The wait is finally over and today's the first big Sunday of the NFL Season which means that you're probably making your last minute preparations. As far as programing goes, the NFL has done a great job of getting carriage
for its new NFL RedZone channel, but of course not everyone is going to carry it -- sorry Time Warner Cable and Bright House Network customers. So here's a run down of the Winners.
Comcast, Dish Network and AT&T U-Verse customers made out the best because all they have to is subscribe to a $5 (aprox) sports package. Verizon FiOS and RCN customers didn't make out as well though as they will have to pay $49 for the season without any other channels included -- but hey at least they got it. For the rest of you, not much you can do, just keep calling your provider and voicing your desires and in the meantime maybe someone of Twitter will hook you up with access to their
SlingBox HD.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan @ Sep 13th 2009 10:20AM
What channel is it on Comcast? Is it the same and NFL Network HD? If so, I don't have it listed on my Comcast lineup.
Will @ Sep 14th 2009 10:32AM
It varies by market, but here they moved NFL HD to channel 255, and RedZone HD is now on 256. You may want to search around if yours is not on these channels, though, as earlier this week when I contacted Comcast, they informed me our market wasn't getting HD. But on Sunday, there it was.
Dan @ Sep 13th 2009 10:23AM
err, I mean 'if not'. All I have is NFL HD.
Jon @ Sep 13th 2009 10:51AM
741
L3 @ Sep 13th 2009 12:50PM
Called and hooked it up with Dish. Adds $5.99/ month. We shall see...
Dish did mention that the Sling VIP 922 is in their training center, now. Shouldn't be too much longer!
Memo @ Sep 13th 2009 10:34PM
Great HD service and I am so pumped for the new Sling! I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I have been waiting for it since they first announced it!
Jon @ Sep 13th 2009 1:20PM
Um .. on Comast here it is not HD it seems and looks like ass
TRT @ Sep 13th 2009 1:34PM
This is the time DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers tune in to the RZC HD and their favorite team while (Hater Nation) complains about the cost! How much was that Sunday afternoon bar tab? How many police cars did you see (imagine) in the parking lot just waiting for your drunk rear end to exit the sports bar? Which audio feed were they using from the 50 TV's showing different games? Was your favorite team on the (big screen) or were you in the corner of the bar watching a 13" because that's where YOUR teams game was being shown? Say or write whatever you wish. Everyone is entitled, but; These games sound fantastic in 7.1 surround! From where I sit, The NFL Ticket is worth every penny!
Anthony @ Sep 13th 2009 1:43PM
Just added it to Comcast here in Chicago and its in SD and looks like junk.
Jason @ Sep 13th 2009 3:18PM
It's in HD on uverse. I have seen good chunks of all the games which is great.
Big Sam @ Sep 13th 2009 2:20PM
I got it and will check it out at halftime. I'm enjoying the free Sunday Ticket preview on DirecTV today :)
ShadyLPete @ Sep 13th 2009 2:50PM
Good News: I have the channel with Comcast
Bad News: Its only in SD and it looks terrible
kris @ Sep 13th 2009 2:50PM
anyboby got the channel for charter communications
Josh @ Sep 13th 2009 4:44PM
Charter, yuck dude!
Jon @ Sep 13th 2009 2:57PM
i called comcast to complain .. i think it will take more then me to get comcast to get it in HD
Michael @ Sep 13th 2009 3:18PM
Comcast in Connecticut has it in SD looks like very few Comcasts are adding it in HD and yes this SD looks terrible even worse than other SD channels
tlarkin79 @ Sep 13th 2009 3:37PM
That sucks. I was really looking forward to this channel here in CT. Way to F-up a good thing Comcast.
Michael @ Sep 13th 2009 4:52PM
Ill check again later today maybe its just taking them a whhile to flip the switch
turf @ Sep 13th 2009 4:34PM
i have it through comcast here in nashville, but i can only find it in SD.
