It’s one of the questions I get asked quite often. When will Fox Soccer Channel be available in high definition TV (HDTV)? Until now, there wasn’t a succinct answer, but we finally have good news. Fox Soccer Channel will be in HD by the end of 2010.
Multichannel News, a cable newsletter, broke the news that Fox’s television network group has decided to distribute its broadcast network and all of its cable services in high-definition within two years from now. Fox also plans on upgrading its infrastructure to double its satellite capacity.
This is wonderful news for soccer fans in North America. We got spoiled during Euro 2008 when all of the games on ESPN were in high definition. Once the change happens at Fox Soccer Channel, the only issue will be that not all of the programming is available in high definition. Some Premier League games are, but not all of them.
For Fox, the upgrade to HD will come as a significant cost. For example, its studio in Los Angeles is not wired for high definition, so the upgrades alone at its head office will be substantial.
With Fox making the move within the next two years to switch to high definition broadcasts, the pressure is now on Setanta Sports and GolTV to follow suit.
What do you think of the news, and what programming will you be looking forward to watching in high definition on Fox Soccer Channel? Click the comments link below and let us know.
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a move that is necessary for Fox to stake a claim on the future of football broadcasting. Watching football now versus in HD is like the difference between making love with or without a condom. I'm not going to say 'no', but there's really no comparison. Vision of the field is so much more realistic and the detail is phenomenal.
The comment above was hilarious. And yet, very true. Football on HD is long long overdue!
But will they still have the EPL by then? Or will ESPN outbid them?
How many games are currently broadcast in England in HD? Will that number go up in the next two years? Most live sports in America on the four networks and ESPN/TNT/etc are in HD now. Is it that way in England or in Europe in general? If not, will they be moving to that?
Except that nowhere in the article does it actually indicate that any matches will be shown in HD. FSC could have an HD feed but still show games in SD, like ESPN[2]HD often does.
That is great news for people in the US. In Australia Fox Sports currently televise 2-3 games a week in HD from the EPL and reaming are televised in a widescreen 16:9 576i picture, you also have The CC Championship which do around 2-3 games a week in HD as well.
I asked a representative from Fox Soccer Channel for more insight regarding the news, but they have no comment at this time.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
What FSC will look like program wise in 2010 is clearly up in the air. But once again for those of us who love soccer and have seen it in HD there is nothing like it. FSC takes a lot of abuse from American soccer fans and are never very quick on the draw so to speak but they eventually get around to doing something right. Good news.
All EPL matches that are produced to be shown live on Sky Sports (96 matches) and Setanta Sports (48 matches) in the UK is shot in HD.
So that's all the games minus the 3PM Saturday/Sunday kickoffs, which are shot in standard definition widescreen, although BBC and SKY share covering these games and some may well be shot in HD.
The majority of football shown live in the UK is shot in HD – Champions' League, Coca Cola Football League, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Blue Sq Premier, home internationals etc.
The Setanta games could be shot in HD but correct me if I am wrong but I do believe that Setanta presently has a HD channel up and running
Also the CC Championship currently televises 2-3 games a week in HD
suppose to say I don't think Setanta has a HD channel up and running in the UK yet
Id rather they make the channels more available before they worry about HD broadcasts…
No Setanta HD in the UK (yet) but they use HD equipment so the rest of Europe sees these games on their channels in HD
Soccer fans in North America are the most tolerant fans in the world. HD soccer programming in North America is so over due, it is pathetic. I am surprised not more people are demanding Fox to make the transition faster. In the original post, FOX bitch about HD being too expensive and “need to upgrade the wire in the studio”. HELLO! That's your problem, not MINE! What a shame. ESPN was broadcasting the Worldcup 2006 in full HD back in – 2006! Fox is now saying HD program won't come until 2010!
So why should we all get stuck with regular definition for another two freaking years? Can ESPN step up and take the broadcast right from Fox? Fox is a bunch of incompetent bearaucrats who doesn't know their asses from a hole in the ground.
I am pretty mad at the situation as you can tell. How hard it is to bring EPL, which is already produced in HD signa, to America? If Animal planet is in HD, if my freaking birthday home video is in HD, we can't even get EPL in HD? What the fuck America?
I hope more soccer fans would come out and say something!
Larry in Tucson
Larry: The name of the sport is football, ok? Maybe you don't know that, so I'll do you teh favor and teach you.
Footballer : what is your point?
Step 1 to becoming a true football fan: Learn and recognise which sport is the true Football.
