The 2009 Open Championship [spoilers]

[Harry Longshanks]

Are you kidding me?
Don't blame ABC for no HD broadcast of British Open - Press Tent

July 13, 2009
Don't blame ABC for no HD broadcast of British Open
Posted at 2:45 PM by Michael Walker Jr. | Categories: British Open

For a student of history, the United Kingdom is wonderful place to visit. You can learn about the illustrious kings and queens of the past, the poets and playwrights who created the world's richest body of literature and the origin of epochal movements like the Industrial Revolution. You can also see what television looked like 20 years ago.

Thanks to the backwards BBC, you won't be able to watch the British Open in HDTV this week. Not even on American broadcast partners TNT and ABC. The reason is that TNT and ABC have to use the international feed provided by the BBC, and that feed will be in standard definition, the 2009 equivalent of a black-and-white broadcast. (TNT and ABC will "up convert" the standard definition feed for HD broadcast, but that will just allow people to see the broadcast in full-screen format -- in other words, no black bars.) In case you think we're being too hard on the BBC, here's a list of events broadcast in HD: the Tour de France, Wimbledon, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the PGA Tour, the game show Jeopardy!, etc. ABC and TNT don't sound too happy about it either.

"The American broadcaster is required to take the world feed," says Mark Mandel, an ABC/ESPN spokesman. "As much as possible, we want all our events to be in HD. It's great for the sports fans and it's great for the event."

HDTV is an especially good fit for the British Open because the TV-friendly tournament is invariably played at a dramatic, photogenic course (except when it's at Carnousite) and the early morning start on the East Coast -- and witching-hour start in the West -- means you can watch all the golf you want and still have the rest of your Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Also, of all the majors, the British Open is the one American fans are least likely to get to see in person, so the high-definition feed is as close as most of us will ever get to those magical Open rota courses.

The BBC's deal with the Royal & Ancient doesn't expire until 2011 and the BBC has a long history with the event. Still, R&A boss Peter Dawson has to be frustrated with the BBC's inability to present the game's oldest and arguably most important tournament in a state-of-the-art format. Next contract, the R&A needs to make sure it gets the best broadcast possible, which means dropping the BBC.

 

[JB]

Yeah its not a good start.

 

[TheGasman]

What a joke, at least they are going to upconvert it though.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

When they "upconvert" a 3:2 SD picture, doesn't that just give you a stretched out SD picture?

I think that just makes things out of proportion, no?

Does the BBC just lack HD cameras?

 

[dynarider]

Does the BBC just lack HD cameras?

It was either HD cameras or a dental plan...they went with the correct choice

 

[AHacker'sHacker]

This is no good. No good at all I tell ya.

 

[worst_shot_ever]

I can let them borrow my Panasonic handheld that tapes in HD if BBC covers the shiping fee in euros.

 

[OFvar]

shame on those europeans

watch for my dark horse David Toms

im pretty sure the betting odds pay about 10-large on 100bet on him haha

not quite as good as brehaut though, 35-Gs for a 100bet

 

[TheGasman]

Does the BBC just lack HD cameras?

Its not the cameras, its the trucks. It still seem kind of strange, there are not many things shot in standard format anymore.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

Its not the cameras, its the trucks.

What do you mean?

 

[TheGasman]

What do you mean?

Im assuming the problem is getting the production trucks in there that can broadcast HD or the BBC is too cheap to pay for it. This is the biggest tourney in Europe, you would think they would of made it a point to have it.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

Im assuming the problem is getting the production trucks in there that can broadcast HD or the BBC is too cheap to pay for it. This is the biggest tourney in Europe, you would think they would of made it a point to have it.

Ahh! I thought maybe you meant they didn't even have the trucks necessary for HD.

Are HD trucks really that different/bigger from SD trucks?

 

[TheGasman]

Ahh! I thought maybe you meant they didn't even have the trucks necessary for HD.

Are HD trucks really that different/bigger from SD trucks?

I dont know if they are any bigger, but I do know it is a completely separate truck. I have a buddy who runs a truck, ill ask him if he knows anything.

 

[JB]

How about TW winning. No No NO, not Tiger Woods, but Tom Watson at -4 after 9 holes or so.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I still can't believe that TNT is carrying it at all. That's hands down, the worst coverage of golf ever.

 

[JB]

I agree GB. It is like going back in time.

 

[_JL_]

Camilo looks to be in great form. Three birdies in a row to finish with 66.
Still wearing that ugly new JL stuff, though.

 

[Smallville]

How about TW winning. No No NO, not Tiger Woods, but Tom Watson at -4 after 9 holes or so.

That's pretty cool, but realistically, I hope he makes the cut.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

That's pretty cool, but realistically, I hope he makes the cut.

Well, he's in the clubhouse with a 65 (-5) and the lead, so I'd say he has a fair shot.

 

[Smallville]

I just saw that Harry. He turned back time for a day, it would be great to see him continue it.

 

[BigLeftyinAZ]

Intersting leader board so far

1 Tom Watson 65 - - - -5 F -5 65
T2 John Senden 66 - - - -4 F -4 66
T2 Steve Stricker 66 - - - -4 F -4 66
T2 Camilo Villegas 66 - - - -4 F -4 66
T2 Stewart Cink 57 - - - -4 16 -4 57
T6 Mark Calcavecchia 67 - - - -3 F -3 67
T6 Mark O'Meara 67 - - - -3 F -3 67
T6 Vijay Singh 67 - - - -3 F -3 67
T6 Jeremy Kavanagh 24 - - - -3 7 -3 24
T10 Anthony Wall 68 - - - -2 F -2 68
T10 Graeme McDowell 68 - - - -2 F -2 68
T10 Sean O'Hair 68 - - - -2 F -2 68
T10 Anders Hansen 68 - - - -2 F -2 68
T10 Ryo Ishikawa 64 - - - -2 17 -2 64
T10 Lee Westwood 64 - - - -2 17 -2 64
T10 David Howell 59 - - - -2 16 -2 59
T10 Mathew Goggin 59 - - - -2 16 -2 59
T10 Matt Kuchar

Norman stunk it up and shoot a 77. Tiger and Duval fired a 71

 

[Harry Longshanks]

I just saw that Harry. He turned back time for a day, it would be great to see him continue it.

Agreed. Would love to see Watson contend. Heck, with one more win, he would tie Harry Vardon for most wins with six. Not likely, but would be über-cool.

EDIT: On a side note, love the RL Polo sweater:

Spoiler

 

[Smallville]

Great look for Tommy! He must be driving the ball accurately.

A lot of people under Par so far today, quite a few names I don't find too familiar, which is cool.

 

[soxngolf]

I can't believe the calm weather conditions! We might see some really low rounds today, not your typical Scottish weather.

 

[Puttin4Bird]

I sure do like Tom Watson.

AK had a 9 on hole 2 today! He's got 1 birdie and 1 quintuple bogey....wow!