[TelstraClear] TelstraClear's attitude to widescreen TV

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#76744 3-Jul-2007 16:09

somewhat: This explains it a bit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS- even mentions TCL's system, or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_Fibre_Coaxial

The correct Wiki link is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_fibre-coaxial (note the "_" and the "-". Sigh.) That gives the best description of what a head-end is.

TelstraClear

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#77126 6-Jul-2007 11:15

Hi

Re: Widescreen start dates for TV3 and UKTV

I have been working with our Communications Managers and Database staff to ensure we can advise all customers of the proposed changes in my last pasting.

Unfortunately we are not able to get advise and instruction to our non-internet customers in time for the changes which were proposed for this weekend.

I must move the dates for widescreen to 24th for TV3 and 25th for UKTV.

My apologises for this delay.

Regards

Jeff Doyle

Market Manager -- Consumer On-Net

Nety

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#77130 6-Jul-2007 11:27

Damn I knew I should have kept my mouth shut about informing people about the change.

I was really looking forward to seeing House etc. in widescreen again.

You could be nice and add a temporary "test" channel of TV3 to tie us over

I can understand the delay for TV3 as it is one of the most watched channels. I am assuming that you will be putting something out with peoples bills. However I do not see why you need to delay UKTV as it really is no different to Nat Geo or any of the other channels that are already widescreen. Not that I really care as I do not watch it myself.

Can you confirm that the timeline is staying the same for the other channels?

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Robz

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#77134 6-Jul-2007 12:35

It would be useful to update the the website with the new dates as well - I was just on the site and it still says the 9th & 10th.

TomAckroyd

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#77182 6-Jul-2007 20:14

Nety: This is good news. Is a shame that you will not be releasing the wide screen versions of 1 and 2 at launch but at least you have come out with a time that you will release it and have a good reason as to why.

I notice that you say that you have released guidelines on your web site. Are there any plans to send out anything with the next bill or similar? I would have thought that would be worthwhile. There is still a lot of mis-understanding out there.

Very good to hear that you are moving forward and in the right direction!

Telstra are not delaying widescreen feeds of TVNZ - TVNZ have actually delayed launch of 16:9 FHA until late September while they sort out technical issues. (I have reference from TVNZ for this but not to hand.)

Tom

Nety

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#78412 17-Jul-2007 10:07

Well I see the letters have gone out...

gehenna

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#78413 17-Jul-2007 10:10

super, now i just have to wait the 18 days for them to reconnect me at my new address after moving house

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Nety

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#79316 23-Jul-2007 18:09

So Jeff what time is the change supposed to take place tomorrow?

Not that I will be watching anyway for the next few days as I will be away with work

jol

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#79349 23-Jul-2007 22:06

TomAckroyd:
Nety: This is good news. Is a shame that you will not be releasing the wide screen versions of 1 and 2 at launch but at least you have come out with a time that you will release it and have a good reason as to why.

I notice that you say that you have released guidelines on your web site. Are there any plans to send out anything with the next bill or similar? I would have thought that would be worthwhile. There is still a lot of mis-understanding out there.

Very good to hear that you are moving forward and in the right direction!

Telstra are not delaying widescreen feeds of TVNZ - TVNZ have actually delayed launch of 16:9 FHA until late September while they sort out technical issues. (I have reference from TVNZ for this but not to hand.)

Tom

Well actually...

TelstraClear:
We are currently working closely with Sky TV and TVNZ to agree on a possible interim technical solution to the quality of the feeds and also allow for the TVNZ widescreen launch, which is now delayed to approximately 22 September.
Our Head End and Architecture teams are planning one of the largest Head end upgrades in the last 10 years to expand our channel capacity and improve our technical capabilities in many areas including support for MPEG transmission. Picture quality improvements will also be part of this work. This is planned for phased introduction from late September 2007 to late October 2007. TVNZ widescreen carriage on InHome TV will not be possible until approximately mid October.

sbiddle

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#79364 24-Jul-2007 06:45

I believe when the post was made there wasn't general awareness that TVNZ themselves had delayed their initial move to WS from July (as originally planned) to late September, hence the post that it wasn't TCL delaying the introduction.

As it turns out TCL will be delaying the introduction in September by a month due to an upgrade of their headend.

JonC

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#79481 24-Jul-2007 19:26

Yeah - am now watching TV3 in widescreen. TV3 news comes out nicely in 16:9 on my WS TV.

There are some really weird things going on with some of the cropping and zooming with the adverts, though. Most of the ads are either pillar-boxed or fill the screen nicely. But some, like the freeview ad appear windowboxed - apparently in the correct aspect ratio, but with a border of black all the way around.

lurker

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#79487 24-Jul-2007 19:53

Thanks Telstraclear for putting TV3 in widescreen, just noticed it today too. With the cable speed boost this is turning out to be a good week.

cyril7

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#79488 24-Jul-2007 19:54

Some of these ads have been provided by Aussie ad houses specifically in this odd format, this is (strange it may seem) how they want them shown, guess its their compromise. The expectation that some ads (particularly those from some aussie ad houses) was explained by TV3 in there introduction of 16:9.

Cyril

TomAckroyd

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#79490 24-Jul-2007 20:37

cyril7: Some of these ads have been provided by Aussie ad houses specifically in this odd format, this is (strange it may seem) how they want them shown, guess its their compromise. The expectation that some ads (particularly those from some aussie ad houses) was explained by TV3 in there introduction of 16:9.

Cyril

It's not solely to do with Australian commercials.

Most (if not all) Australian commercials are shot and mastered 16:9 FHA. They may be shot "safe" for 4:3 markets, so that if an advertiser wants to import a commercial to NZ all they have to do is centre-cut it. But usually NZ advertisers will (until now) simply master it 16:9 letterbox. This means if an ad has a long lifetime (and many of them do) you will continue tosee drastic postage-stamping on letterboxed ads that were devised and shot in pre-widescreen days. Channels were a bit slow to let agencies on to the fact they were switching to widescreen. Advertisers and agencies (and TV show producers come to that) need long lead times to accommodate changes like this. It is uneconomical to remaster letterboxed ads to a true widescreen format.

Another problem arises with NZ-native commercials. Many "flash" ads (and some not-so-flash ones) are shot in a widescreen ratio, to give a cinematic feel, and are mastered letterboxed for the majority of viewers who have 4:3 sets. With a lot of post-production applied, it becomes very expensive to remaster these ads to true 16:9, mostly because you would have to re-transfer the original film to tape at 16:9 FHA and then re-apply all your expensive post-production effects.

So it's a nightmare scenario for stations, advertisers, agencies and viewers - everyone. Until the dust settles, you will see all sorts of formatting in ad breaks on widescreen channels. Just as you do on programming. A lot of TV3 trailers are still 4:3 ...

You can even spot the odd anamorphic ad - usually Australian ones remastered here with no-one realising they are FHA. Then they get standard ratio NZ-specific graphics plastered on them.

Your ad agency geek,
Tom

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#79492 24-Jul-2007 20:43

There are still a lot of Australian ads appearing in 4:3 I've just got back from a couple of weeks over there and noticed a surprising number of ads being transmitted in 4:3 on the digital channels.

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