Comcast Giving Versus, Golf Channel Separate HD Channels

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Comcast is expected to give Versus and Golf Channel, which have shared a single HD channel since January '07, their own independent HD channels later this year. The change will allow both channels provide 24-hour coverage in HD for the first time. In the past, Golf Channel received Thursday and Friday night programming, which made scheduling tight during the NHL Playoffs when Versus wanted to offer games in HD. The new HD channels are expected to debut in early December. Versus will air all of the Tour de France in HD in '09.