No HD games on MASN for 2008

by duck on Feb 1, 2008 12:40 PM EST in News & Rumors

Well, it's looking like the only two baseball teams in MLB that won't have games carried in HD in 2008 will be the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals. MASN made a vague statement about carrying HD programming in 2008, but as I said then, they didn't committ to showing GAMES in HD.

With as bad as this team is going to be in 2008, maybe this isn't such a bad thing. But c'mon, the ROYALS and the RAYS get games in HD locally, and we don't?

Update [SC]: Todd Webster of MASN sent this article along to me, and it contains some more information on the HD story.

Many Nats and O's fans have expressed their displeasure on baseball message boards -- and in e-mails sent to TVPredictions.com.

But Todd Webster, a MASN spokesman, told TVPredictions.com today that the regional sports network is still talking to cable and satellite operators about providing high-def coverage this season.

"We're still planning for some (Nats and O's) games (in HD) this season," he said. "We're working with the affiliates (cable and satellite operators) to expand their capability for (MASN in HD.)

But Webster acknowledged that "not much has changed in the last six months" in those discussions. "But we are still trying to work it out."

The regional sports network told the Baltimore Sun last year that it might offer high-def coverage of the Nats and Orioles this year. But today, less than two months before the 2008 season begins, the network has still not announced its high-def plans.

Every other MLB team has already announced that its regional sports network will provide some games in high-def this year, including the Kansas City Royals, which were not broadcast locally in high-def last year.

Webster said it's still possible that MASN could make a HD announcement by Opening Day.

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Comments

I don't have HD

and thus this has never really affected me. But my parents have a very nice HD tv, and the standard MASN feed on the HD tv is just awful. When they want to watch the Orioles game (which isn't as often as me, admittedly), they watch on their old, smaller tv so that the picture looks decent.

I don't understand why MASN can't man up. What's the deal?

Well, this winter brilliantly encapsulates the problem at the top that's made the O's sort of a joke franchise for roughly a decade now. ~Rob Neyer

by Stacey on Feb 1, 2008 12:55 PM EST reply actions

a guess

MASN was a rushed, greedy project and the folks involved with putting it together did not have proper time to get everything on the technical side in order for the launch.

At the same time, Comcast wasn't going to do anything with the Nationals, which was fucking stupid, so MASN's quick launch was sort of necessary.

All the people I've ever dealt with at MASN are super friendly and helpful. They link CC from their site despite the fact that most of the MASN talk here is bitching about the poor picture quality of the broadcasts.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Feb 1, 2008 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

dudes...

this is some ghetto-ass bullshit.

keep in mind i HATE comcast, but comcast sportsnet hd is pretty sweet.

So, I said, uh, lama: how about a little something for the effort?

by jq higgins on Feb 1, 2008 1:00 PM EST reply actions

comcast

Can gargle my balls. They'll never get another dime of my money.

But, on topic, yes, MASN does need to sack up & get the freaking HD done already.
It's 2008. Catch up.

Our fans are better than yours.

by OEutaw on Feb 1, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions

think about it

What motivation does MASN have to add HD? What are we gonna do, watch the Orioles on a different network?

Purchasing HD equipment would be a pretty big expense that might not be cost-effective right now.

Anyone who still watches the Orioles on a regular basis isnt going to stop because of HD.

by nittany lion on Feb 1, 2008 1:50 PM EST reply actions

legally...

don't they have to be broadcasting in HD by next march?

So, I said, uh, lama: how about a little something for the effort?

by jq higgins on Feb 1, 2008 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

I believe

that only applies to actual broadcasting over the airwaves, not cable.

"Everyone always says 'You don't have to do this.'"

by Jonnypops on Feb 1, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Actually...

It's not required to be in HD next March, just digital, which they already do.

by Chanumas on Feb 1, 2008 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

A few years back, when the networks were just starting to air shows in HD, Fox decided only to broadcast them in "Fox Digital". Which, uh, was NOT in HD, but perfectly within the digital broadcasting law. I guess that didn't last long, because they're definitely in HD now.

480p FTL.

by PhilR8 on Feb 1, 2008 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Nope

The 2009 deadline is a requirement for a DIGITAL signal, which is not necessarily a HD signal. For example, the FOX affiliate in Salisbury is carried on a digital signal, but it isn't in HD.

And the deadline does apply only to OTA (over the air) broadcast signals - the UHF and VHF bands, iirc.

I remember 14 straight foul balls in one at-bat. Do you?

by duck on Feb 1, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

MASN is staying green.

I read that in general HDTV requires more energy to produce the higher picture clarity. Add to that the move to big and bigger screen TVs and and the energy consumption by TVs is expected to take a big jump. Stats I read said TVs consume 4% of current residential energy bills and that number is expected to jump by about 50% in the next two years.

MASN is doing their bit to stem the tide of global warming.

"This is Birdland"

by drj on Feb 1, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Peter Angelos squashes the Nats again

He cornered them when they made a TV deal a few years ago and now he is holding them back from getting HD, because I am sure that if they were not in this with Angelos we would be the only team without HDTV.

Tom Murphy: The Secret weapon of the '99 Orioles.