Hockey is a lot better on HDTV. It's still not as good as live. It's really key to see how plays are being set up in the neutral zone when the defensemen clear the puck to them. This works better in HD than in SD, but is still better live.
I think that Versus getting the NHL contract has been a big factor. Versus actually shows a lot of games. When ESPN had the NHL they showed maybe two games a week. But Versus shows a lot of them, and much of the time in HD (if you have Comcast or DTV). What hasn't been useful at all has been the NHL network. They loop their programming so often. And although they have an HD channel, they don't seem to have HD production facilities. I can watch a game in HD on Versus, then switch over to NHL network HD and they are replaying the highlights in SD, with bards on the side.
I find "saved" to be a bit hyperbolic, given that the NHL has added more teams than any other US major-league sport in the last 20 or even 40 years.
back in the day, ESPN showed a few games, but ESPN2 showed doubleheaders pretty much every other night (i'm talking 1996ish). however, ESPN2 wasn't even on my standard tier of service.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 15th 2008 11:00AM
Hockey is a lot better on HDTV. It's still not as good as live. It's really key to see how plays are being set up in the neutral zone when the defensemen clear the puck to them. This works better in HD than in SD, but is still better live.
I think that Versus getting the NHL contract has been a big factor. Versus actually shows a lot of games. When ESPN had the NHL they showed maybe two games a week. But Versus shows a lot of them, and much of the time in HD (if you have Comcast or DTV). What hasn't been useful at all has been the NHL network. They loop their programming so often. And although they have an HD channel, they don't seem to have HD production facilities. I can watch a game in HD on Versus, then switch over to NHL network HD and they are replaying the highlights in SD, with bards on the side.
I find "saved" to be a bit hyperbolic, given that the NHL has added more teams than any other US major-league sport in the last 20 or even 40 years.
teej @ May 15th 2008 2:47PM
back in the day, ESPN showed a few games, but ESPN2 showed doubleheaders pretty much every other night (i'm talking 1996ish). however, ESPN2 wasn't even on my standard tier of service.