HDNet, Only All-High Definition National Television Network, Launches on DIRECTV

John Johns Serves as Satellite Uplink Operator

Dallas, Sept 6, 2001: HDNet, the world’s only all-high definition national television network, debuts on DIRECTV® channel 199 with a broadcast of the Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m. (CDT), the first of 15 Major League Baseball games to be aired throughout the month.

"Although ballgames had been aired in HD before," said Johns, "this was the beginning of the country's first fulltime HD network."

One of the more interesting things was the signal is encoded once before it leaves the production truck and stays untouched all the way to the viewers home where it is decoded on the set top box.  This ensures a high level of picture quality compared to other HD broadcast paths.

In-Sync is excited to offer Uplink Operator to its growing list of HD services.

Founded by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, HDNet will expand in October from a limited schedule to a 16 hour-per-day, seven day-per-week schedule of sports and entertainment programming, all broadcast in high definition.