DSTV HDTV
MultiChoice recently launched its high definition personal video recorder (HD PVR) decoder.
To enjoy high definition content, DSTV subscribers will need an HD PVR decoder and an HD-ready television set. The HD PVR decoder will be available in major retail stores from August 2008 and will launch at a price of R2 499 (for a limited time period).
MultiChoice will initially only launch a single HDTV channel due to the "prohibitive cost around HD". The company, however, points out that the number of channels will grow in time.
The Beijing Olympic Games will be the first to broadcast in HD format from 8 August to 24 August on channel 170. From August 24 MNet HD will take over the channel offering a mix of series, movies, sporting action and once-off specials.
Broadcast quality
The MNet HD broadcast will be in 720p. This means that there will be 720 horizontal scan lines of display resolution and have a true widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.
Some users may yearn for the higher resolution 1080p, but Multichoice pointed out that there was no 1080p broadcast standard available yet.
“The viewer will be able to select 1080i or 720p as output from the decoder to their LCD or plasma. We recommend keeping it in 720p as you lose quality in each translation,” said MultiChoice.
The distance between the viewer and the television is described as a "critical factor" when viewing HD content. Optimum viewing is achieved at the minimum distance at which the eye can be fooled into thinking that what it is looking at is real.
Here MultiChoice recommends a viewing distance of six times the vertical length of the screen for a mixture of normal and HDTV content.
Decoder details
The new HD PVR decoder packs a 300GB hard disk drive, allowing for a minimum of 150 hours of SD content or 50 hours of HD content.
The new HD PVR has four tuners and requires four separate feeds from the dish and LNB. The two wire existing installation for the old PVR can be modified with a simple splitter device to spit the two cables into 4 where they connect to the HD PVR. So no new dish or LNB is required for the new service, just a splitter.
The decoder connects to an HD-ready television set via an HDMI cable that supports HDCP. If a TV however has only a DVI connector but supports HDCP it is possible to purchase a HDMI to DVI converter in some cases.
MultiChoice recommended the expertise of an accredited installer for the installation of the new service.
Viewing and recording channels
The HD PVR allows for one viewing environment, two background recording environments and one channel for EPG data and video on demand downloads.
Users can, however, extend the viewing and recording environments by using MultiChoice’s recently launched XtraView service.
By combining two HD PVR decoders users can enjoy two viewing environments and four recording environments. If an HD PVR and SD PVR is combined subscribers will have three independent viewing environment and three simultaneous recording environments.
Apart from the standard monthly subscription fees and R55 dual-view access fee there are no additional XtraView charges.
HD Channel and cost
The new HD service and content will be free of charge to subscribers and MultiChoice said that concrete decisions had yet been taken on when additional channels would be added and whether or not they would attract additional subscription charges.
The HD content will currently form part of the premium bouquet available to premium subscribers who choose to buy the HD PVR.
The new HD PVR decoders will be available in all of MultiChoice’s traditional retail outlets such as Game, Makro and Pick n Pay. Users will also be able to buy these new decoders from MultiChoice branches, installers and agents. Stock should hit the shelves during the first week of August.
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