View Full Version : Time Warner Cable and the "get ESPN2 HD added" campaign
Pingudo
20 Apr 2006, 11:56 AM
I contacted Fred Dressler, corp VP of programming for Time Warner and he said they're still in negotiations with Disney, but there's hope TWC might get ESPN2HD added in time for the World Cup.
Magpie Maniac
20 Apr 2006, 07:18 PM
I contacted TWC earlier this week about the same thing. No timetable given.
BSjanitor
20 Apr 2006, 08:30 PM
That's been the word from Dressler since January... in negotiations, but no date. It would be really awesome to get it before the CL final. Is there anything else we can do other than e-mail this one guy? It doesn't seem to help much. Can ESPN be prodded somehow?
What big cable companies do have ESPN2HD? Cox? Charter? Comcast doesn't, I know.
dncm
20 Apr 2006, 09:54 PM
What big cable companies do have ESPN2HD? Cox? Charter? Comcast doesn't, I know.
I have Charter and I have been asking them to add ESPN2HD, but I keep getting the same answer everyone is getting: they are working on negotiations, they care about my request, etc, etc. I have even just kept asking that they at least add it temporarily.
Fingers crossed, but I have my drop dead date where I don't think they will get it, and I will have to call DirectTV or Dish.
BSjanitor
26 Apr 2006, 04:50 AM
Somebody e-mailed my local Time Warner Cable about getting new HD channels and the response was that there is a requirement that 50% of a channel's programming to be actual HD before they'll add an HD channel. Maybe that is a TWC corporate policy, or maybe it's just local, but ESPN2HD doesn't currently come even close to making that 50% (which it should during the WC)... I've pretty much lost all hope of seeing those 31 games in HD, but we'll keep an ear to the ground.
dncm
26 Apr 2006, 10:23 AM
... I've pretty much lost all hope of seeing those 31 games in HD, but we'll keep an ear to the ground.
Agreed. Charter has basically said the same thing. I'll probably try to hit a bar for the big games on ESPN2HD during the first round: Opening game, US/Ghana, etc. Then watch any other first round games on regular ESPN2.
Pingudo
27 Apr 2006, 12:48 PM
I keep hearing they'll have it soon. As to how soon it's anybody's guess.
Pingudo
10 May 2006, 12:03 PM
Latest reply from Dressler:
We are working as hard as we can to get ESPN2 HD for you, but I can't promise it will happen in time. I hope you'll stick with us.
BSjanitor
10 May 2006, 06:28 PM
It's not going to happen:
Still, we are hopeful to add espn2hd this year, regretfully that is
likely to be after the world cup.
All we can do is cross our fingers.
midnightman
11 May 2006, 09:01 PM
There will be 31 matches on ESPN2!!!
:(
OldFanatic
12 May 2006, 02:10 AM
There will be 31 matches on ESPN2!!!
:(
Got ESPN2-HD well in advance on DISH, baby!!! ESPN2-HD will absolutely rock next Wednesday for Champions League final!!!
midnightman
12 May 2006, 04:46 PM
Got ESPN2-HD well in advance on DISH, baby!!! ESPN2-HD will absolutely rock next Wednesday for Champions League final!!!
Ronaldinho on high-def... not a pretty sight!
OldFanatic
13 May 2006, 02:53 PM
Ronaldinho on high-def... not a pretty sight!
Oh and he would be a pretty sight, come World Cup?
Sour grapes? ;)
SoccerSD
15 May 2006, 02:15 PM
Just learned of no ESPN2-HD after picking up my HD-DVR box and adding the VIP HD package this past weekend...so the Czech match won't be in HD, this BLOWS!!!!!!
I can't believe after all that friggin' advertising that it won't get done in time.:mad:
BSjanitor
15 May 2006, 08:49 PM
I can't believe after all that friggin' advertising that it won't get done in time.:mad:
What "all that friggin' advertising"?
Jabinho
15 May 2006, 09:04 PM
What "all that friggin' advertising"?
I'm sure he means all the ads on the ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 stating all 64 matches will be in HD..
For them people putting pressure on the providers is a good thing as it helps them in their negotiations, though I'm not sure how much of a crowd is pressuring the providers...;)
dncm
15 May 2006, 09:07 PM
I have been still hounding Charter, and while I haven't got an official "not in time" statement - I have to say I have zero confidence they will pull it off.
There's no way Charter gets it, and not Comcast or TW.
BSjanitor
16 May 2006, 04:14 AM
I'm sure he means all the ads on the ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 stating all 64 matches will be in HD..
For them people putting pressure on the providers is a good thing as it helps them in their negotiations, though I'm not sure how much of a crowd is pressuring the providers...;)
Let's try some (very tongue-in-cheek) calculations ;)
about 5 million people will watch more than 2-3 World Cup games.
~ 5% of those people will make sure to watch in HD when they can: 250K
~ 10% of the HD people care that they won't get ESPN2 games in HD: 25K
~ 1% of those will complain: 250 people
mighty pressure ESPN is putting on the cablecos... :rolleyes:
midnightman
03 Jun 2006, 11:30 AM
Any news yet?
BSjanitor
03 Jun 2006, 06:20 PM
Any news yet?
Same old. A week away, I think I can safely write that if your only programming provider is Time Warner Cable, you ain't getting ESPN2HD in time for WC. Even the possibility of a last-minute arrangement looks shot because by the time the local TWCs added the channel the group stage would probably be over.