MultiChoice denies SD content on HD channel
A few DStv HD subscribers have recently complained that some content on the M-Net High Definition (HD) channel is broadcast in Standard Definition (SD). According to one DStv forum user known as Mavado numerous TV series, including Desperate Housewives, CSI : New York, House and Burn Notice, were broadcast in SD in July on the M-Net HD Channel.
When quizzed by a DStv representative in the forum requesting: “what it is about the quality of the picture that leads him to believe it’s in SD”, he hit back saying that “you [DStv] asking me for ‘indicators’ tells me how oblivious you guys are to the obvious problem we’re having.”
“Well I do video editing for Apple. I edit HD content as well as audio, so I can see the difference immediately. I watched certain shows on DVD upscaled and there is virtually no difference between that and today’s episode,” he explained. “Another good way of telling if you are watching SD and HD is to look into the distance instead of the close ups. If it is pixelated then it is SD.”
Other users agreed with Mavado that the quality of the visuals were not what is expected of HD TV, but questioned whether the decline in quality may not be attributed to the over-compression of content to save bandwidth rather than broadcasting in SD.
MultiChoice investigated further, and said that all the programs Mavado refered to were played out in High Definition. “Having said that we do acknowledge that there have been some instances in the past where for operational reasons we could not get an episode or program out in HD. We continue to refine our processes so that these instances are limited to the greatest extent possible,” the MultiChoice representative said.
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