It's in the Football Fan's Bible
Larry – as someone IN the broadcast industry, your comments simply REEK of someone who has no effin' clue how the whole thing works. So – here's a small lesson. FOX Sports International works on a shoe-string budget – that includes FSC. Sure – they get revenue from ad sales and paying next to nothing for 'Fox Soccer Report' (and selling ads within FSR) – but it certainly does NOT cover the cost of bringing in the games in HD. To get HD games – double your cost – period.
Now you say ESPN does it so much better. Do they really? I know LOTS of people (Check the Big Soccer boards) who RAIL against ESPN because they don't know anything about footie. Ya – they have the Champions League – but that's Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth sitting in a booth in Bristol, CT watching the game on TV and giving commentary. FSC does the same thing. And while ESPN are viewed as the BIG BOYS of Sports Broadcasting, they recognize the limited revenue stream footie can provide. Why do you think they're STILL humming and hawing about trying for EPL rights? They KNOW it's not lucrative enough to cover the cost of bringing it in. You think they make money on the Champions League? If you do – give your head a good shake. The Champions League is a money loser for ESPN. Thankfully – ESPN makes a crapload of cash off all their other sports so they can offset the operational deficit of bringing in HD games – if they choose.
But don't rail against FSC because they try to balance the books against a sport that doesn't make any money in the US & Canada. I know I'm in the minority but I think they do a FANTASTIC job of trying to grow the sport in North America. And in today's fiscal climate – FSC acting responsibly and NOT biting off more debt than they can chew (while not sacrificing their programming) is a smart move.
If you don't like what they do – there's plenty of other EPL alternatives out there. Oh wait – no there isn't!
Thanks FSC for doing what you do!
Nice to see that FSC has plans to broadcast in HD! I just got a huge plasma and the games look better on my 36″ because they are SD. BUT, 2 years?! I mean come on guys, you can do better than that….. like maybe the begining of the 2009 season?
Hopefully Setanta follows along, of course it would be nice if Comcast Cable carried it too. Might have to swith to Direct TV if Comcast doesnt add Setanta to its line up.
If the EPL get switched to ESPN you will probably have to tape games shown at 2AM. You really think that ESPN is going to show games when they can show all the other American sports (even a rebroadcast)? No, we need the EPL to stay on a channel that is dedicated to football.
I would pay $50 – $100 a month just for E.P.L. Games in HD!
I CAN'T WAIT!!! HD HD HD HD HD!!!!!!
I see Spanish League matches in HD on WorldSport HD once a week here in NYC, they look fantastic….so I know at least the Spanish League gets one HD game in per week, are ALL Spanish La Liga Games broadcast in HD?
This is fantastic news. We get to watch 2010 World Cup in HD on ESPN and then following suit, EPL & Serie A matches in HD. I really hope GOLTV can make the big switch to HD, to watch Barcelona play at the Camp Nou in HD…would be quality!
great post. I would LOVE to see English and Italian games in HD, but I am completely satsified that they are available in SD. I love the channel.
Wait, I still have to wait 2 years? I'm not impressed. The consumer still wants what he wants
Until we can get HD it would be really nice to at least get the 16:9 format.
The additional width gives a much better idea of what is happening off the ball.
I agree with Larry from Tuscon all the EPL games are all purchased from the EPL with commentators and graphics, etc. ESPN could easily purchase the HD feed and commentary rights to broadcast in the US. For all other games on FSC, yes, they'd probably need to upgrade their studio, etc.
ESPN does use commentators 'in-studio' since UEFA does not provide adequate commentators like the EPL productions does in UCL matches.
And to the remark that ESPN or ESPN2 would never broadcast games until late at night. I totally disagree, ESPN or ESPN2 has NOTHING on from 8AM-2PM hardly ever on weekends and especially not on weekdays during soccer months. If I was ESPN I'd say it would be a great business decision. Plus the NHL and EPL probably have the highest growth potential in the US.
I echo the comments about the great job FSC does. I hope we get more games in HD like everyone else, and I am sure its inevitable once the HD infrastructure becomes more pervasive on both the provider and costumer sides. We just have to be patient.
I can’t wait to see FSC in HD. The biggest deal for me will be matches at the Emirates, that pitch is beautiful and the games are always big. Beyond that, I hope there’s some setup for Lega Calcio and Futbal Argentino, can you imagine those Argentine pitches in HD? Nevermind the crowd itself, that will be incredible.
For two more year????????. I’m not satisfied with Fox Soccer Channel. I like way better ESPN, ESPN2 & Goal T.V when comes to soccer. I would like to see EPL and Italian games in HD.
