M-Net HD's Broadcast Quality Drops

[Milano]

Is this related?

The discontinuation of the selected interactive services, will provide the necessary bandwidth required for future DStv offerings.
The interactive services, accessed via the DStv touch menu, will be phased out between July and November 2009.
We will continue to evaluate our offerings in an effort to provide you, our valued customer, with more streamlined and enhanced products.
MultiChoice would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to your viewing.


Frenquently Asked Questions

1. Why are you removing these services?

Removal of these services will provide MultiChoice with the necessary bandwidth to launch other services and products which we believe will enhance our customers viewing and experience.

Source: http://www.dstv.com/dstvsa/content/en/page250341

 

[arf9999]

Back on the HD issue, its actually funny. I watched the recent Lions test at the Fireman's Arms in "HD" and apart from the widescreen (which was nice) the picture looked no different from the run of the mill standard definitition. I was expecting to see much more detail.

If you can't see the difference between the Lions test in HD and SD, then there are three possibilities:
1. The projector isn't capable of HD
2. The signal isn't being carried by HDMI to the projector (The HD-PVR downscales the signal to SD over all other outputs)
3. You need to have your spectacles' prescription checked.

The difference between HD and SD is marked.

 

[gifs]

If you can't see the difference between the Lions test in HD and SD, then there are three possibilities:
1. The projector isn't capable of HD
2. The signal isn't being carried by HDMI to the projector (The HD-PVR downscales the signal to SD over all other outputs)
3. You need to have your spectacles' prescription checked.

The difference between HD and SD is marked.

I have to agree.

The difference is massive between HD and SD sport on Mnet HD. If you have a large enough screen it is like sitting next to the field.

If you can't see the difference, there is something wrong as outlined above.

 

[Sackboy]

The thread has been deleted from the DStv forum again, and the posts shoved into an unpopular unrelated thread. No MC, you won't cover this one up!

Really??
They've been getting more uptight recently. Getting a lot of flak about the PVR and repeats also.

 

[Smurfatefrog]

The bitrate on SS6 at the moment looks like 0.2mb/s, the pic looks like its made up of 50 pixlelised blocks

 

[TestMate]

I see the thread has returned to the DStv Forum. Someone there may have seen this thread. When will MultiCrap man up and admit that there is no more bandwidth available on the PAS7/10 satellites and there will NEVER be any more channels available than there is now. Unless of coarse thay can manage to get another satellite up there in the same orbital position, which is technically impossible to do without the given authority by Intelsat who "owns" the current orbital position.

Either they will never add any more channels, or they may have to get permission to launch a new satellite in the current orbital position (which may be impossible), or they have to launch a satellite in a new orbital position and get ALL DStv subscribers to adjust their dishes, which is a logistical nightmare. Either way, if ODM doesn't launch soon we will ALL be screwed.

And that Discovery HD bitrate, it's insane! Double that of M-Net HD!

I'd say, Lets phone the chinese and ask them to blow the old piece of junkSat with a rocket...just little more target practice

 

[Dave]

How many HD channels do MNet broadcast?

 

[sybawoods]

Back on the HD issue, its actually funny. I watched the recent Lions test at the Fireman's Arms in "HD" and apart from the widescreen (which was nice) the picture looked no different from the run of the mill standard definitition. I was expecting to see much more detail.

Check here and here for some comparisons.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

How many HD channels does MNet broadcast?

Let me answer your question like this.
Foxtel in Australia has 6 HD channels.
Sky TV in the UK has over 50 HD channels.
DirectTV in the US has over 140 HD channels.

M-Net/DStv has... 1 HD channel.

 

[Zana]

The thread has been deleted from the DStv forum again, and the posts shoved into an unpopular unrelated thread. No MC, you won't cover this one up!

