DirecTV To Carry NFL in Fox WIDESCREEN

DirecTV plans to carry Fox Sports coverage of the NFL in the "Fox WIDESCREEN" 16:9 format this fall.

The games will be available to subscribers of DirecTV's "NFL Sunday Ticket" package throughout the 17-week regular season schedule. Although featuring the 16:9 format familiar to HDTV aficionados, FOX WIDESCREEN is in the 480p standard definition format. The picture is "one-third wider and four times sharper" than analog pictures, according to the network.

"For consumers with a widescreen television, there is no better sport than football to watch in digital format-it's like being on the 50-yard line," said Stephanie Campbell, senior vice president of programming for DirecTV.

DirecTV also plans to carry CBS's HD coverage of the NFL as part of its "NFL Sunday Ticket" package.