DIRECTV NewsA Blog on Satellite TV News

ESPN announced that it has acquired Vistas Unlimited, Inc. The acquisition of Vistas Unlimited will allow ESPN to utilize virtual technology across its multiple platforms and also employ a majority of Vistas’ employees.

Television Network utilizes Vistas Unlimited developed computer technology to insert advertisement during live television broadcast.

Vistas Unlimited received the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award at the 29th Annual Sports Emmy Awards in 2008. The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for Vistas Unlimited’s development of the video processing and insertion of optimal putt paths for The Golf Channel on many of its PGA and LPGA broadcasts.

Chuck Pagano, executive vice president, ESPN technology, said “This acquisition represents ESPN’s dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation and technology development. The team that is joining ESPN brings a wealth of knowledge on developing cutting-edge virtual components that enhance the fan’s enjoyment of a game telecast.”

World Fishing Network (WFN) reached two-year marketing agreement with Fort Worth, Tex based fishing organization Bass Champs.

This agreement will allow WFN to present popular Skeeter Bass Champs television shows in standard and high-definition. WFN will be presenting sponsor of more than 60 Skeeter Bass Champs events during the next two years.

Skeeter Bass Champs television show captures the reality of tournament fishing by highlighting the trials struggles and rewards those anglers tackle throughout a tournament. It offers winning techniques, hot locations and new product highlights and has become one of the most popular fishing shows because viewers get to see real anglers, like themselves, during real competitions. The show has been shot in high-definition since its inception in 2002.

Mark Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Fishing Network, said “This partnership provides us entertaining content for our viewers and a great venue to promote our network to thousands of passionate anglers throughout Texas. Our network’s exciting programming line-up of tournament action coupled with entertaining and informative lifestyle
programs help satisfy the insatiable appetite of North America’s 60 million anglers.”

Chad Potts, President of Bass Champs, Inc., said “We are extremely excited about the future of the Bass Champs television show with WFN and look forward to being featured on the network’s fishing line-up. This new partnership provides our anglers and viewers with many more opportunities to watch the show and allows our sponsors to reach the
demographic they desire.”

NFL Network will debut documentary series ‘Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League’ on Friday, January 8 at 8:00 PM ET. The Emmy Award-winning NFL Films produced five part documentary will be available in high-definition.

Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden will present his introductions on the new series and also his personal view on the AFL a special league.

Full Color Football was launched on Showtime in 2009 and this year on NFL Network will present the start of the maverick American Football League to the present the merger with the rival National Football League.

Full Color Football profiles the personalities, teams, news events and more that the exciting new league brought to the fans. The 2009 season marked the 50th season of the eight original AFL teams who played their inaugural slate of games in 1960.

Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League five week schedule is as follows:

Full Color Football Week I on Friday, January 8 at 8:00 PM ET
Episode One, “The New Frontier,” examines Lamar Hunt’s radical idea that was born on an airplane after the NFL refused his attempt to purchase a pro football franchise. Follow the seemingly foolish dream into reality through the back stories of the AFL founders. From the league’s humble beginnings of games played in mostly empty stadiums to the landmark 1962 AFL Championship – a double overtime thriller — Part One takes an in-depth look at the beginning of “The New Frontier.”

Full Color Football Week II on Thursday, Jan. 14, 10:00 PM ET
The new league faces challenges drawing attention and recognition but the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers gain national fame, plus how the Civil Rights movement changes pro sports.

Full Color Football Week III on Thursday, Jan. 21, 10:00 PM ET
The AFL and NFL had “signing wars” when it came to signing and drafting college players. A deal with NBC boosts the league and makes a media star of Joe Namath and the creation of the Super Bowl.

Full Color Football Week IV on Thursday, Jan. 28, 9:00 PM ET
Joe Namath, the first major star of the AFL, leads the New York Jets to a stunning upset victory over the highly favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Full Color Football Week V on Thursday, Jan. 28, 10:00 PM ET
The AFL impact following the merger with the NFL is recognized as the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL beat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. The new “Monday Night Football” helps make football America’s most popular sport.

Time Warner Cable is to launch sixteen new high-definition channels to its programming line up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Time Warner is testing to launch 16 HD channels that include:

• E! HD
• Fox Business Network HD
• G4 HD
• IFC HD
• MSNBC HD
• Planet Green HD
• Style HD
• The Weather Channel HD
• TV1 HD and
  
• We HD

Time Warner Cable is presently offering 60 HD channels and the cable operator is planning to bring more HD channels to Milwaukee subscribers.

Herring Broadcasting owned WealthTV which offers high-definition programming has announced that its Cincinnati Bell’s subscribers will be offered with lifestyle and entertainment programming starting December.

WealthTV’s programming lineup includes:

• Classical Journeys
• Culinary Travels: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Distant Shores: Bahamas
• Forest of Eternal Life: Cultural Japan
• Let’s Shop: Copenhagen
• Planet Luxury
• Vicarious Escape
• Wealth International News
• Wealth on Wheels: Magazine
• WealthTV At The Movies

Cameron Westfall, Affiliate Relations for WealthTV, said “Cincinnati Bell has further expanded its robust high definition offerings for the enjoyment of its customers. We are excited to have Cincinnati Bell viewers enjoy our expansive series of unique and all original shows in crystal clear high definition.”

