E* subscribers are saying?

[bobbeck]

They are saying , Please Charlie give it to me, and while your at it how about doing what ever it takes to get comcast sportsnet philadelphia before i am forced to switch to cable so i can catch every Sixers game.

[leww37334]

I thought wow this is great, another Directv HD channel and then I asked myself "When was the last time I actually watched ESPN2?"