? Douse England presently in HD EPL games?
AJ.
Of course, England has football in HD on SKY, BBC and others. All the major European leagues show games in HD in Europe. I have seen it in person when I was in an English pub in Madrid last April. They were showing the SKY game of Chelsea vs Man Utd in HD and it had a proper lead up to the game which is totally lacking on FSC. With FSC you get lineups and straight to commercial and come back right into the match. I was truly amazed at how good it looked in HD—-amazing ! I can’t wait for FSC and Setanta in HD but I’m not holding my breath.
I really wish they would turn FSC into Sky Sports. FSC production is so cheap.
Also Setanta isn’t even in HD in the UK or Ireland so I doubt it’ll be coming to the USA anytime soon.
Justin thanks for the Info……
All just an FYI……
ESPN’s Champions League telecasts last season were watched by an average of 255,000 households — even with matches starting at 2:45 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesdays and Wednesday (NYC). And starting in 2010, the Champions League final will be shifted to Saturday.
From the news…
Funny, just saw a commercial on Fox Sport (After the Spurs/Aston Villa game), which showed Sylvania TV’s in HD showing their NEW HD televisions. I sent a note to Sylvania telling them they just wasted their money
Now if I can get my setanta games on cable, then life would be grand.
I moved to Chicago from London last year so I’ve experienced the EPL on both sides of the pond. Yes it’s great to be able to watch it in HD but what most people post here miss is the cost difference. I pay $7.99 per month for my sports package here, with Comcast, which consists of 15 channels, including FSC. In the UK you pay about $70 + $15 monthly HD subscription cost (depending on the exchange rate) for just Sky Sports 1,2 and 3 in HD, so quite clearly we’re getting a good deal here in the US whilst our friends across the pond are getting their pants pulled down. I’m sure if everyone was willing to pay $80 a month for FSC in HD they would be delighted to do it!
My husband and I upgraded our satellite television equipment to HD back in 2006, the better to watch World Cup. We have been paying a $10 per month HD fee ever since. The only stations I watch are FSC and Setanta, so I can see Liverpool matches/EPL/Champions League/Euro 2008, etc. If ever a sport REQUIRED HD to be properly viewed, it’s football. So we pay for a service we do not receive. Why are we charged the fee when only some stations broadcast in HD? I would be willing to pay a higher fee to get HD on FSC and Setanta, though it would be nice if I could get a deduction on our monthly bill ($100) for all the channels we do not need or watch but still pay for. Packages, indeed.
It’s about time! Late even. The game while Beautiful, would be more so if presented in HD format. I would even go so far as to say that the enhanced visiual clarity will aid in the interest and overall appreciation of the game we Love.
Looks like HD is coming by the end of THIS year!
http://www.hd-report.com/2009/04/17/fox-soccer-channel-to-go-hd/
Fox Sports International said that Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) will have high definition programming by the end of this year, USSoccerPlayers.com reported today. “We understand that soccer looks great in HD. We recognize that now is the time to move on it,” said executive VP David Sternberg.
By the way, FSC has the rights to the UEFA Champions League for the next three years, as it recently outbid ESPN. Definitely explains why they’re NOW in a rush to start broadcasting in HD.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/190945-Fox_Tackles_Champions_League_Soccer_From_ESPN.php?rssid=20059
Yet still more info:
http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/fox-soccer-channel-living-up-to-its-name/?apage=4#comment-91911
- Live Studio for Pre-Game and Post-Game on Champion League match days.
- Highlight Shows will be compiled by FSC.
- FSC will show UEFA’s weekly Champions League Magazine Show (which comes out every week throughout the season, even on non-match weeks)
- Online Interactive Viewing through Foxsoccer.com
- Commentary from the stadium by English language UEFA team.
- Launch of Fox Soccer Channel HD at the end of 2009.
- HD matches to be broadcast from the start of the Champions League 09-10 season on FSN HD, and the Final Match will be broadcast on FX HD.
- Tuesday match days will have 3 live matches: One game on FSN HD, a second match on FSC (in HD starting in 2010), and a third match on FOX Sports Espanol which will have an English language audio feed that can be turned on.
- Wednesday match days will have 2 live matches: One on FSC, and the second on FOX Sports Espanol.
- Fox Soccer Channel is in 35 million homes. FSN is in 83 million homes. FX is in as many homes as ESPN (98 million homes).
- All FOX Champions League programming will be in native HD, not a up-convert that ESPN uses.
-Starting in January 2010, FSC will broadcast three English Premier League games in HD, and 4 Italian Serie A games in HD each weekend.
