Just bought a new HDTV a couple of weekends ago and I've been enjoying the MLS broadcasts on HDNet. Now I see that INHD is going to be showing the Colorado v. DC United game on June 12th. Anybody know if this is a long term plan (to show MLS games) for INHD or a one-time event? June 12th is going to be awesome: opening games of Euro 2004 at noon & 2:45p Colo v. DC on INHD at 7:30p SJ v. New York on HDNet at 10:00p My wife might as well leave the house for the weekend
I'm pretty sure that Mark Cuban (CEO of HDNet) plans on having MLS on HDNet for a long time. He is NOT interested in competing with Fox though, so don't expect to see Euro / Latin Am soccer on that channel anytime soon. So, plan on seeing HD versions of our favorite game in your Home Theater. I think HDNet is the current best (cheapest/easiest to implement) opportunity for cable and satellite providers to boost current customer base. The recent increase in consumer spending on HD compatible equipment, combined with the increase in HD programming, is a serious recipe to increase the number of subscribers that will pay for cable/sat TV and premium channels. If I could get MLS soccer package in HD, I'd pay triple what the price is today. Once you see the image quality you will too. So, I hope HDNet along with Comcast, DTV, Adelphia, etc are listening and making this happen. Huge market will erupt soon if given the chance Beast Ed
I just got HDTV but wont watch the MLS games because of Marcello Balboas commentating.The picture quality is mind-blowing and if it were just Davis calling the game that would be at least ok but Balboa takes all the pleasure out of the game for me so that the picture doesn`t even matter. Brilliant image,absolute crap commentary that does absolutly nothing to entertain me.
Go here: http://www.hd.net/contacts.html Find the Sports Producer (Dan Myers) and Director of Sports Programming (Bob Jacoby)and email them both telling them you'd like to see someone different in the booth. Jack Edwards does PbP for their hockey coverage and I've been lobbying these guys to put Jack in the soccer booth. His passion for the US team and soccer is unparalleled by anyone that has done US Soccer coverage since he left ESPN. He may not be the most eloquent commentator, but you can't argue with his enthusiasm for the Nats. Both of these guys sent me back very kind emails thanking me for the feedback.
I read on another post that Ray Hudson is gonna get back into coaching with an A-League team in his home of Ft.Laurderdale which sucks because after hearing him call games on GolTV he was incredible.Jack Edwards came in for a lot of criticism when he was doing the ESPN World Cup games and I thought it was a bit over the top to be honest,especially when tits like Tommy Smyth get free passage.Panama Jills right about Balboa though.Jeeeze,if he`s as bad as he was when he was doing games for ESPN I ain`t ever getting HDTV.
INHD is picking up all DC United games aired on Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic for the rest of the 2004 season. Look for INHD to do the same with Chicago Fire games to be aired on Comcast Sportsnet Chicago starting in the 2005 season. Eventually, there will be a Comcast Sportsnet Northern California, as Comcast continues to tighten the screws on Cablevision. Comcast wants Cablevision's regional sports business, either via a lowball acquisition or by destroying Cablevision's RSN's one by one (starting with Chicago, with Northern California the next target). You can say what you want about Comcast's predatory business practices, but Comcast is willing to spend money on regional sports production whereas Cablevision is NOT.
Basically, their notes said "Thanks for the feedback" and that they "Would take the comments into consideration in the future." One of them noted they would forward my kind words on to Jack. They also pointed out that Jack was working their NHL games and "various other projects". I'm sure they are under contract with their current team through the end of the season. It surely can't hurt for Edwards fans to write them and suggest a change for next season.
Sweet! Those are my favorite two MLS teams. I struggled long and hard as to whether or not to dump DISH for Time Warner when I bought my HDTV. Looks like maybe I made a good decision since INHD isn't available on satellite.
I don't mind Balboa because he's not so forgiving of players when they make mistakes, and is not just a rah-rah guy like Edwards. Wynalda is a better speaker and also doesn't kiss too many asses (other than Twellman). Balboa leaves a little to be desired in terms of wit, but Edwards is so annoying. He and all those overly excited twits that are just cheerleaders rather than commentators. The worst guy I've ever heard though does the Radio broadcasts for D.C. I couldn't even listen to him at all. Soccer is not a sport that does well with screamers on the radio because they can't get all the relevant information out clearly enough to paint a picture in the listener's mind. Save that crap for the goals. It's an epidemic though in the play-by-play world.
Didn't HDNet lose hockey in the NBC deal? Or did I misinterpret that? I thought NBC got the exclusive HD rights, but I'm going from memory here.
Yeah, I caught that too. That's actually what convinced me to drop HDNet a line and ask if Jack could do their soccer coverage. He seems to have grown his hair out a bit to fit in with the artsy crowd. He was promo'ing the opening of Jim Jarmusch's "Coffee and Cigarettes" and a couple of the actors from the film were laying on the praise for the director. I kept expecting Jack to interrupt with "THat's Why He's Here!"
Well, it looks like the MLB rainout yesterday will pre-empt the DC United game tonight in HDTV per this posting over at AVS Forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=411991
Hmmm...Ty Keough is in the HDNet booth tonight. No Balboa to be found (and no mention of where he is).