All PGA events in 2007 will be HD

[Skaggs]

During an interview, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem stated that all 2007 weekend broadcasts will be in HD. The complete interview can be read here.

The next thing I'd mention -- I should mention, also, HD television. Every weekend we'll be on HD next year. 16 or 17 percent of American households today are HD capable. By the time our network agreements run in 2012, that will be in the 60 percentile. If you just go down to your local electronics dealer and look at where the prices are going on HD television, it's becoming -- it will be mainstream in a very short period of time.

And of course I think for our sport in particular, perhaps only hockey rivals, I think, the impact that HD television will have on viewer enthusiasm for a sport on television, and we're very excited about that development.

[Skaggs]

PGA Makes Move into HD History

CBS Sports this weekend will make HD history when it uses wireless HD transmission systems from Link HD Wireless to deliver HD signals from cameras during the Buick Invitational, the PGA Tour season opener in Torrey Pines, Calif.

Broadcasting an entire golf event in HD has been a challenge for networks because a large portion of the coverage is done via handheld cameras scattered over the thousands of yards that comprise a golf course.

With the exception of The Masters in Augusta, GA, where fiber cable has been laid into the ground to keep the course looking pristine, most tournaments rely on wireless transmission to get the signals back to the production truck.

And it wasn’t until last year that manufacturers of transmission gear figured out how to transmit HD wirelessly.

“It’s exciting to be starting anew in PGA golf,” says Chuck Scoggins, PGA Tour Productions, VP Operations. “I believe our sports offers a better experience in HD than a lot of other sports.”
Microwave Radio Communications (MRC) division Broadcast Sports Incorporated (BSI) will provide the Link HD Wireless Camera Transmit Systems to CBS.

A “shoot-out” of various systems was held last August and there was also testing at CBS in New York City. The Link system chosen achieves the lowest end-to-end HD encode/decode latency currently available in the industry at less than 50ms.

During the course of the season CBS Sports will use between six and 14 wireless systems. Production truck vendor National Mobile Television is also involved, having just finished construction of HD12, a three-trailer mobile unit loaded with HD gear that CBS will use for golf coverage and also college hoops and NFL games.

John Kemps, NMT chief engineer, says, “Everything about the unit is for speed of set-up and ease of use,” All the trailers will be connected via fiber, helping the Sony MVS-8000A production switcher and 20 Sony HD cameras pull in signals from the different production areas located in each truck.

[Skaggs]

Thursday & Friday rounds are also available in HD on Versus/Golf Channel. Please read the press release below and note the highlighted text. I sent an email to both Albany TWC and TWC Corporate HQ two weeks ago asking why we don't have this channel available since it is available it at no additional cost. TWC Albany replied and said they were checking with their corporate office.

Comcast to Launch New HD Channel
By James Hibberd Television Week

Comcast is about to announce the creation of new high-definition cable channel combining content from its Versus and Golf Channel brands.

Beginning in January, the new network will simulcast Golf Channel programming by day and Versus (formerly OLN) content by night. Comcast, which owns both networks, plans to call the channel Golf Channel/Versus.

The channel will join Comcast's lineup of networks consisting of E!, Style, Golf Channel, Versus, G4 and regional sports outlets. Comcast has a commitment from DirecTV to start carrying the new channel some time next year. Comcast will gradually begin rolling out the new network on its own systems starting in January, a Versus executive said.

Golf Channel/Versus will represent an unusual entry among HD networks. Most cable brands launch either a simulcast HD network (such as ESPN and TNT), or a stand-alone channel that combines content from several brands (such as Discovery HD Theater and MTV's MHD).

By mixing content from two channels, yet airing as a simulcast during different times during the day, Golf Channel/Versus aims for the best of both worlds.

"We think this is the simplest, easiest and best way to go right now," said Marc Fein, senior VP of programming and production for Versus.

Mr. Fein said Comcast decided to combine the channels because that solution gives bandwidth-strapped carriers more incentive to offer the HD service—which is free to cable and satellite operators that currently run Versus and Golf Channel.

By running a simulcast feed, Comcast hopes to decrease viewer confusion, Mr. Fein said.

"If you want to watch the hockey game, you can see it in either standard definition or HD at the same time," he said.

Under the Versus brand, the channel will initially offer HD hockey, boxing, bull riding and field sports, which will air from 7 p.m. to midnight. Executives still haven't decided whether Versus's tentpole event, the Tour de France, will be available in HD, as the network relies on a feed from an overseas partner, Mr. Fein said.

"There have been good conversations; it is possible," Mr. Fein said.

Golf Channel programming will include an exclusive HD airing of the PGA Tour and hundreds of hours of play from other tournaments, and will run from noon to 7 p.m.

On Comcast's cable systems, the new channel will take the place of INHD 2, which is being combined with INHD in January after being slowly phased out on several systems.