Thank you for exposing them
This is bad business and greed, Great work

Lotsa love
♥♥

 

[Zana]

I see the thread has returned to the DStv Forum. Someone there may have seen this thread. When will MultiCrap man up and admit that there is no more bandwidth available on the PAS7/10 satellites and there will NEVER be any more channels available than there is now. Unless of coarse thay can manage to get another satellite up there in the same orbital position, which is technically impossible to do without the given authority by Intelsat who "owns" the current orbital position.

Either they will never add any more channels, or they may have to get permission to launch a new satellite in the current orbital position (which may be impossible), or they have to launch a satellite in a new orbital position and get ALL DStv subscribers to adjust their dishes, which is a logistical nightmare. Either way, if ODM doesn't launch soon we will ALL be screwed.

And that Discovery HD bitrate, it's insane! Double that of M-Net HD!

I never knew people owned orbital space.. lol what a cutthroat mess
Thanks for the laugh, but even funnier knowing its true and so much silliness. i say they need to launch a new satellite.

♥

 

[Dave]

M-Net/DStv has... 1 HD channel.

Thanks, so there isn't a lot on HD in SA yet.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Thanks, so there isn't a lot on HD in SA yet.

Actually there's none...
M-Net HD doesn't even broadcast in Full HD... It's in 720p HD, which can actually explain why M-Net HD's bitrate is half that of Discovery HD, which is in Full 1080i HD.

 

[ToxicBunny]

BLIXEMPIE :

As much as your threads can be informative, you do get on your high little horse sometimes.

VERY few, if any broadcasters broadcast in "Full" HD... 720P is the broadcast standard.

 

[Smurfatefrog]

Actually there's none...
M-Net HD doesn't even broadcast in Full HD... It's in 720p HD, which can actually explain why M-Net HD's bitrate is half that of Discovery HD, which is in Full 1080i HD.

1080i is not full HD, 1080p is. M-Net HD broadcasts in both 1080i & 720p. You wont find many HD channels on earth that are broadcast at 1080p

 

[sybawoods]

Actually there's none...
M-Net HD doesn't even broadcast in Full HD... It's in 720p HD, which can actually explain why M-Net HD's bitrate is half that of Discovery HD, which is in Full 1080i HD.

Bigger number (1080i) does not mean better quality (720p). 1080i is an interlaced signal, while 720p is progressive, and regarded by most as the superior HD format, particularly for fast moving pictures like sport.

Like others have said, 1080p is full HD, but is only really available on formats like Blu-Ray, and not via broadcasts. Even then, 1080p is only really appreciated on very big screens (52"+), or when sitting very close to the screen.

There's a wealth of info about this - google is your friend.

Furthermore, bitrate is also not the only indicator of HD quality. MPEG 2 vs MPEG 4 is also an important indicator. MPEG 4 is a much more efficient algorithm, allowing for higher quality with relatively high compression. MPEG2 doesn't have this capability. Fortunately, M-NET HD uses the MPEG 4 standard.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Sky HD is 1080i. Fox HD is 1080i. 720i is not "Full HD". I love my high horse.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Blixempie's signature really says it all...

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Discovery HD also in 1080i. 1080p is "full HD". It's one single image of 1920x1080 resolution. 1080i is essentially 2 1920x540 images broadcast simultaneously and then interlaced for smooth fluid movement.

 

[sybawoods]

Sky HD is 1080i. Fox HD is 1080i. 720i is not "Full HD". I love my high horse.

720i??

You must mean 720p. Of course 720i is not full HD. (Neither, then is 1080i. It's important that you understand the difference between an interlaced signal, and a progressive one.

p = progressive
i = interlaced

M-NET HD has the capability to broadcast in 720p and 1080i, and utilises MPEG 4. It is widely recognised that 1080i is best for slow moving pictures (like nature programmes - thus Discovery broadcasts primarily in 1080i).

However, for most other content, e.g. sport, action movies etc, 720p is the superior format.

Multichoice is on record as saying that they will switch between 720p and 1080i depending on content. This is actually quite a pragmatic approach. And gosh, I'm starting to sound like a Multichoice apologist. The point is that it's best to criticise them based on facts.