TNA...in HD?!

[mysterydriver]

TNA has secured a two hour time slot with Spike TV, but the network has given the promotion a condition - the wrestling company must purchase HD equipment, as Spike TV will be upgrading to HD broadcasting by 2009. TNA is apparently putting up resistance to the condition as the current contract is set to expire at the end of September. Spike TV has previously provided funding to TNA, such as contributing money to bring Sting to TNA, but the cable network hasn’t been open to providing addition financing for the purchase of HD equipment for the promotion.

TNA in HD. Interesting. I wonder how this will affect the two hour shows?

[Red Impact]

I don't blame them, it's expensive equipment. I'd probably try to resist if I were them too.

[Kae]

Scott Steiner in HD. *is afraid*

[Aaron E. Dangerously]

Dude, I don't have an HDTV. They better still provide non-HD versions of programming.

Or...I don't care.

[Mr. Backlund]

Makes no sense....

TNA is in a short-term contract that doesn't extend past the point of their HD initiative. I can see re-negotiating or putting in clauses for options with the agreement the technology should be invested over time, but not this. For a company that is already struggling with high overhead costs, I don't see this as a great idea. Plus, what does HD add to TNA? Not much, and I really don't think you HAVE to broadcast HD (though I could be wrong) even if Spike goes in that direction.

I really don't know what the verbeage is of the new contract with Spike, but you have to think it won't be as favorable for the network as it was previously (where they basically got all ad revenue). I wonder if Spike is done giving away handouts and forcing TNA to do it all on their own from this point forward?

[MichaelRBoh]

you will still be able to watch it even without having hd. you can watch the regular espn right now if you don't have espnhd

[sexualvanilla]

What does HD add? Bad booking looks much better in HD

[Corporate H]

Will this make Ms. Brooks even more manish-looking?

[x]

*Insert bad booking joke with HD pun involved.*

HA!

[Mozenrath]

bencrocker said:

Will this make Ms. Brooks even more manish-looking?

From the neck up, at least.

[BrodietheSlayer]

I'm sure TNA WILL be in HD in a year or so.....

On WWE 24/7

[Shy Guy]

is this supposed to make the product better?

[Gopher Mod]

Considering that the old version of television (NTSC, which was the very original version of television) is going the way of the Dodo in Feb. 2009, it's understandable why Spike is going full HD.

[Ace Diamond]

coolrunner87 said:

Considering that the old version of television (NTSC, which was the very original version of television) is going the way of the Dodo in Feb. 2009, it's understandable why Spike is going full HD.

I hope the govt. still plans to pony up the money for people to be able to adapt to this new format otherwise there's going to be a sudden dropoff in TV viewership.

[Gopher Mod]

aodpilot said:

coolrunner87 said:

Considering that the old version of television (NTSC, which was the very original version of television) is going the way of the Dodo in Feb. 2009, it's understandable why Spike is going full HD.

I hope the govt. still plans to pony up the money for people to be able to adapt to this new format otherwise there's going to be a sudden dropoff in TV viewership.

Actually, from what I know, it won't be that hard for the general public to make the jump to the new format (ATSC). All that the consumer would need to do to make the jump is to get (at least) a SDTV, which should be made cheaper in the next 18 months (currently at Wal-Mart, a 20" flat screen SDTV is currently at $140, and a 27" is at ~$250, with flat screen at ~$290). So, at least it is not a blood fortune to make the jump over. However, there are going to be a whole mess of inoperable TV's come then when the jump is made. I hope that the junkyards are ready for them.

[Ace Diamond]

coolrunner87 said:

aodpilot said:

I hope the govt. still plans to pony up the money for people to be able to adapt to this new format otherwise there's going to be a sudden dropoff in TV viewership.

Actually, from what I know, it won't be that hard for the general public to make the jump to the new format (ATSC). All that the consumer would need to do to make the jump is to get (at least) a SDTV, which should be made cheaper in the next 18 months (currently at Wal-Mart, a 20" flat screen SDTV is currently at $140, and a 27" is at ~$250, with flat screen at ~$290). So, at least it is not a blood fortune to make the jump over. However, there are going to be a whole mess of inoperable TV's come then when the jump is made. I hope that the junkyards are ready for them.

I don't even know if you can Junkyard some of those TV's because some of them are the old Cathode Ray-Tube TVs (CRT's) and have to be disposed in some way...but yeah i'm diverting the topic here something fierce.

[Virus aka Captain No-Nuts]

*continues thread de-rail*

First off, the changeover in Feb. 2009 is from NTSC to ATSC, which are two different ways (analog and digital, respectively) to transmit STANDARD DEFINITION television. Not HD, so the poster who said that the HD changeover was being done solely for this deadline is incorrect.

Additionally, this changeover only affects people who get their television from a standard over-the-air antenna. Those with ANYTHING ELSE (basic or digital cable/satellite TV) -- which is a large part of the country, if my experience here at the Lewiston, ID Wal-Mart is any indication -- will not need to do anything.

And lastly, yes, Wal-Mart does sell televisions with digital tuners in them, in fact it's the only thing we sell, as we clearanced out our analog televisions at least 3 months ago -- and this is from a Home Office initiative. So it's the same nationwide.

*/end derail*

Anyway... TNA in HD? Meh. I don't catch it in SD anyway.

Also, wasn't there something about WWE considering HD, but shying away because of the potential for more spotcalls to be heard or something? Could this partially be why TNA is resisting the idea as well?

[Mozenrath]

grimblade said:

*continues thread de-rail*

First off, the changeover in Feb. 2009 is from NTSC to ATSC, which are two different ways (analog and digital, respectively) to transmit STANDARD DEFINITION television. Not HD, so the poster who said that the HD changeover was being done solely for this deadline is incorrect.

Additionally, this changeover only affects people who get their television from a standard over-the-air antenna. Those with ANYTHING ELSE (basic or digital cable/satellite TV) -- which is a large part of the country, if my experience here at the Lewiston, ID Wal-Mart is any indication -- will not need to do anything.

And lastly, yes, Wal-Mart does sell televisions with digital tuners in them, in fact it's the only thing we sell, as we clearanced out our analog televisions at least 3 months ago -- and this is from a Home Office initiative. So it's the same nationwide.

*/end derail*

Anyway... TNA in HD? Meh. I don't catch it in SD anyway.

Also, wasn't there something about WWE considering HD, but shying away because of the potential for more spotcalls to be heard or something? Could this partially be why TNA is resisting the idea as well?

I thought WWE didn't like the idea of HD because of the chance that Divas will look bad, and the older wrestlers will show their age much worse.

["Nature Boy" Ric Moranis]

kiddobradley said:

I thought WWE didn't like the idea of HD because of the chance that Divas will look bad, and the older wrestlers will show their age much worse.

WWE mainly doesn't like the idea of HD because USA Network isn't HD, many of the CW stations aren't HD, and PPVs are more expensive if shown on HD (as well as regular TV), so there's really no point in them switching over.

Has nothing to do with Divas or old wrestlers, no matter what Gerweck said seven months ago...

[thehartfoundation]

actually smackdown is supposed to be the only show on the cw network this fall not broadcast in HD.