I think i saw the HD signal test during the premier league review show on May 25th 5:00 pm CST. I think it was during the Sunderland-Chelsea match highlights.
There was 1-2 minutes when the signal seemed to be really sharp, and the picture was not stretched. (I watch it on a wide-screen HD, and the normal FSC gets stretched). But for these 1-2 minutes, the players seemed of their normal dimensions, “taller” than usual, and the colors more brilliant. The FSC logo on right-top and the “EPL Review Show” banner on left top, also moved a bit towards the center (as is the case with all HD channels also broadcast in SD).
Then in right front of my it reverted back to their SD signal.
I am a loyal subscriber to FSC. I enjoy the coverage of the Premiership,Barca TV And WPS. I think now that the matches will be in HDTV I will enjoy it even more. Thank you .
It’s one thing for Fox to offer FSC in HD. It’s another thing for Direct TV to carry it. That’s what I want to know. When FSC broadcasts in HD, will Direct TV have it?
This is long overdue…and still not soon enough, I’m surprised that UEFA would allow Fox to win the bid for Champions League coverage in the US without the stipulation that the broadcast be in HD. That is one of the major reasons UEFA CL was so amazing on ESPN. Best sport in the world, best athletes in the sport, best teams in the sport deserves only the best picture in the world. I’m extremely dissappointed that the Fox HD switch isn’t happening tomorrow (UEFA coverage starts on Fox in a little more than a week).
Nick Webster stated on ‘Fox Football Fone-In’ this evening that the channel will begin to broadcast matches in HD in January 2010.
Now all they have to do is sort out their identity and figure out if they are a channel for ex-Brits and whether it is Soccer or Football. Once they stop trying to pushing the British pub settings or a young kids bedroom they’ll get a wider audience. That and get rid of Keith Costigan and they’ll sorted. The man is too negative on any team outside the mythical ‘top 4′ of the Premiership.
DirecTv currently has Champions League games Live & in HD on 461-469!
stamford bridge looked sharp in hd, but i did notice manchester united are not featured in any other games which is a surprise.
There are still some great games on though. espn 2 hd
2009 PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES IN HD
SAT SEP 12 LIVERPOOL V BURNLEY 9.55am
SAT SEP 19 BURNLEY V SUNDERLAND 7.40am
SAT SEP 26 PORTSMOUTH V EVERTON 7.40am
MON SEP 28 MAN CITY V WEST HAM 2.55pm
SAT OCT 3 WEST HAM V FULHAM 9.55am
MON OCT 5 ASTON VILLA V MAN CITY 2.55pm
SAT OCT 17 ASTON VILLA V CHELSEA 7.40am
MON OCT 19 FULHAM V HULL 2.55pm
SAT OCT 24 WOLVES V ASTON VILLA 7.40am
SAT OCT 31 ARSENAL V SPURS 8.40am
SAT NOV 7 WOLVES V ARSENAL* 12.30pm
MON NOV 9 LIVERPOOL V BIRMINGHAM 2.55pm
SAT NOV 21 LIVERPOOL V MAN CITY 7.40am
SAT NOV 28 ASTON VILLA V SPURS* 12.30pm
* TBD-SCHEDULED TO CHANGE
these times are all eastern standard us by the way!
I watched games on ESPN2 HD on Saturday and FSC, bouncing back and forth between the 2 channels. Big noticeable difference in picture and sound quality. ESPN 2 just came on board with HD right out of the gate and FSC are just planning to get with HD bradcasting. Borrow a feed from another Fox channel until you’re ready to go it alone. Get on with it!!
2010 for HD Broadcast on FSC??? this is way overdue!!
hey im on board with you guys…….im paying almost $200.00 us. to my cable provider service….and hey i’ve also seen games on espn2 which is hands down spectacular…then i make the switch back to fox soccer channel… it almost seems to be playing mind games with me..wondering if im watching the same 46″ plazma 1080p hdtv…. 2010 way way toooo looong for an upgrade to fsc. hd…. until these golden age goonies choose to give us hd soccer…..go on chelsea….. go blues!!!!!!!!!
No market for HD EPL? That’s ridiculous! If that’s their position, then they are simply lacking in vision (pardon the pun). And I thought that’s what Fox was supposed to have. Hey, we’re not taking about competing with the NFL here. If you broadcast in HD, there will be a profit, & it will eventually blow up. But nothing is going to happen as long as it’s only SD. Man Utd at Chelsea this Sunday in SD. That’s just a crying shame. I’m with you, Larry. NO MORE EXCUSES! The future is already here.