NBC vs. IceNetwork vs. Universal Sport

[champs]

Does any US resident out there who was able to watch Universal Sports have any HDTV screenshot from Skate America? I read it was aired in HD resolution and am very curious how good the picture quality was. I know NBC also does HD but I've seen the 2008 Nationals in HD and it had lots of agressive macroblocking in moving scenes due to its relatively low bitrate for the full 1920x1080 resolution.

 

[Jhar55]

Can only compare IceNetwork to NBC since my local comcast doesn't carry Universal Sports channel couldn't try it out. At first I thought it was a internet site that was showing the skating
Don't mind paying to watch on ice at least I got to see everthing expect for the ladies. Didn't catch the gala IceNetwork did say it would be on at 8pm but far as I know it never came on. All NBC showed was top 3 mens short and long, and ladies at least they did show all the american ladies and just top 3 or 4 in the long.
Yeah, Ice did have few bumps but from what I was told they get their feed from NBC, so when the picture froze or went black must have been an NBC person taking a nap.
So the $29.98 was best deal for me since I wasn't able to attend. And they are carring all the grand prix stops.

 

[R.D.]

Does any US resident out there who was able to watch Universal Sports have any HDTV screenshot from Skate America? I read it was aired in HD resolution and am very curious how good the picture quality was.

Well, someone else on one of the forums I frequent captured this cap of Kimmie Meissner in her starting pose for her free program...judge for yourself:

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/309/actcap14na9.jpg


I welcome the HD picture quality. It definitely makes a difference in the sports experience. I mean, it was the difference between "Why did Yuna score so much?" and "aaah, I see now".

 

[oleada]

I so wish I got universal sports! No commentary and HD is the way to go.

Scott and Sandra are horrendous. You'd think that it wouldn't be too much effort for them to do their job and research the new system and explain it adequately to the viewers (like Wylie, Kwong, Tracy, the British commentators and Tarasova). No, instead they choose to unfairly complain about the American skaters being robbed when anyone could see in the slow motion that Evan's triple axel was half a turn short (and not 1/6 like Scott said). Sandra complaining about how the person who brings the audience to it's feet should be the one that wins was truly eye-rolling - if she'd bothered to check she would have known that Evan had the highest PCS scores of the event.

Also, their voices are annoying, but that's me being petty.

I don't mind Nancy much, either. I think she's really improved. She's soft-spoken so her comments don't really interfere with the program. Her co-commentator is a real dolt, though.

 

[PolymerBob]

Universal Sports kicked butt last night.

 

[R.D.]

I don't get Universal, and I'm a little disappointed they're not doing online coverage, but at least Ice Network has my back for SA and Nats. What about Worlds though? Ice Network doesn't seem to be carrying that, and it seems that unless you have cable (AND get the channel) you'll be locked out of coverage except for the two hours NBC managed to find to squeeze into their regular network schedule.

 

[jcoates]

Does any US resident out there who was able to watch Universal Sports have any HDTV screenshot from Skate America? I read it was aired in HD resolution and am very curious how good the picture quality was. I know NBC also does HD but I've seen the 2008 Nationals in HD and it had lots of agressive macroblocking in moving scenes due to its relatively low bitrate for the full 1920x1080 resolution.

The HD quality on Universal Sports was wonderful. One thing I noticed is that the skaters' speed across the ice is much more apparent in HD.

Thanks oleada for pointing out that Evan did get the highest PCS. Critics of CoP are so quick to point out its flaws that they frequently fail to note moments when it rewards skaters fairly. I'm a big Evan fan; but objectively, he did not deserve to win. Kozuka's basic skating quality is excellent and he made the fewest mistakes. He only had one downgrade/fall and got all of his combos in. Johnny and Evan each had a downgrade and/or fall on the quad, only two combos each plus a second downgrade for Evan. Too many mistakes on the big ticket jumps to merit winning. Those are the rules. Fair is fair.

 

[iluvtodd]

Well, someone else on one of the forums I frequent captured this cap of Kimmie Meissner in her starting pose for her free program...judge for yourself:

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/309/actcap14na9.jpg
.

What a gorgeous pic of Kimmie! Thank you!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I agree - he has a personal bias when it comes to his commentary - but i've only really noticed it since he got into NBC - and I think that says more about NBC than anything else. They manipulate the commentary as much as they can. Scott likes a certain style on the ice - he's never said anything different - but he has to have a network bias as well. If he wants to keep his job.

