[TelstraClear] TelstraClear's attitude to widescreen TV

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#70874 16-May-2007 15:05

I'm skeptical that the TV3 Signal in Christchurch does come from Sky, I know the prime signal more than likely comes in on terrestial as we get local ads via the TCL feed, and the TV3 picture comes in at a very similar quality...I dont think that TV3 has regional ads, so bar a terrestial transmission failure (that does not effect the Sky picture) it might be hard to tell..

I can't see how just resizing the image decreases the quality that much.

Nety

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#70875 16-May-2007 15:14

It may be that Telstra are compressing the image as well.

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#70904 16-May-2007 19:23

It may be that Telstra are compressing the image as well.

You can be sure that if they are doing a 4:3PS cut from the 16:9 origianal then they can only be fully decoding and recoding to achieve this.

What scares me is that somehow the talks between TV3, Sky and TCL end up rolling back the clock to 4:3. Hopefully TCL sees the light and TV3 hold their ground, however based on the way TCL run their TV broadcast network I get the impression they havent a clue.

Its interesting looking back on comments on the Aus forums on the fact that when DTV was introduced so much of the material was postage stamp. But if you look at more recent comment it would appear that only a few minutes a day end up in the 4:3 camp.

It is interesting to note that obviously a lot of stringers in the more remote parts of the country have not updated their kit to 16:9 capable gear. As that seems to be the more common source of 4:3 news items. I noted a couple on TV3 the other night from southland and the westcoast. So obviously there is this issue to be worked through, ie some stringers not wanting to upgrade or cannot justify the cost concidering the amount of work they get.

Cyril

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#71159 18-May-2007 15:40

Hi

TV3, C4 and National Geographic have started to screen these channels in widescreen. As a result some customer may have viewing issues on these channels when viewing via digital platforms such as TelstraClear’s InHome TV and Sky TV.

This affects customers with newer widescreen televisions and older models viewed through the digital platform. It does not affect customers with analogue television.

We are currently working on implementing a solution to the issue with TV3 and C4, which will be resolved in the coming weeks.

We were not advised prior to the changes in how these channels were screened so were unable to prepare for the change.

Worldwide there is currently a transition period between the two viewing formats. Due to the majority of customers not having upgraded yet to widescreen we have had to revert to 4:3 viewing until we implement the solution to TV3’s new feed. We are working as quickly as possible on this.

We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers.

Sincerely

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - Consumer On-net

lchiu7

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#71161 18-May-2007 15:46

National Geo is interesting. I was channel surfing on my 4:3 set and started watching some programme about Megastructures (I think) and noticed that the image was stretched vertically indicating that it must be an anamorphic transmission. I then switched to my 16:9 set and confirmed that. I guess TCL has less control over channels that are of overseas origin?

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#71172 18-May-2007 17:57

Thankyou for the response Jeff. It is good to get some confirmation that Telstra are working through the widescreen issue. Obviously there are customers that are on both sides of the fence as to what is the "right" way for pictures to display on their TV's and you are stuck trying to keep both happy.

If I can stress one thing that has come up a number of times in this discussion is the importance of education. I think anything that Telstra do to educate people about aspect ratio's is going to make the change that much easier. Maybe a pamphlet in peoples bill?

cyril7

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#71173 18-May-2007 18:05

Hi Jeff, Im with Nety, I am glad to see you guys front up here, good stuff.

What does concern me is that for whatever reason a decision is made to turn things back. The future is 16:9, your customers must be made aware of the advantage, rather than pander to their ignorance. I suspect the most convientent solution for TCL is to provide two streams (in the short term) or educate users on the settings on the TCL digital cable boxs.

Sky is on a Mt Wellington facility upgrade to make 16:9 the norm, TVNZ will shortly move to 16:9 on the digital platforms, to advise customers that it is all a non event and offer them 4:3PS is not a solution, its buring your head in the sand, and helping your customers to do the same.

Cyril

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Nety

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#73704 6-Jun-2007 21:38

Jeff any news on this? I is almost 3 weeks since your post. Getting dangerously close to it no longer being weeks (as suggested in your post) but a month (or more...)

sbiddle

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#73728 7-Jun-2007 06:20

Nety: Jeff any news on this? I is almost 3 weeks since your post. Getting dangerously close to it no longer being weeks (as suggested in your post) but a month (or more...)

And only just on 6 weeks to go before TVNZ go 16:9 as well. Somebody obviously needs to make a decision as to how you're going to go. If statistics are to be believed close to 1/3 of NZ households now own a widescreen TV.

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#74462 13-Jun-2007 08:23

Hi

As yet we do not have all the answers on this complex widescreen discussion.

Talks have been had with some channel providers and other planning meetings are underway.

Please be patient and we will have some answers within the next 2 weeks. A full solution to all your needs may not be available at that time, however I expect we can provide a much clearer picture of the way forward and a timeline.

Best Regards

Jeff Doyle

Market Manager Consumer On-Net
TelstraClear

JonC

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#74471 13-Jun-2007 10:02

I'm sure the issues are complex, but if you look at other cable providers around the world they seem to be coping. For example, Foxtel seems to be fine broadcasting widescreen content. Take a look at their channel lineup:

http://www.foxtel.com.au/channel/lineup.html

Oh, I also found this interesting link all about widescreen and the various ways you can watch 4:3 transmission and 16:9 transmissions on widescreen and non-widescreen TVs:

http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/bitsandpieces/widescreen.htm

I'd think that user-education has got to be the biggest issue here. Given the already-strained TCL customer service help-line I can see why TCL don't want all their TV customers calling up asking how to setup their TV for widescreen.

Nety

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#74475 13-Jun-2007 10:10

Is there any reason why you cannot at least in the interum use one of your unused channels to broadcast TV3 in widescreen? At least then you are giving those that want the widescreen version the option in the mean time.

lchiu7

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#74487 13-Jun-2007 10:39

What I find anomalous is that TCL broadcast NatGeo in WS - so why can't they broadcast TV3? TV3's signal seems to be protected for 4:3 viewing with channel logos etc. all in the 4:3 frame

Larry

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#74489 13-Jun-2007 10:46

lchiu7: What I find anomalous is that TCL broadcast NatGeo in WS - so why can't they broadcast TV3? TV3's signal seems to be protected for 4:3 viewing with channel logos etc. all in the 4:3 frame

Larry

That's why I reckon it's a user-education issue, not a technical issue. Not many people watch NatGeo so they don't get many people ringing up asking why the channel looks different. Whereas with 3, everyone would notice.

Nety

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#74493 13-Jun-2007 11:02

I agree. As I said right at the start of this. People can get the exact picture they are getting now from the widescreen feed if the set top box is set a certain way.

I don't see why TC are making a mountain out of a mole hill. All they need to do is send out a flyer with clear instructions on how to setup your STB depending how how you want to see the image (most people will set it up to totally distort the image but that will be what makes them happy so be it).

Then once a week has passed from people getting the flyer switch back to the WS feed.

Instead we are months down the track and still nothing has been done and by the sound of it will not be done for months to come.

Sorry TC but sometimes I really do feel like the emoticon banging his head against the brick wall.

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