Will freeview satellite go HD?

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scribble

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# 18510 13-Jan-2008 10:31

I have a new HD TV and want to get the most out of it. Currently I have a freeview satellite decoder.

I read that freeview terrestrial will be HD when it launches (is this 720p or 1080p?) but I am in rural area so won't be able to get that probably (current TV3 signal is really bad).

Will freeview satellite go HD? So getting Sky HD when it laumches will be my only option? Is there any new info about that - will all channels be HD or just some/some content?

Thanks

Spyware

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# 104489 13-Jan-2008 10:52

Terrestrial HD will be 720p50 for TV1, TV2. Whether they transmit in 720p from the start date rather than June as indicated by TVNZ remains to be seen. TV3 have not decided on a format but my guess is 1080i. 1080p is not used as a broadcast format in any part of the world because of the bandwidth required.

Available bandwidth on Optus D1 (due for replacement in 14 years) is limited until another satellite can be launched - there are currently no plans for this. Freeview satellite will therefore remain standard definition indefinitely.

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cyril7

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# 104493 13-Jan-2008 10:56

FreeView have said that for now the satellite service will be as it is Mpeg2 SD only. However who knows what might happen in 3-4yrs time. I do know that they have a whole 3rd uplink chain (seperate to the normal hot standbys) for future growth.

For now you only HD options will be Sky, at this point Sky have indicated a Sports and Movie channel in HD, I predict there will be a couple of others as well. Foxtel in Aus intend to launch 4channels first up, again a Sports and Movie channel and a couple of the likes of Discovery or NatGeo both of which have vast HD librarys.

I suggest that the SD services on Sky will continue just as they are for many years to come with HD channels being added overtime, rather than a very expensive total HD upgrade to show only the few programs other than those mentioned in HD.

When FreeView launches its HD service on the DTT network dont automatically imagine that it will be all HD 24/7, currently only a modest percentage of primetime programming exists in HD the rest will just be the same SD stuff albeit upscaled to 720 for transmission.

Cyril

lchiu7

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# 104697 14-Jan-2008 09:53

cyril7: ...

When FreeView launches its HD service on the DTT network dont automatically imagine that it will be all HD 24/7, currently only a modest percentage of primetime programming exists in HD the rest will just be the same SD stuff albeit upscaled to 720 for transmission.

Cyril

That's a good point. Having spent the last 3 weeks in the US having access to HD television, all the FTA channels (network or local) had only HD programming either for their breakfast shows (in fact IIRC ABC's breakfast show was still HD while NBC and CBS was HD) or in primetime. The rest of the time the shows were in SD and in 4:3.

I guess if we can see say all content that originates in HD (that I presume means US primetime, some Oz shows and UK shows) broadcast in HD here and local programming catching up with they can upgrade their facilities, that would be a good start.

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old3eyes

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# 104740 14-Jan-2008 13:11

cyril7:
When FreeView launches its HD service on the DTT network dont automatically imagine that it will be all HD 24/7, currently only a modest percentage of primetime programming exists in HD the rest will just be the same SD stuff albeit upscaled to 720 for transmission.

Cyril

All the Primetime stuff from the US and UK should be in HD as they've been doing it for years. All the US stuff shown here currently in 16:9 is from HD originals while the 4:3 stuff was shot in SD..

Regards,

Old3eyes

openmedia

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# 104741 14-Jan-2008 13:16

scribble: I have a new HD TV and want to get the most out of it. Currently I have a freeview satellite decoder.

I read that freeview terrestrial will be HD when it launches (is this 720p or 1080p?) but I am in rural area so won't be able to get that probably (current TV3 signal is really bad).

Will freeview satellite go HD? So getting Sky HD when it laumches will be my only option? Is there any new info about that - will all channels be HD or just some/some content?

Thanks

Don't expect freeview HD on satellite in the short/medium term.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear something for after the analogue turn off when there is additional satellite capacity, but at present freeview only have their two half transponders that are used for SD signals.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.