Good point! All TV shows have a signed Director who, among many things, give advice on what to avoid saying. Any student of Communications Journalism knows that the Publisher (print journalism) and the CEO ( media journalism) have their own personal biases in addition to keeping the readers and viewers happy. The reporters must adhere to those bosses. The Director is the go between of the two.

My suggestion has always been to keep the commentary in low key while the skaters do their thing, and then after the comp, have a round table discussion of the event.
.

Isn't there a law(?) requiring networks to beam in HD sometime in February? If so, then everyone will have Universalsport at that time. I think it is an NBC affiliate, and from what I've seen, it carries all those Sports that do not get so much attention. I love watching Alpine Skiing, and the Short Track had Apollo Ohno sliding into the boards.

You all may have it for the US Nats and Worlds.

 

[sillylionlove]

Isn't there a law(?) requiring networks to beam in HD sometime in February? If so, then everyone will have Universalsport at that time. I think it is an NBC affiliate, and from what I've seen, it carries all those Sports that do not get so much attention. I love watching Alpine Skiing, and the Short Track had Apollo Ohno sliding into the boards.

You all may have it for the US Nats and Worlds.

Actually the law is that all television signals will be in digital and not analog......which means if you don't have a cable box, dish or a converter box and use an atenna to get your television signal, you will not longer get a signal. High Def or HD has nothing to do with the law.

 

[~tapdancer]

Icenetwork was just fine for me (except for the pairs FS where the audio was horrendous, hopefully they'll fix that for the on-demand). I don't get Universal, either.

And hopefully, NBC, will do a good job with showing Worlds.

 

[Tinymavy15]

yeah, Scott drives me crazy. He thinks every skate Evan does is OGM worthy. I am a fan, but he is a fanatic.

I kinda liked the Universal experince. I was like being there. I liked watching the warmups and seeing ALL the skaters. Very good. Does anybody know if they will be showing the other Grand Prix series?

 

[sillylionlove]

Icenetwork was just fine for me (except for the pairs FS where the audio was horrendous, hopefully they'll fix that for the on-demand). I don't get Universal, either.

And hopefully, NBC, will do a good job with showing Worlds.

Actually NBC is doing Nationals. The worlds are on the Oxygen network!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

If Oxygen keeps to the Universalsports type of broacasting, then that'll work.

btw. Getting a new TV will automatically have HD. Is that correct?

 

[Mathman]

btw. Getting a new TV will automatically have HD. Is that correct?

I think it will automatically have High Definition capability, but you still have to sign up with your cable guy and pay extra to actually have it.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think it will automatically have High Definition capability, but you still have to sign up with your cable guy and pay extra to actually have it.

RE: Buying a new TV. Ahh, my cable provider just took it on their own and gave it to all the subscribers. They are in tough competition with Time Warner, so I guess jumping the gun, is to attract more subscribers.

I hope Universalsport continues to be shown for all events. They have all those 'single' sports from various parts of the World.

 

[Tonichelle]

Actually NBC is doing Nationals. The worlds are on the Oxygen network!!

well, TECHNICALLY Oxygen is partnered/owned by NBCUniversal... sooooooooooooooooo....


as for the TVs being able to pick up a digital signal (come February) unless you have a television from the stone ages your TV should work (I believe all of them are compatible if they were bought in the last 5-10 years... I could be wrong, it's been a while since I've had a class that talked about this at all.)

 

[sillylionlove]

well, TECHNICALLY Oxygen is partnered/owned by NBCUniversal... sooooooooooooooooo....


as for the TVs being able to pick up a digital signal (come February) unless you have a television from the stone ages your TV should work (I believe all of them are compatible if they were bought in the last 5-10 years... I could be wrong, it's been a while since I've had a class that talked about this at all.)

Yes but actually Oxygen and NBC are two different networks on different channels........soooooooooooooooooooo.....

As for the television, if you still have a turn dial television or use and antenna to get a signal you are out of luck come Feb. 09.

And yes most new televisions do have HD capabilities but most cable companies make you pay extra to get those HD channels.

 

[Mathman]

The main problem with Universal Sp[orts is that it is only available (so far) in select cities. If they make it available everywhere, that would be nice for the rest of us.

 

[R.D.]

What a gorgeous pic of Kimmie! Thank you!

No prob. I can't take credit for it though

The poster also posted the video (in HD). I'm not sure about the video policy at GS, so I didn't put up the video link. Besides, you will need a fairly beefy computer to play it well, and a fast internet connection to download (it tops 100MB).