Darrick Zucco, General Manager of FiOptic Services, said “We are excited to add WealthTV as we look to strengthen our HD offering to Cincinnati Bell customers. We are now able to offer over 50 High Definition channels to our customer base.”

Spanish Broadcasting System owned Mega TV is available to Spanish speaking audiences in Puerto Rico, starting November 1. Mega TV’s launch in Puerto Rico was possible due to acquisition of new technology by Spanish Broadcasting System.

Mega TV can be viewed on following channels on different operators:

Cable and satellite users can watch Mega TV on:

DirecTV – Channel 169

Dish Network - Channel 60

Choice – Channel 16

Liberty – Channel 45

OneLink – Channel 60

Luis Roldan, Senior Vice President, and General Manager for SBS and Mega TV in Puerto Rico, said “With these new signals, not only will everyone on the Island be able to watch our programming; we will also have a clearer image. For geographical reasons, most of our households without cable or satellite couldn’t receive our signal in the past. With this new technology, everyone on the island will enjoy Mega TV’s popular and impactful programming. We are very pleased with the acceptance that the Puerto Rican community has given us and we are committed to keep on bringing excellent programming.”

Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Vice President for SBS and Managing Director of Mega TV, said “We believe that these new affiliates in Puerto Rico will enormously help our growth plan, and will guarantee our position as a leading competitor in Hispanic television. Our audience on the island has been faithful to our programming from day one, and we promise to reciprocate with the best we can offer.”

ESPN Deportes has announced that it will present extensive coverage of winter baseball from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico. ESPN Deportes has started its six-team Caribbean hardball coverage on Nov. 24.

ESPN Deportes delivers more than 200 hours of winter baseball programming. This is the most ever televised by any network in the United States with at least 12 commentators, including hosts, analysts, reporters and contributors. Winter baseball programming coverage will culminate with the Exclusive coverage of the 2009 Caribbean Series LIVE from Mexicali, Mexico.

ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN Deportes La Revista feature the winter baseball-related content.

Maribel Viteri, marketing director for ESPN Deportes, said “ESPN Deportes continues to be the home of baseball all year long. Our strategy for this campaign is to remind the fans of the network’s commitment to continue to bring them sports from back home, all while connecting viewers to the brand. We know that there is a big Dominican population in the Washington Heights area and we wanted to take advantage of how relevant the theme is for the Dominican population and create awareness of the network.”

Saturday Afternoon College Football on ESPN will be sponsored by Cars.com beginning this Saturday, Sept. 5, and runs through Dec. 5. Cars.com’s fourth consecutive sponsorship of Saturday Afternoon College Football on ESPN will feature spots from award winning Confidence campaign and sponsored by Cars.com mentions throughout the game.

Cars.com has started running a sweepstakes for its advertisers in which dealers can enter for the chance to win one of several prizes including a grand prize trip for two to the National College Football Championship Game in Pasadena, CA, on Jan. 7, 2010.

Cars.com president Mitch Golub said, “Our sponsorship of Saturday Afternoon College Football on ESPN delivers prime exposure for the Cars.com brand and our advertisers and builds on our highly successful 2009 media campaign. High impact sponsorships such as this combined with online traffic generation initiatives, local market promotion and continuous product improvements are driving results for our advertisers. Our continued investment in our site and our brand has lead to a ten percent increase in leads to our dealer advertisers this year, despite the economic downturn.”

Golub also added, “We are committed to building the Cars.com brand and delivering quality, in-market car shoppers to our advertisers. We are constantly looking for new ways to add more value for car shoppers and car sellers, both through our marketing efforts and product developments, such as the recent launch of our new guided search functionality.”

ESPN has announced that it will deliver a special broadcast of #4 USC at #6 Ohio State on Saturday, September 12, at 8 p.m. ET, testing its 3D production capabilities. This game will be broadcast in standard definition on ESPN and high-definition coverage on ESPN HD.

ESPN has been testing 3D broadcast for more than two years. It will provide ESPN the ability to evaluate workflow operations, 3D camera positioning, transmission changes and gauge fan reaction to a 3D telecast versus a 2D.

The Galen Center on the USC campus will show the 3D production as well as theaters in Columbus, Ohio, Hartford, Conn. and Hurst, Texas. ESPN will employ separate production trucks, technical crews and on-air commentators for the 3D and 2D productions. Mark Jones and Bob Davie will announce the 3D game while Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and reporter Lisa Salters will work the telecast on ESPN and ESPN HD.

Anthony Bailey, vice president, emerging technologies, ESPN said, “With more than two years of rigorous 3D research at various game sites, ESPN is taking the opportunity to integrate 3D testing in a live game telecast. The results of this research will enable ESPN to quantify what it takes to produce, transmit and enable the 3D experience for our fans.”

BBC America and Time Warner Cable have entered distribution pact and the cable giant has launched the channel in high-definition on August 19. Time Warner has launched BBC America HD on channel 685.

BBC America launched its HD simulcast on July 20 and delivered the subscribers with sci-fi HD treats as Torchwood: Children of Earth and Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead.

BBC America HD is negotiating with the leading satellite and cable operators and expecting to be launched on many other operators very soon.

Apart from BBC America HD, Time Warner has also added four more HD channels to New York subscribers.