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State of Origin vs State of HD

Updated: NRL fans are unhappy that the State of Origin game will not be available in High Definition.

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Tonight will be a big night of sport as the first State of Origin match for 2011 takes place.

But fans of NRL are unhappy that the game will not be available in High Definition.

A year ago, Nine was singing its own praises by offering the match in both 3D and HD, the latter on Nine HD.

When GEM was launched in September it was to include Sport as part of its programming with “mix of new content, classic comedies, cherished drama series, all-time favorite movies, and all of Nine’s sport coverage in high definition.”

Even today its own website still archives the promise, “High definition sport will be seen on GEM until the digital switchover in December 2013.” UPDATE: Now deleted following TV Tonight‘s article today: http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7960634

But by November that promise evaporated when sports fans were incensed by the abandonment of Cricket in HD.

Fans on a Nine Facebook page have vented their fury. Maybe they should try Nine’s new whiz-bang complaints handling system.

Meanwhile viewers in WIN markets Perth and Adelaide have to wait until 10:30pm to catch the game, but Nine is airing it in their three Nine-controlled markets: Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

WIN Television and Nine did not respond to questions at the time of print.

UPDATE: Today a WIN spokesperson advises:

For Nine Perth to show the State of Origin live would mean scheduling the State of Origin at 5.30pm which would mean pre-empting Nine News and ACA. In 2009, Nine Perth trialled showing it at 7.30pm and it did not rate very well at all. The programming of the State of Origin in a 10.30pm timeslot (9.00pm on WIN) is a responsible business decision as our previous ratings figures indicate that Channel Nine’s programming will deliver Nine more viewers than the State of Origin.

57 Responses

  1. We all know that State of Origin is recorded with HD cameras and equipment yet this year we only get access to an SD feed. This was the same with Cricket. When I went to a match early this year, the replay screen had the no longer used “Nine HD” watermark on it.

    This is a crock of $#!t that Nine has done this. Every other developed nation in the world broadcasts top sporting events in HD, but how are we going to let the imbeciles in control of Nine take note of how so many people here feel about their lousy decision? I remember when Hey Hey It’s Saturday fans got angry with Nine when they pulled an encore airing of the first reunion show, a few Facebook users kept spamming the Hey Hey Facebook page with complaint phone numbers to the Nine Network. From what I remember that did force Nine to defend themselves by stating it was actually Daryl Somers who made that decision. So I’d love it if either the Channel 9 or Wide World of Sports Facebook pages get flooded with enough angry complaints this year, hopefully that will force them to come up with an explanation.

  4. I understand a lot of viewers are not happy the game isn’t in HD, but it is not the end of the world, at least it is not in Black & White!, I wonder if Nine will show the 2012 London Olympics next year in HD in GEM?, I think Foxtel’s coverage will be in HD.

  5. Joke isn’t it. To see this years Origin live in HD you have to go overseas.to somewhere like the Middle East osnetwork.com/onlineguide/schedules/HD_en_gb.aspx

  6. Some people should just get a life. I have a full HD tv and I couldn’t care less what it’s broadcast in. I’ll turn on the game and there it will be, I can see it so I can watch it.

  7. That bull! Lets hope that the NRL rights next year are brought by Foxtel like with the AFL rights this year so the entire country can see all the games Live and in HD! The FTA channels need to listen to their viewers instead of themselves!

  8. Every other country in the world broadcast sport in HD and 3D! English football has such huge followings due to it HD and 3D! No wonder all our sporting stars get the hell out of this country!

  9. Now now now, GEM obviously has a very important episode of Antiques Roadshow that must be aired tonight. Lord knows that needs to be in HD…

  10. @M1tch, Channel 7 are no better with AFL and Tennis etc. Even ONE HD show some AFL from a Foxtel broadcast which is not even in HD! As for 3D don’t get me started! To all the fools that went out and brought a new TV for 3D, you may as well make some use of the glasses and put them on for protection when mowing the lawn!

  11. I can tell you right now i won’t be waiting until 10.30 to watch it. Nine you are pathetic. You’ll win the night with the Sydney/Brisbane numbers alone so how bout just giving us the game live in Adelaide.

  12. I think it is despicable that the pinnacle of the NRL each year, the State of Origin, is not being broadcast in Full HD, and is only available in SD.

    If Foxtel is able to broadcast SD and HD content on the same channel, then why is Channel nine not able to do so as well?

    If they can’t why are they not broadcasting on both NINE and GEM?

    Pubs, Clubs and lounge rooms around NSW & QLD will be dissappointed with the quality of NINE’s coverage, when they cannot use the HD facilities of their TV screens

  13. Like most people I’ll have to go live under a rock so I can’t find out the score before Fox Sports HD screens the replay tonight.

    Channel Nine’s recent walk down charlatan lane since GEM launched makes Bernie Madoff look like a saint! Go the Blues!!!

  14. As for HD all sport should be in HD. There should be a clause there that says this. They were all for HD a few years ago and then it just evaporated. These things need to change pronto. All channels should be HD!!!!!

  15. State of Origin is over rated. Its a bunch of footballers going around hitting each other. Whats the fun in that? Actually Rugby League is over rated. Its just boring.

  17. Did we expect any different, channel 9 has treated the game poorly with coverage for years, Origin is a ratings winner and they still treat it with content..
    Hopefully 7 will buy the rights post 2012

  18. Just shows you the FTA Channels aren’t serious about HD. ..what are they showing on thier HD Channels right now?

    -> The Flintstones (sd)
    -> The Jetsons (sd)
    -> I Dream of Genie
    -> B-witched

    ..all from the era of Standard Defenition!

    The only channel that has a real go at it is ONE-HD, ..and even now that’s been rebranded losing about %90 of it’s HD!

  19. State of Origin last year was shown on Nine HD, Not GEM. GEM launched on grand final day, 2010 and the grand final was shown on GEM in HD.

  20. Is the game being produced in HD yet we’re only viewing the SD version? i.e is the International feed going out in hi def but we’re segregated as 2nd class citizens by Gyngell and Co?

  21. What an embarrassment. One of the biggest sporting events of the year and a network that tries to position itself as a leader in sports broadcasting doesn’t have it in HD. Nine are impossible to understand sometimes.

  23. Sport is beind the times in this country, SOS, AFL and the V8s should all be in HD and shown on the networks HD services. On GEM they’ll simulcast the Today show in HD (or is it?) for 3 hours but not arguably one of the biggest sports of the year.

  24. Australias treatment of HD sucks! Th NRL should have a clause in the next contract to force games to air in SD and HD!
    Same goes for 7!

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