DStv to get three new HD channels

[Drake2007]

http://www.fmtech.co.za/?p=11480

One will be a dedicated HD sports channel called SuperSport HD, and the other two channels will be devoted to movies and documentaries.

However, there is a catch. The three new channels will only be available as part of a special HD bouquet, which subscribers will have to pay for. However, the existing M-Net HD channel will still be available to regular subscribers

Boring

 

[JustAsk]

And if they introduce a porn channel later i can just see the price structure.

R500 + R55 PVR + R55? 3XHD channels + R55 PORN?

hahaha

MultiChoice has commissioned a new, cheaper HD-PVR, which has a smaller hard drive.

Let me see...3 more hd channels but a new hd-pvr with a smaller hdd.

Nice logic.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

and only in 9 months time anyway ..... bleh, they're slow as well as greedy.

 

[The_Pumpkin_King]

so its basically DSTV...in a different resolution?

wow much clearer repeats

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

I would rather watch those repeats in HD though .......but I have a feeling that the cost is gonna be ridiculous ..... watch.

 

[The_Pumpkin_King]

probably R50 a channel

 

[JustAsk]

so its basically DSTV...in a different resolution?

umm...yes

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

The fact that they want to add a premium for the 3 HD channels (bear in mind DirectTV in the US has 130+ HD channels) is just sick! If they just included the channels into the existing bouquet it would've been awesome. This at least explains why so much is being done to save bandwidth.
And why won't they just release a standard decoder with HD output? Like what ODM will do (as their CEO said in a statement thats available on the ODM site).

 

[howardb]

It's sick - the same old story with MC.
What gets me is that I have an old SD Dual-View decoder and an HD LCD - the standard channels look ok, but if I go to the promo channel for the HD PVR (some dude singing colourful ? ), the picture looks brilliant on my LCD using this SD Dual View decoder and RCA cables - my question is then, why can't they just broadcast ALL their channels in whatever format they use for this HD promo - it works on all the old SD decoders, so why do I need an HD PVR???
I don't get it - if the promo was a cr@ppy picture, then sure, but it's not - it's much clearer and crisper than the normal SD broadcast...
I actually see myself cancelling DSTV and getting a faster ADSL line to download all the current shows to watch. The repeats are a nightmare, and for the premium we pay per month, we should at least be up to date with the USA/UK broadcasts.

 

[HapticSimian]

It's sick - the same old story with MC.
What gets me is that I have an old SD Dual-View decoder and an HD LCD - the standard channels look ok, but if I go to the promo channel for the HD PVR (some dude singing colourful ? ), the picture looks brilliant on my LCD using this SD Dual View decoder and RCA cables - my question is then, why can't they just broadcast ALL their channels in whatever format they use for this HD promo - it works on all the old SD decoders, so why do I need an HD PVR???
I don't get it - if the promo was a cr@ppy picture, then sure, but it's not - it's much clearer and crisper than the normal SD broadcast...
I actually see myself cancelling DSTV and getting a faster ADSL line to download all the current shows to watch. The repeats are a nightmare, and for the premium we pay per month, we should at least be up to date with the USA/UK broadcasts.

South Africa... up to date... Does.Not.Compute

 

[SirFooK'nG]

I think this is going to peev off all current HD PVR owners. I am so glad now that I didnt buy one, still using the SD PVR. WTF imagine the excitement of being told over and over that there will be more HD content but now to hear only 3 more and at a cost! Stuff that, Multichoice is going to suffer big time once we have decent bandwidth available at cheap prices. I for one would rather download what I want than fork out more bux for DSTV. Internet movie providers are going to kill DSTV... nuff said.

 

[Quest10n]

It's sick - the same old story with MC.
What gets me is that I have an old SD Dual-View decoder and an HD LCD - the standard channels look ok, but if I go to the promo channel for the HD PVR (some dude singing colourful ? ), the picture looks brilliant on my LCD using this SD Dual View decoder and RCA cables - my question is then, why can't they just broadcast ALL their channels in whatever format they use for this HD promo - it works on all the old SD decoders, so why do I need an HD PVR???
I don't get it - if the promo was a cr@ppy picture, then sure, but it's not - it's much clearer and crisper than the normal SD broadcast...
I actually see myself cancelling DSTV and getting a faster ADSL line to download all the current shows to watch. The repeats are a nightmare, and for the premium we pay per month, we should at least be up to date with the USA/UK broadcasts.

We are suckers when it comes to paying to see repeats and now you are about to pay even more just so you can see all your repeats in HD.
It all makes sense

 

[greg_SA]

It's sick - the same old story with MC.
What gets me is that I have an old SD Dual-View decoder and an HD LCD - the standard channels look ok, but if I go to the promo channel for the HD PVR (some dude singing colourful ? ), the picture looks brilliant on my LCD using this SD Dual View decoder and RCA cables - my question is then, why can't they just broadcast ALL their channels in whatever format they use for this HD promo - it works on all the old SD decoders, so why do I need an HD PVR???
I don't get it - if the promo was a cr@ppy picture, then sure, but it's not - it's much clearer and crisper than the normal SD broadcast...
I actually see myself cancelling DSTV and getting a faster ADSL line to download all the current shows to watch. The repeats are a nightmare, and for the premium we pay per month, we should at least be up to date with the USA/UK broadcasts.

AFAIK, DSTV have to compress the SD channels quite a bit to fit all the 80+ channels into the bandwidth that they have available - I'm not sure if there is more bandwidth on the satellite they use (Intelsat 7?)

DVDs which are SD, have about a bandwidth of about 10Mbps for a video/movie - some of the DSTV channels are compressed to 2Mbps. (P.s. these numbers might be slightly off, but you get the idea...)

I think most broadcasters probably do this too, so it is not unique to DSTV, but I think DSTV has much less bandwidth to play with??

 

[Dolby]

What are DSTV's SD channels broadcat at (resolution)?

 

[Vegeta]

What are DSTV's SD channels broadcat at (resolution)?

EGA?

 

[Vercogen]

However, there is a catch. The three new channels will only be available as part of a special HD bouquet, which subscribers will have to pay for. However, the existing M-Net HD channel will still be available to regular subscribers

You gotta be FARKING kidding me, FFS now we have to pay extra. I would love to cancel my subscription, problem is I like my sport

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

The normal PAL SD resolution is 768x576, but I know most DStv channels' res is lower than that, and varies.

 

[Nerfherder]

It would be cool if you got a bouquet that just had the HD channels , I think that you will find that the only good content available will be on those channels.

At any one time there is usually only 3 channels worth watching anyway.

 

[MisterBigglesworth]

Fark that. If they think Im gonna pay extra on my current HD subscription for 3 new channels...it aint happening. Bring it on...I aint budging...

 

[avr-rulez]

Well they already reduced the picture quality, noticeably, on the 1 HD channel , down from 12mbits to 10mbits.

What will it be when there are 3 new HD channels? /3 ?