TV stations, who 18 months ago were bragging about their Full HD offerings, have started dumping broadcasts in full HD and 3D with the big Sydney Vs Collingwood AFL game at the weekend becoming one of the HD victims.Neither Ten nor Seven now show Full HD football. These are the same networks that 12 months ago were telling consumers that they had to invest in 3D TV technology only to dump all 3D TV broadcasts weeks later.
Last night, Ten’s One HD put to air the Formula One Grand Prix from Valencia in Spain without any commentary for most of the race.
The Ten channel also preferred live coverage of a Moto GP race on Saturday to covering one of the AFL’s showcase matches which on standard TV on Channel 10 attracted over 800,000 viewers.
The Australian newspaper reported that Seven West chief executive David Leckie said at the announcement of the new AFL broadcast deal that he did not know whether Seven would broadcast in the superior format next year. Some AFL will be transmitted on 7mate next year, possibly “upscaled” from standard definition. Meanwhile, Premier Media Group’s Fox Sports will show all five of its games in HD from next year and broadcast its AFL and NRL games in HD.
