Wow this thread is long. I tried to read it all to get my answer but I got lost along the way.

Question: Is the score HD available now? If not, what is the ETA?

Wow this thread is long. I tried to read it all to get my answer but I got lost along the way.

Question: Is the score HD available now? If not, what is the ETA?

Try channel 507. It's included in the "free" channels; you don't need to subscribe to the HD Specialty Pack to get it.

Try channel 507. It's included in the "free" channels; you don't need to subscribe to the HD Specialty Pack to get it.


Thx we are doing a transitional rollout due to New Technology applications. Please be patient during this phase I will let you all know when we will be officialy up where we will be carried and what our mission stament will be to you.

Thx SB

I guess Scoreboard forgot about us as this was released this morning

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - The Score Television Network has launched
Canada's first HD sports channel with a constant widescreen image.
The Score HD is now available to Rogers Digital Cable HDTV customers on
channel 507. Televising a combination of native HD programming and content
converted with state-of-the-art active pan-and-scan technology, the Score HD
will broadcast in 720p widescreen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Score Television Network is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Score Media
Inc. (TSX: SCR.SV).
"This is the first phase of our long-term HD vision," says David
Errington, SVP and General Manager, The Score Television Network. "The next
step will be the development of The Score's HD studio in 2007, which will give
us the ability to produce many of our own shows in native HD."
The Score HD will feature the same line-up of programming as the standard
channel, but viewers will now be able to experience the channel in a more
vibrant, 16:9 aspect ratio all the time. Leading-edge software resizes the 4:3
image found on standard definition television.
"The image will be a noticeable improvement over our standard definition
image, " says Brad Keay, VP Operations & Engineering, The Score. "Our
up-conversion process will virtually eliminate common morphing issues when
converting 4:3 to 16:9. Utilizing an active pan-and-scan technology results in
an image far closer to native HD than current technology being deployed in
Canada today."
The Score's first native HD telecasts will be during the NBA playoffs and
will be confirmed when the schedule is released. The Score will convert its
current line-up of in-house programs while it converts its studio to HD over
the next year.
"Viewers have told us that they prefer it when they don't have to stretch
their channel to fit their widescreen television," says Anthony Cicione, VP
Programming & Production, "It certainly would have been easy to window-box the
standard definition content like other HD channels, but we pride ourselves on
thinking like sports fans. So, we pushed ourselves to come up with a solution
that would give Canada's hardcore sports fans a high quality, widescreen image
all the time."
The Score HD will be available as part of the Rogers Digital Cable HDTV
channel line-up, meaning that every HD subscriber will have access to the
channel at no additional charge. The Score is currently negotiating with other
cable and satellite television providers to add The Score HD to their services
as quickly as possible. Further announcements will be made as details are
finalized.

Interesting no HD programming!

Interesting no HD programming!

this is one GIGANTIC waste of bandwidth

I am watching now and going back and forth between the Score HD and teh Score in stretched mode.

Frankly the ticker looks better (presumably because its not being stretched on the WS channel) but the Picture quality at 8 to 10 feet on my 50" HDTV looks pretty much the same.

Give them a little time people, it's just launching. Nice to hear they'll be doing some NBA playoffs in HD.

I guess Scoreboard forgot about us as this was released this morning



Interesting no HD programming!


Actually Hugh I was having Dental Surgery.

In your zeal to point out that we have no HD I guess you must have missed the part about NCAA and NBA Games in Native HD also check your program guide for future HD events as I said before we will be using a combination of Native and upconverted material the Upconverted material will be done in 16x9 as described in the press release. We have done our home work and their majority of viewers that own 16x9 displays prefer to fill the screen. We have addressed this using Broadcast Quality Gear rather than the 65 dollar ATI scaler in your display. I hope that you can find native HD programming that meets your standards Hugh, as we move towards our goal of 100% Native HD. For us that would mean every shooter in the world would have to be shooting in HD.............any idea when that may be Hugh? I said before The Score is primarily a sports news and information channel that operates 24-7 and Hugh we also don’t put up bars after 12:00am now that’s a waste of bandwidth. Also we our bound by the CRTC to mirror our content from our SD channel as I have explained earlier we will of course be down converting any Native HD to 4x3 and working with that as a safe.

My mouth is sore just typing this we still have a couple major components in Phase One that haven’t been released stay tuned. I am also trying to find time to set up an FAQ on our website but haven’t found time to do this yet.

Thx to those that support our efforts

THX SB

There was no zeal in my pointing out that there is no HD currently on Score HD. I merely pointed out that a new station which bills itself as HD currently has no HD programming!

Surely you must find that ironic?

I think the idea of creating an improved quality product in a 16:9 aspect ratio is a laudable goal. In the interests of consumers however, I firmly believe that calling it HD is wrong.

If it was called Score WS and the press release didn't describe the station as HD then I think there would be no need to point out the lack of HD programming.

The sad fact is that manufacturers, studios and broadcasters have not properly educated consumers. In fact, often times they have deceived consumers by saying they are delivering one thing and then delivering something less.

This isn't just my opinion. Witness LG electronics and the CEA coming out and chastising the industry last year for the very same reasons.

This discussion is the same argument we had with CTV several years ago when they first came out with CTV HD.

To their credit pretty much all primetime programming on the CTV network is true HD.

Technically, Score HD is 720p therefore it is HD.
What is shown on it most of the time may be upconverted SD material, but I see no reason why it shoudn't have HD in the name. The only widescreen channel in America that existed for some time and was only WS (not HD) was FOX, but it's HD now too.

