Where's my HDTV broadcast?!

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ldmelsa

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Who do you guys think will broadcast the first HDTV content? Be it through fixed line (cable TV - Telkom/Neotel/GTS) or satellite (DSTV/Telkom/???) or SABC/Sentech. Of course, fixed line would require something >= ADSL2 (and the cap?). The shops are packed full of LCD/Plasma HDTV's and the people are buying these things like hotcakes. But where's the content? I'll buy one when I can watch something on it (HD-DVD / Blue-ray / HDTV broadcast).

Eagerly awaiting high definition :rolleyes:
56kMan
 
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I personally think DSTV would be the first to offer HDTV. Prob 2008 or 2009. By then I am hoping stuff like widescreen will become a standard option for all or most channels. That and get a freaking PVR firmware update that will fix all the probs.

Oh, and its 'High Definition'
 
Inertia said:
I personally think DSTV would be the first to offer HDTV. Prob 2008 or 2009. By then I am hoping stuff like widescreen will become a standard option for all or most channels. That and get a freaking PVR firmware update that will fix all the probs.

Oh, and its 'High Definition'
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I'm hoping widescreen will become standard long before then - surely it cannot be that complicated?
 
Well it's not all that easy IMO. Not all channels broadcast content in widscreen do they? Take a channel like MTV, some of the newstuff might be widescreen, but a lot of music videos were shot in 4:3, and are the newer videos being shot in 16:9? That goes for all the news channels as well, would the guys carrying small handhelds in Iraq be able to capture 16:9 content? Same goes for the old movie channels, series channel etc. Unless it would be a 50/50 split between some content being 16:9 and some being 4:3, i don't see why DSTV would change until the majority of content is already 16:9.

Unless i am wrong and a lot of content is already 16:9 and DSTV are buying the (cheaper?) 4:3 content. That doesn't seem all that far-fetched
 
Inertia said:
Unless i am wrong and a lot of content is already 16:9 and DSTV are buying the (cheaper?) 4:3 content. That doesn't seem all that far-fetched
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Doubt it, the money/cost's in the content itself, not the format.
 
Well as far as i'm aware, shooting in 16:9 requires new equipment; ala higher costs
 
Inertia said:
Unless i am wrong and a lot of content is already 16:9 and DSTV are buying the (cheaper?) 4:3 content. That doesn't seem all that far-fetched
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A lot of countries seem to manage both.
 
Inertia said:
Well as far as i'm aware, shooting in 16:9 requires new equipment; ala higher costs
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True, but then they'd probably shoot only in 16:9, and not 4:3, don't think you need special equipment to broadcast 16:9. Remember seeing something on DSTV the other day, think it might have been a rugby game, that was shown on 4:3 on one channel and 16:9 on another so I'm not sure.
 
Yep DSTV has been doing that for a while with the sports channels. Really is awesome to see full length players and that extra 20% of the rugby pitch. Obviously they had to invest in some sort of new equipment, and broadcasting bandwidth would have to be increased due to the 20% extra pixels. Maybe they are weighing their 'Cost vs Amount of 16:9 displays' in SA ratio. I am confident the sports trials have been a success, and we just have to wait and see if DSTV is kind enuff to give us plasma boys some full-time widescreen.
 
bwana said:
A lot of countries seem to manage both.
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True, but perhaps DSTV has the mindset that it is not feasible unless the majority is widescreen. We are living in a monopolistic environment remember, and only if it absolutely sure to add revenue or anything else to the company will it be considered.
 
Inertia said:
True, but perhaps DSTV has the mindset that it is not feasible unless the majority is widescreen. We are living in a monopolistic environment remember, and only if it absolutely sure to add revenue or anything else to the company will it be considered.
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Given the choice I prefer watching downloaded content these days - at least they get the aspect ratio correct.
 
True that. Too bad we are restricted to +- 3 or 4 high resolutions shows/movies. Bring on the high-def IPTV!
 
I guess that the DSTV decoders would need to be updated to enable them to switch from normal mode to widescreen without the user having to change the setting manually. You could select an option which says "I have a widescreen TV" and it would automatically choose the best mode for you.
 
Inertia said:
Well as far as i'm aware, shooting in 16:9 requires new equipment; ala higher costs
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I think you guys are confusing standard definition 16:9/4:3 (576 lines) with high definition (720 lines or 1080 lines). Remember, you get SD in 16:9 and 4:3 but they are both the same resolution (16:9 is just an anamorphic picture). SD can be 16:9 or 4:3 but HD is always 16:9. 720p is always square pixels - 1280x720. 1080i's pixels can be anamorphic - 1440x1080(still 16:9 - just anamorphic) OR the pixels can be square - 1920x1080.

To shoot in 16:9 SD is not more expensive than shooting 4:3. It's when it's HD that it is more expensive, but not by much and the prices are coming down. Editing is also not a problem. It's broadcasting the stuff, that's where they have to get $$$ equipment.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on HD specifically.

Thanks
56kMan
 
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I wonder when Plasma/LCD will eventually replace the old CRT in this country.

The prices have come down plenty now. Look at DVD players, 5 years later and you can get a cheap piece of crap for R299.
 
I doubt they ever will. Personally i think the closest they will come is about 20 - 30%. I think they will still be priced as the top-end of TV's for the next 3-5 years atleast.
 
Hi .

I have some friends who work in UEC now own3d by the altech, anyways .... UEC makes dstv decoders & also receivers for other countries. Now since sentech is state owned, the government has already started making a sheet load of HDTV receivers, basically SABS & other free to air channels will be HD. Dont know when they will be released but UEC has been making it for the last year, apparently the government will be offering this for free or maybe they doing it before the world cup ... who knows ....

Another interesting thing is FTA satellite channels from other countries. There are FTA HD Channels which u can use with ur hdtv. Ive been struggling trying to locate a satellite.... the only satellites SA satellite techincians know is dstv ones ... so not much help from them ...

Look at lyngsat.com - if only we could pick up warner brothers or fox, no need to download anymore :P
 
Saw an ad on DSTV the other today, talking about HDTV. They said they if you are buying a new TV consider getting an HD Ready one, as DSTV would be launching HDTV very soon.

How soon is very soon?
 
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