CBS Sports And Augusta National Golf Club To Present Coverage Of 2003 Masters In HDTV In Largest Production Ever

12-Mar-03

For the first time, the standard analog and HDTV productions of the 2003 MastersÆ Tournament will be unified and will provide 18-hole coverage in HDTV's highest-definition format, announced by Augusta National Golf Club and CBS Sports.In the largest HDTV production ever, CBS Sports will utilize 42 high-definition cameras and 10 handheld 16:9 standard-definition cameras. The unified productions will be produced in HDTV's highest-definition format, 1080i, and downconverted for the CBS Television Network's analog broadcast. This production technique also produces a better quality analog picture. Whether watching in widescreen HD or traditional 4:3 analog, viewers hear the same golf announcers and see the same camera angles, replays, and graphics.The 2000 Masters was the first golf tournament presented live in HDTV on network television, and it is still the only major tournament broadcast in high-definition.CBS Sports will broadcast the 2003 Masters on the CBS Television HD Network on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 (4-6:30pm ET each day), Saturday, April 12 (3:30-6:30pm ET), and Sunday, April 13 (2:30-7pm ET), live from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Geogia. The third and final rounds of the Masters will be broadcast simultaneously in standard-definition by CBS Sports on the analog CBS Television Network.""We are happy to be working with CBS to provide another first in television coverage,"" said Hootie Johnson, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. ""This year's Masters will be outstanding with the top players in the world competing and Tiger going for an unprecedented three wins in a row. We are proud to bring this year's event to our many fans in HDTV's highest-definition format.""""We are very pleased to take the high-definition experience to a new level at the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club,"" said Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports. ""The HDTV pictures of all 18 holes will further enhance the experience for viewers of the most renowned tournament in golf and one of the most spectacular venues in the world.""Beginning in 1993, the Masters experimented with HDTV on a limited basis to discover how the new system could improve the presentation of the tournament to the television audience. The 2003 Masters broadcast will be presented in the highest form of HDTV, with 1,080 lines of resolution and over two million picture elements, which makes it six times sharper than standard-definition television.One hundred and thirty one of CBS's owned and affiliated stations are currently broadcasting in digital, covering approximately 88 percent of the nation. By the end of 2003, CBS expects to be transmitting digital programming across more than 200 owned and affiliated stations, reaching well over 98 percent of the country.The CBS Television Network will broadcast the Masters Tournament for the 48th consecutive year, the longest-running annual sports event presented on one network. In addition to the HD coverage, CBS Sports will broadcast live third- and final-round coverage on Saturday, April 12 (3:30-6:30pm ET) and Sunday, April 13 (2:30-7:00pm ET) on the CBS Television Network. Highlights of early-round play will be presented by CBS Sports on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 (11:35-11:50pm ET, both nights).