Arthur, we've had this debate on DHC before many times (especially with CTV) but for those who weren't around for those debates: My belief, and its only my belief, is that upconverted 480i upconverted to 720p / 1080i or 1080p is not HD.

If you believe that upconverted television signals are HD then you have to concede that an upconverting DVD player is an HD player. To me that doesn't make sense.

Anyway, that's the end of my comments on the subject. I recommend if anyone wishes to discuss whether upconverted material is HD, please start a new topic or revisit one of the old threads so we don't hijack this thread.

My belief, and its only my belief, is that upconverted 480i upconverted to 720p / 1080i or 1080p is not HD.



That's right, let's call it HD when it really is rebroadcasting 720p/1080i. We'll know that for sure when Score sends that $1.4m cheque to Cancom for HD satellite bandwidth distribution.

Umm, when the studio becomes HD capable, is that when we'll see all the desk material in HD?

I'm assuming Cogeco doesn't consider Score HD to be an HD channel because they aren't offering it yet.

Tomorrow night Lakers/Sonics games is being broadcast on ESPN HD as well as The Score. Will you be showing the HD feed?

Anyone have a screenshot of what this channel looks like?

Any word as to whether this will be picked up by BELL anytime soon...

I like this channel.

There was no zeal in my pointing out that there is no HD currently on Score HD. I merely pointed out that a new station which bills itself as HD currently has no HD programming!

Surely you must find that ironic?

I think the idea of creating an improved quality product in a 16:9 aspect ratio is a laudable goal. In the interests of consumers however, I firmly believe that calling it HD is wrong.

If it was called Score WS and the press release didn't describe the station as HD then I think there would be no need to point out the lack of HD programming.

The sad fact is that manufacturers, studios and broadcasters have not properly educated consumers. In fact, often times they have deceived consumers by saying they are delivering one thing and then delivering something less.

This isn't just my opinion. Witness LG electronics and the CEA coming out and chastising the industry last year for the very same reasons.

This discussion is the same argument we had with CTV several years ago when they first came out with CTV HD.

To their credit pretty much all primetime programming on the CTV network is true HD.

Hugh you do raise some valid points and press releases are not always going to hit it on the mark. We have in no way tried to fool the consumer that is apparent form our press release. While we do not have HD Native today we will be moving toward a Native 16x9 720p. I also agree that many consumers are fooled by claims of HD TV and again I must point out that we are stating up front what we are doing unlike other US Networks that use the same approach and say nothing but still have there HD bug showing and what of Canmadian Network that show there HD bug while in 4x3 does The Score have an HD Bug?. Also CTV does have a lot of prime time HD and the majority is network pass through quite obvious by their bug. The press release is some what incorrect about improved picture while it will be 16x9 if the original signal falls outside the image enhance and NR there will be no improvement also distribution compression is a factor which we have no control over. The Score has attempted to address what we were told by consumers they wanted unlike others and we have had far more positive email than negative. I came to this board out of respect of those who I felt where more knowledgeable than your average consumer to explain what we were attempting, due to legal issues I cannot tell you what the rest of phase 1 is. Our ticker is keyed separate from the video but it is currently upconvedrted and aspectized the same way as program but this will change soon. In closing I find it sad that the mission of some members here seems one of search and destroy I’m glad I don’t live my life that way. I came here trying to give as much information to this group to try and help you understand what The Score was doing and some of the challenges an independent network like The Score must face. Phase 1 is not completed and will be by May.

I want to thank all that watch and hope they continue to, as for myself I will bid you all ado and let you get on with slagging the Canadian HD scene.

SB

I will redirect this message to the readers of this thread since Scoreboard is no longer with us. I think members here realize that I am a huge supporter of HD. Why else would I have a website that extolls the virtue of the technology?

Any long time members know that I have often fought back at members who complain the HD scene in Canada sucks and complain about the CRTC etc. I have plenty of positive things to say about the HD industry in this country but I also like to think that I stay objective and I am not afraid to point out where the industry is going wrong.

LGE and the CEA pointed out the same issues so why not damn them!

I get calls and comments from people everyday about how much they've learned about HD from this site and I'm very proud of that. By the same token, I think its important to cut through the marketing "claptrap" and point out to consumers that just because it says HD doesn't mean that its HD. Is that "crapping on the scene"? I don't think so. If anything, I think its protecting the integrity of the scene.

Score Board admits the Score HD press release was not "on the mark". I said before that I think what Score is doing is great but if we call every product a "premium" product or everything "HD" then the term becomes meaningless. Rather than demeaning the Canadian HD scene, I feel I'm defending it against dilution.

Score Board joined this site less than a month ago to promote his product and I respect that but he needs to respect the forum. The forums has given him both support and criticism and honestly we are his most important customers right now so rather than belittling us, I think he should listen.

My criticism was saying that I believe upconverted Standard defintion is NOT HD and should not be sold that way. My opinion that upconverted SD is not HD is not slagging HD, it's an opinion. An opinion I believe I'm entitled too.

Arthur disagreed with me and I respect him for that. I look forward to reading his posts because I think he is an objective observer who points out the good and the bad.

In summary, if I fawned over Score HD then members would call me to task and say that I was selling out because I wanted advertising from them! I realize that I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't!

I'm sorry, but I can't stand artificial stretching of 4:3 images...