I wonder how long it will take the NHL, Versus and Directv to respond to this issue, and how many different answers we will get?  I thought I would be cooled off this morning.  Then I read this.

Posted by BK from Ohio on 05/03/08 at 10:31 AM ET

BK, just to clarify, it is not a Directv issue. 
Somehow Versus and the NHL did not communicate well enough to let people know the game was not being broadcast in HD on Versus. 
If they would have done that, people would have recorded channel 603 on Directv, the standard definition channel for Versus, not 604 which is the HD version and sometimes the golf channel too.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/03/08 at 10:47 AM ET

Paul, that’s what I thought, but I’ve read some comments on other boards which lead me to believe that there were some folks who did get the game in HD.  (Maybe they thought they were watching HD. 

Whatever....it ultimately lies at the feet of VS and the NHL.

Thanks!

Posted by BK from Ohio on 05/03/08 at 11:01 AM ET

I’m a Shark’s season ticket holder.
I’m in New Orleans on business
Not one major hotel or sports bar had the game on
Why they don’t get VS
Blame the NHL for partnering with a small time mickey mouse network which before the NHL was a
stupid fishing channel
NHL can never be considered a major sport if VS is its partner. The game Friday was so unavailable in THe Big Easy,
You’d think I was looking to watch a Cricket match not hockey

Posted by bill from san jose on 05/03/08 at 12:05 PM ET

Boy, do I appreciate your situation Bill.  I have a conference each year in April which involves traveling to various cities, always at playoff time.  A couple of years ago I was in Chicago and the hotel didn’t have VS.  In Chicago, an NHL city!!  This year it was in Houston and I was incredibly surprised that they did have it.  (Maybe because of the bull riding?) Next year Detroit and rumors are the year after that...San Jose!

Enjoy those Sharks.  I watched many of them play in Cleveland for the Barons.  Nabakov also played here as a Lumberjack.

Posted by BK from Ohio on 05/03/08 at 12:22 PM ET

Almost forgot...at least NHL.com doesn’t charge to listen to the games online if you have a laptop!

Posted by BK from Ohio on 05/03/08 at 12:23 PM ET

While I was irked that the game wasn’t in HD, my DVR program guide (Comcast) clearly listed the 10:00pm slot on the HD channel as Golf, and the non-HD timeslot as NHL Hockey. When setting up to record, it should have been pretty obvious what the arrangement was. I’ll admit, that at times, the guide isn’t 100% up-to-date (not sure if that’s Comcast or Verses fault), but in those times, I at least know to record both SD/HD to cover my bases.

All that said—Should Verses and the NHL strive to have all games broadcast in HD? Yes, and I’ll note that compared to a couple years ago, they’re a million times better, so hopefully they’ll take these criticisms constructively, and make the product even better in the future. (Now, if the NHL would pressure Comcast to make HD Center Ice available, that’s an issue I want to hear more about!)

Posted by penguinsfan on 05/03/08 at 12:28 PM ET

PF, I understand where you are coming from, but as the Prom King pointed out, nhl.com had the game in HD.

NHL.com has been more on the ball with the correct information lately, my guide has been very poor the last month, at times not even showing games on CI that were on at that moment.

If not mistaken, this is the first time Versue has used the golf issue this year, Versus games on Friday’s where in HD because I remember the guide showing golf but hockey was on.

It just needs to be fixed and informing fans should be their first priority.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/03/08 at 12:41 PM ET

Versus is most definitely not listening. 

To wit, Dish Network has somewhere between 13 and 14 million subscribers in the US (per Wikipedia), a huge number of folks whom Versus/Comcast view as less important than their ongoing pissing contest with DN…

Pathetic.

Thanks, Gary.  Ass.

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 05/03/08 at 12:45 PM ET

Just noticed.  Last night’s game is on the NHL Network in US on Directv (215) in HD right now (12-2:30 PM EDT).  Too little, too late, but at least we can see something!

Posted by BK from Ohio on 05/03/08 at 12:53 PM ET

Bill and BK,
Have you thought about investing in a SlingBox?  It may not be perfect quality, but it does let you to watch the game (and anything else you can get on your home TV for that matter).  When I started college and was in a dorm, I could not get Center Ice, but my brother had it and also had a SlingBox, so I was able to catch all the games.  It’s not as good as watching on TV, but it is much better than nothing, and it’s also nice to be able to use the services you pay for at home when you’re on the road.
[url=http://www.slingmedia.com]
http://www.slingmedia.com [/url]

Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 05/03/08 at 12:56 PM ET

NHLJeff...I have checked it out before.  I’m not on the road enough to make it worth it.  I spend too much on Directv and XM now!  But it looks like fun when “my ship comes in” and a good idea for those on the road alot.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Posted by BK from Detroit 144mi.;Columbus 142; Pitts. 144; Buff. 219 on 05/03/08 at 01:01 PM ET

this is whole thing with vs. goes to show you how bettman screw up this league. it’s one screwed after another and someone how the BOG gives him a nice contract for screwing things up. it’s rewarding stupidity

Posted by FlyersFan on 05/03/08 at 01:39 PM ET

VERSUS SUCKS!!!!  THEY CLAIM THAT THEY WILL BE BROADCASTING ALL OF THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF GAMES, THEY LIST THE GAME AS IF IT IS GOING TO AIR.... ONLY TO SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT BOXING MATCHES (AND IT’S NOT EVEN FRIDAY)!!!
VERSUS SUCKS!!!

Posted by COLLEEN from SAN DIEGO, CA on 04/24/09 at 11:17 AM ET