Is the HD Ticket Required for non-sky channels?

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ruff

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#57119 3-Feb-2010 14:55

Hello,

I know it has been discussed before, but after searching the forums I am still a little confused. I am after some clarity.

Is the HD Ticket required to view TV2 and TV3 HD shows in HD with a MySkyHDi?

(I have the basic package and do not have any of the movie or sports channels).

Thanks,

www.ruff.co.nz

ZollyMonsta

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#295748 3-Feb-2010 15:05

No, I believe they are available without the HD ticket (since they're 'free to air' channels).

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NZCoderGuy

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Kiwi Dev Studios

#295750 3-Feb-2010 15:18

This is correct. You are only required to purchase the HD Ticket if you choose to have the Movies/Sport premium channels displayed in HD

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Stephen
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link2007

54 posts

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#296006 4-Feb-2010 12:13

however, they are not as good as FREEVIEWHD as sky had to fit them inside a limited bandwidth. But nothing unwatchable though.......

ruff

63 posts

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#296014 4-Feb-2010 12:28

Thanks for the helpful answers. I will cancel the pointless HD ticket then.

Yes, the compression on Sky is terrible. It is really very very bad. I am a broadcast cameraman. I own a Sony PDW-700 XDCAM HD shooting 422 HD at 50mbs. That is what we shoot on, when I view the images from the camera on an HD Monitor they are stunning. When I see my work on TV I cringe. It is awful.

I live in Queenstown, so no Freeview HD for me. Sky is the only option that I have.

www.ruff.co.nz

www.ruff.co.nz

ZollyMonsta

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#296028 4-Feb-2010 12:57

ruff: Thanks for the helpful answers. I will cancel the pointless HD ticket then.

Yes, the compression on Sky is terrible. It is really very very bad. I am a broadcast cameraman. I own a Sony PDW-700 XDCAM HD shooting 422 HD at 50mbs. That is what we shoot on, when I view the images from the camera on an HD Monitor they are stunning. When I see my work on TV I cringe. It is awful.

I live in Queenstown, so no Freeview HD for me. Sky is the only option that I have.

www.ruff.co.nz

Will take a look at your site tonight.. Looks interesting!

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

RustyGonad

495 posts

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#296037 4-Feb-2010 13:32

link2007: however, they are not as good as FREEVIEWHD as sky had to fit them inside a limited bandwidth. But nothing unwatchable though.......

Cough Cough BULLSCH1T

If you compare the signals side by side you will find they are close enough to identical.

That is use some gear that measures both resolution and bitrates. The 3 Freeview HD channels are rebroadcast in exactly the same resolution, using close enough to the same bitrates (using DVBViewer to compare bitrates, side by side ie one DVB-T, one DVB-S2).

Sky currently broadcast the highest bitrate of any of the domestic channels (local HD sport). Freeview don't even come close (if you can actually find any HD content to watch, let alone local stuff).

I'm not for one minute suggesting the one of Ruff's raw feeds direct from the camera won't look a hell of a lot better, but it should do with up to 5 times the bitrate etc etc

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tstone

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#296066 4-Feb-2010 14:32

link2007: however, they are not as good as FREEVIEWHD as sky had to fit them inside a limited bandwidth. But nothing unwatchable though.......

What do you base this statement on?

Klipspringer

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#296071 4-Feb-2010 14:37

Yip, the HD Ticket is not needed for TV1,2 &3. We have TV3 in HD without the HD Ticket.

However, Sky will not tell you this but you don't actually need the ticket. In fact they will even charge you for it if you don't have Sky Sport or Sky movies and you request it.

I find the image quality excellent when watching and HD movie or program on TV3 in 1080i. However, its the Mpeg compression they using which irritates me. As soon as there is fast movement, the images can break up. Great though for watching the snail and tortoise olympics.

The above does not happen when watching a blueray movie in 1080p.