Nine to broadcast NRL grand final in HD
The Nine Network has followed in the footsteps of rival Seven by announcing it will broadcast the NRL grand final, one of the largest sporting events of the calendar, on both its primary and secondary HD channel.
Seven announced over the weekend that it would broadcast Saturday’s AFL grand final on both Seven and 7Mate.
Previously Nine has insisted “technical difficulties” had prevented it from broadcasting on the high definition Gem channel.
That resistance had long been a bugbear of sporting fans, with some AFL diehards even launching websites such as “AFL in HD please” in an attempt to lobby the TV networks.
However, the circuit breaker for both codes appears to be the recent NRL and AFL sports rights negotiations which has seen both codes force the TV networks to make high definition part of their broadcasts.
This year’s NRL grand final will be on Sunday, October 4 with the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys going head to head, with Ray Warren, to lead Nine’s NRL commentary team, joined by Peter Sterling, Phil Gould, Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer, Gorden Tallis and Wally Lewis.
Nic Christensen
“technical difficulties” excuse is lame. They had the technology to do HD more than 5 years ago. It’s all about cutting costs at the network, not about technology.
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Finally. Now for beIN Sports to get their act together!
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What are Nine’s two HD channels…GEM and?
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Well done to 7 and 9.
Nothing like being progressive and leading the way with new technology.
I mean its only 2015 and HD is such a new format [not] unless your a Foxsports viewer where it is a standard.
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