Josh @ Sep 13th 2009 4:45PM
I got it, Dishnetwork channel 155HD
Big Sam @ Sep 13th 2009 5:02PM
I have it in HD. I cannot express how much I love the Red Zone channel. Gotta call and see if I can hustle up Superfan for free if I sign up for Sunday Ticket.
d3c0n @ Sep 13th 2009 5:16PM
Comcast Cable in Portland, OR has NFL Red Zone in SD on channel 399, you have to subscribe to the $5.99 a month sports package, I'm not paying for it until its in HD.
joelradio.net @ Sep 13th 2009 6:54PM
Have it on AT&T U-verse in Detroit in HD. It's on the premium HD tier. I think it's an extra $5/month on top of the $10 HD tech fee. It's not available in SD at all.
Still, Red Zone was pretty great today. Watched it from 4PM on and during breaks in the Lions/Saints game on FOX. When Red Zone was on the Lions/Saints game it looked a little worse than the FOX feed, but overall the PQ was very good.
The channel was akin to surfing around the various games with a remote. The channel did catch most of the big plays live, and the ones they missed you saw on tape. They also mixed in some post-game press conference clips. The host did a nice job, too.
A great addition, thanks to AT&T & the NFL.
Jon @ Sep 13th 2009 7:04PM
what i liked the best was no commercials at all .. but the no HD on comcast killed it for me in the long run .. i dont think i will watch again it unless they change it
mikeb12345 @ Sep 13th 2009 8:05PM
SD on Comcast in Boston area. Tivo showed it appeared Friday afternoon. I did just get a notice in the mail the other day about Comcast cutting down on analog channels in a few months, so maybe we'll be getting it in HD once analog is gone.
UnnDunn @ Sep 13th 2009 11:14PM
Here's my issue with NFL RedZone:
The channel only airs from 1pm to 7pm on Sundays. The same exact time NFL Network is effectively devoid of content (since it doesn't carry any actual football games on Sundays.)
Why couldn't they just put NFL RedZone on NFL Network?
Answer: because they're a bunch of greedy fuckers who figured out how to charge for two channels while only delivering one.
cypherx @ Sep 14th 2009 8:48AM
Overcompressed SD on Comcast here.
Our area has not added an HD channel since last December, unless you count a second PBS channel which pretty much shows the same thing as the first PBS channel we always had in HD.
Seriously though, Red Zone is full of macro blocking during any type of movement. Even around numbers and graphics, it's pretty awful. I've seen YouTube video's look smoother.
Will @ Sep 14th 2009 10:14AM
Comcast here in Richmond, VA is carrying it in HD (despite being told days before that we would only get SD). Picture quality was good (not quite up to par with the network games) but concept is fantastic. Six and a half hours, no commercials, saw virtually every big play and touchdown live or seconds after it happened. Will definitely be watching for the rest of the season.
cadsystems @ Sep 14th 2009 11:19AM
I was going to check it out yesterday in Richmond VA, for FIOS. No free preview. It was in the HD line of channels so I'm only assuming it was in HD. It cost 49.99 to add for the season. I didn't order it. I'm thinking about ditching cable/telephone and doing everything thru FIOS internet.
PAC NW LSU FAN @ Sep 14th 2009 11:30AM
cadsystems:
I sell FIOS for a living. If you are thinking of going all FIOS, let me know. I will hook you up with discounts Verizon does not advertise.
You will love the HD version of the RedZone if you go for it for $50. Think of it as you are paying $3.13 a week for the next 16 weeks to get every play that is going on around the league.
PAC NW LSU FAN @ Sep 14th 2009 11:28AM
I subscribed on the FIOS network. The $49.99 fee works out to under $3 a weekend. It was worth every penny. It was all in HD and I saw everything I needed to all afternoon long. I would have liked the Sunday Ticket, but I cannot get it so...what are you going to do.
This was great. Plus the audio was better on RedZone for the Seahawks games than it was on the local Fox station in HD.
BoltheadDP @ Sep 15th 2009 12:59PM
Was a Directv / Sunday Ticket customer '97-'01. Switched to Dish Network in '02 and the only thing I've missed is the Sunday Ticket. The Red Zone is AWESOME!!!! Nonstop commercial free up to date scoring coverage. Extensive live coverage of out of market games. It's like game surfing when I had the Ticket but for a fraction of the cost. I am assuming that black-out restrictions don't apply to the Red Zone like they did on the Ticket either. Over all, a great addition. THANK YOU Dish Network.
dan c. @ Sep 15th 2009 6:07PM
Behind the scenes at NFL RedZone studio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XF5KUZ4f8c