DSTV HD broadcast resolution

[Speedster]

I've heard that the DSTV HD channels broadcast at 720p. Is this correct and true for all broadcasts, or does it change from program to program depending on the recording quality? (ie, some programs broadcast at 720p and some at 1080p.)

 

[Sinbad]

I've heard that the DSTV HD channels broadcast at 720p. Is this correct and true for all broadcasts, or does it change from program to program depending on the recording quality? (ie, some programs broadcast at 720p and some at 1080p.)

There is no 1080p

I think some stuff may be 1080i though

 

[Segg]

From what I’ve seen, it’s just 720p, don't know about Boxoffice though, since I rent and still prefer blu-rays

 

[Lupus]

Yes it is 720p for bandwidth reasons, most broadcasters still send it in 720p, 1080i uses almost the same amount of bandwidth.

 

[Smurfatefrog]

Its 1080i

When it started it was 720p for sport & 1080i for series & movies, beginning of 2011 it all became 1080i

 

[PostmanPot]

All 1080i.

 

[Speedster]

Thanks!

 

[atomcrusher]

All 1080i.

Yup .. that's Monochoice's current offering to us suckers that pay their subscriptions.

 

[Lupus]

Yup .. that's Monochoice's current offering to us suckers that pay their subscriptions.

Really wow? So that is BBC, Sky, name a broadcaster that is it, the standard is 1080i. I think you need to just get off the hate wagon and rather complain about legitimate reasons, instead of just going oh it's monochoice expect it blah blah.

 

[stevenv]

Yup .. that's Monochoice's current offering to us suckers that pay their subscriptions.

Really wow? So that is BBC, Sky, name a broadcaster that is it, the standard is 1080i. I think you need to just get off the hate wagon and rather complain about legitimate reasons, instead of just going oh it's monochoice expect it blah blah.

+1

 

[Hemps]

When are multichoice sending up a new satellite so they can offer more channels in HD?

 

[Smurfatefrog]

When are multichoice sending up a new satellite so they can offer more channels in HD?

Its due in a few months, but there are always some or other delays...

 

[atomcrusher]

I think you need to just get off the hate wagon and rather complain about legitimate reasons

As in their latest software upgrade(sic)? Have a look on the DSTV forum for the many problems related to their latest update. I still maintain that this would not be acceptable in other countries, and that we in SA have to swallow mediocre offerings from the monopoly that is Multichoice

 

[akescpt]

Its due in a few months, but there are always some or other delays...

working out new pricing models....hate it in when i watch letterboxes in HD..

 

[johndoe1983]

I wonder if our pvr's can handle 1080p???

 

[Roman4604]

I wonder if our pvr's can handle 1080p???

I don't think the chipsets are designed to handle 1080p. Would make no commercial sense to develop sat decoders with 1080p capability since the overwhelming majority on HD broadcaster have settled on the 1080i format standard.

The hw/sw in modern HDTVs is so competent at de-interlacing a 1080i signal, you'd be hard pressed to see the difference between it and 1080p, even with fast motion. There are minor differences, but you have to look really carefully to spot them.

Based on the above there is no commercial incentive for broadcasters to pay for double the sat transponder capacity per channel (which isn't cheap) to provide 1080p, when few would even notice any difference.

 

[Sonic2k]

Correct.
however they still do their old trick of compressing things to hell and gone to save $$$ and it looks blotchy and crap

 

[Roman4604]

however they still do their old trick of compressing things to hell and gone to save $$$ and it looks blotchy and crap

Well in my experience that varies greatly depending on channel/source/content.

For me the absolute best reference quality on DSTV is the local in-studio shots on the SS HD channels. Stands to reason since this probably has the shortest signal path with the least amounts of signal conversion.