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First off , Hi folks.....

I'm a DirecTV subscriber and the thread title is basically the question for you all.

Is there anyway to sort out which games will be on HD and available to me, and what's the best way to go about ordering packages to maximize HD viewing of NHL games?

Here's what I did last year: I ordered Center Ice, and I also have HD Access . HDNet, Channel 79 is described as this: A 24-hour network featuring live sports like NHL® and MLS® games, boxing, drama series, concerts and original news and documentary programming including HDNet World Report and Across America.

The problem was, many games (I'd estimate half) that were on HDNET were blacked out. While I understand there's some contractural reasons behind this it sort of irked me that somewhere, somehow, someone was getting that HD feed but not I. It was obviously available to me, but blocked. Also that since I'm paying both C.I and HDNET their money who wasn't gettting their money and how is it, there's not some sort of pricing for what I'm willing to pay for?

Now the year before last I got the SPorts Pack. Which has tons of games, but many times the live feed is blacked out and I had to watch late at night or record the game on my DVR (which was SD at the time).

So what's the better strategy for getting the most NHL games in HD, considering that the following is rumored that DirecTV will have these channels in HD:

Regional Sports Networks
Available nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.
Fall 2007

1. Altitude
2. Comcast SportsNet Chicago
3. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
4. FSN Arizona
5. FSN Bay Area
6. FSN Detroit
7. FSN Florida
8. FSN New England
9. FSN North
10. FSN Northwest
11. FSN Ohio
12. FSN Prime Ticket
13. FSN Rocky Mountain
14. FSN South
15. FSN Southwest
16. FSN West
17. New England Sports Network
18. SportsNet New York
19. SportsSouth
20. Sun Sports
21. YES

(source is another HD forum).

Will these RSNs rumored to be in HD replay the games in HD , or will just the live broadcasts (which are blacked out except on Center Ice), be the only ones in HD?

I noticed with either subscription (Center Ice or SportsPack), I was recording a lot of games because they were either on too late or I was watching another game, or something else on TV (gotta give the wife a few hours a night). I have a dual HD-DVR, so I can watch and record, o record two games at once, both in HD.

Is there any word on how many games C.I will broadcast in HD, if any at all?

I have Versus on my expanded basic package so that's a constant, and I'll always have the HD Access package because I like the programming all year (ESPN HD, TNT HD etc etc). I also have my local RSN in HD.

If you had my set up (Plasma, Dual HD-DVR , Brand new DirecTV slimline dish), would you get Center Ice, or the Sports Package?

I would get both, but I have a feeling there will be lots of redundant programming. Plus I'd be willing to not have the most possible games (probably Center Ice), if it maximizes my HD games. I get local RSN in HD (NESN/BOSTON) , and also what ever Versus is broadcasting in HD (rumored to be more games this next season).

I'd almost be willing to give up the ability to watch Center Ice games in SD which would be more games, if I thought I could record SportsPack games in HD and watch them later. There's just so many games one can watch in a single week or day.

Well that's a lot to digest, and I appreciate anyone taking the time to read it all and give me their opinion.

Thanks.........