ESPN UK - Developed in less than two months

There's definitely something different on DTT with the way the de-encryption is kicking in when channel 34 is selected, the decrypt is taking longer than Setanta Sports 1 did.

Here's an interesting one for you. Last night's MLB game between New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox was shown on both ESPN and ESPN America; in ESPN's case in glorious widescreen. and with little on-screen furniture save the usual transparent LIVE DOG.

Now that's not unusual in itself - HOWEVER - ESPN's feed came from the Yankee's television channel, YES, and ESPN America's feed came from the Red Sox's broadcast partner, NESN, and was an HD feed apparently.

Does anyone know why a channel simulcasting a live game would show the same game from two different markets? OK perhaps it's to give viewers a chance to watch it from whichever perspective they wish, but surely this is a bit cumbersome? Why not just show the same stream?

.... and I note that they are trailing Sky Sports covered matches within their own programming this afternoon.

Intriguing. Will Sky return the favour?

Incidentally, I prefer ESPN's "It's Great To Be Here" advert to Sky's "We Love Football" promo.

As a test for future matches? Contractual reasons?

Maybe this is to simple an answer but maybe ESPN America is produced in a different location without access to the HD feed, and only NESN is able to feed an HD broadcast via a different route.

Also ESPN US is out of Maine obvious so that maybe the simplest answer hence how they have NESN in HD.

Just found a video with the first few minutes of ESPN coverage that's gives a good idea to the set and the graphics etc, for those of us who aren't subscribers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzyIgfq420A&feature=related

I just wonder as they are both based at IMG, could that set have been built for The Football League Show? As the ESPN set up would have been very last minute and it would explain the dodgy cardboard looking backdrop and bad acoustics on the FLS set I otherwise like.

I highly doubt it - even though produced by IMG, I'm sure the BBC were heavily involved in decisions such as the look of the programme, and wouldn't just give a set over to a rival broadcaster as of course the BBC have paid for it.

The Football League Show set is very nice IMO, and deliberately different to Match of the Day.

Sorry to correct you, but ESPN does not come out of Maine, ESPN is based in Bristol, Conneticut.

Cheers you are right.

Thanks

Unless ESPN America has an HD channel, I'd say it was SD. The ESPN did look clearer and nicer even on SD, but maybe that was an illusion of it being in widescreen on my 4:3 TV.

I'll keep an eye on this weekend's matches, see if there's any other simulcast oddities.

Am just sat here watching the Monday Night Review show on ESPN and it amazes me the quality of the whole channel. It doesn't feel like the new kid on the block, it has a very professional and established feel to it.

I wonder if behind the scenes people were flown in from ESPN HQ in order to help get the channel going. It's not as if it was just a case of buying the rights to matches and then showing it, they have presenters, commentators - somewhere for the commentators to be at each game, production staff, technical staff, those the organise the schedule and loads more.

It's easy to forget how little time they had to throw this all together.