WWE trying out HD
 

WWE goes HD
By Jen Hunt
September 8, 2006

This Sunday, WWE will conduct it's first full blown high-definition test when it tapes a SmackDown live event at Mohegan Sun Arena completely in HD. The event won't be televised, but will be closely watched and analyzed by WWE executives, including Mr. McMahon, as many variables will be explored.

"High-definition television has a different aspect ratio," Senior Vice President of Television Operations Mike Grossman told WWE.com. "The screen is wider than standard definition television, so we want to see how that widescreen aspect ratio effects what we see on the screen. It's a very vivid image and the Superstars will be very vivid."

Several other aspects of production that would be effected by going HD will be experimented with as well.

"We're actually going to have a makeup artist that has experience in HD," said Grossman. "They use airbrushing techniques as opposed to traditional makeup. But we also need to see how our lighting is affected, how pyro translates to hi def… And then there's audio. When we make the move to HD we'll be broadcasting and recording in 5.1 surround sound so we'll be playing with that too."

Sunday's test is just one step in the transition process to recording and distributing content in HD. The transition will require tens of millions of dollars of upgrades in equipment and a minimum of three years to complete. However, if everything goes well Sunday, WWE fans may be able to start enjoying their favorite Superstars like never before.

"We can provide HD content, [but] our broadcast partners have not migrated to a true HD platform as of yet," explained Vice President of Event Technical Operations Duncan Leslie. "The first way our fans could see our content in HD [might be] through home video on DVDs."

By 2009, all television broadcasts will be migrated to a digital format. While it will be a long and costly process, WWE is excited about the opportunities this presents.

"There's an excitement about it because it is a challenge," said Leslie. "One thing that we're really good at is changing and upgrading and pushing the envelope. We're going to do HD like no one else has ever done it, just like we do everything else. I'm sure there will be techniques that we employ that will be copied. From that perspective, it's a challenge to do it better than anyone else."

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wwehd

Affects.

Anyway, I'm not sure why people would want to watch sweaty men in high definition.

I couldn' t careless about HD.

Does this mean Lita is gonna be botching everything in High Def now?! :shifty:

Shame that the quality of the matches aren't more highly defined.

I wonder if this is going to cost more money if it's approved?

pro wrestling is somewhat like magic. I doubt magicains want their stuff shown in high def. BECAUSE it could take away from the illusion. there needs to be some misdirection and unaswered aspcts.

this post may or may not be accurate.

why didn't you read the fucking article. If you did, you'd read the part that states.
I feel so much like neg rep'in you like -5000 for that. GAWD!

If you couldn't see the blade before, you'll be able to see it now. :y:

St. Jimmy understands

The WWE is going to have to upgrade sooner than later (at least by 2010), so they may as well try to perfect it before they start late and look inferior.

Not that. High Definition is a totally different channel. What I'm saying is, would I have to pay for this (if approved) like we have to pay for WWE 24/7?

Just got a Sky HD digital box installed this morning, and High Def is mind blowing. WWE in HD would be amazing.

sweet. Maybe we can see another Chris Benoit booger

Actually, it depends on a number of things:

1. Do you have a HD TV. If you don't then you can forget about it right then and there.
2. Does any of your local TV stations have a HD channel (if they do, when their station ID comes up, they will have something like [CALLLETTERS]-DT [CH#] somewhere). If they do, then chances are you will be able to access their HD content somewhere. Of course, that doesn't guarantee that they will get their HD signals totally clear. Some stations struggle to get their HD signals to work perfectly.
3. Some cable providers (most likely either Comcast or Time Warner) provide HD boxes that will allow you to pick up HD content, at no extra cost (I think you need to subscribe to digital cable, though). Only problem with this is that you're at their mercy as to what actual channels your able to get.

Personally, I think this is going to be an awesome idea. It's not just what you see, it's how you're able to see it. HD content is much clearer, and you see more because HDTVs are more in 16:9 format (most standard TVs are 4:3 and cut out what is on the edges of the actual picture). It's about time the WWE tried this.

Everything is amazing in High-Definition. The widescreen format, 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, and crystal clear picture would make for great WWE TV. They would have to find an HD channel to broadcast on though. Universal HD shows programs from USA so maybe they can find a timeslot for WWE in the near future.

WWE in HD :y: :yes:

We have plenty of HD channels in the UK, would be great.

WWE is already on HD over here, still not bothered. People get too obsessed about this stuff. It's just a TV ya know?

It can't be, they don't shoot in HD. Probably a stretched picture.

Well i've seen it listed on the HD channels before so it's definately on there.

doesn't mean it's filmed in HD. show in and filmed in are 2 seperate things.

He is absolutely correct, The WWE on HD in england is transmitted over HD and will give a slightly better picture but you won't notice much difference at all until they use HD cameras. If they do use HD with 5.1 (hopefully 7.1 eventually) then it will be much better to watch and the crowd chants should be clearer (which means the likelyhood of them using the Hammerstein again is unlikely, unless they use a lot of edited in crowd noise).

But hearing clearer crowd chants can only be :y: :y: :y: .

1. Yes
2. Yes. The big networks, including ESPN, NESN, Discovery, PBS, and 2 channels anyone can use.
3. I got the Comcast cable box. I'm able to get WWE 24/7. But no USA HD. Which could be a problem. Here's to hoping.

Yeah, it's not actually in HD. Sky show quite a few non-HD stuff on their HD channels, just to fill it up when there's no actual HD shows on or something I guess.

I think that's at least partially right, though I think it'll affect WWE far more than stage magicians.