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PrintHD enthusiasts crying foul over cable TV's crunched signals
Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:59 PM EDT
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MINNEAPOLIS — In Brent Swanson's basement home theater, there should be nothing drab about "Battlestar Galactica." He's got a high-end projector that beams the picture onto a wall painted like a silver screen, and speakers loom in the corners, flanking two big subwoofers.
Yet when he tuned in Sci Fi HD for a recent episode filmed in high definition, the image was soft and the darkest parts broke up into large blocks with no definition. Explosions, he said, were just dull.
"It kind of looked like they took the standard definition and just blew it up," said Swanson, a 33-year-old graphic designer and videographer who subscribes to Comcast Corp.'s TV service. "I couldn't really tell if what I was seeing was really better than what I saw on regular television."
As cable TV companies pack ever more HD channels into limited bandwidth, some owners of pricey plasma, projector and LCD TVs are complaining that they're not getting the high-def quality they paid for. They blame the increased signal compression being used to squeeze three digital HD signals into the bandwidth of one analog station.
The problem is viewers want more HD channels at a time when many cable and satellite providers are at the limits of their capacity, said Jim Willcox, a technology editor for Consumer Reports magazine.
"They have to figure out a way to deliver more HD content through their distribution networks," he said.
Compressing the signal is cheaper than costly infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity. Satellite TV providers — including DirecTV Group Inc. and Dish Network Corp. — also have the option of launching satellites to boost the number of HD channels on their systems.
While information is nearly always lost when signals are compressed and then uncompressed, the process can theoretically be made unnoticeable to eyes and ears — and Comcast says it should be.
But some viewers say they can see it. Willcox said complaints about compression have been showing up on Web forums, including the AV Science Forum, a site for serious audio visual enthusiasts.
"It's not exclusively Comcast, although Comcast, being the largest cable provider, is probably the largest target," he said.
Derek Harrar, a Comcast senior vice president in charge of video, said the company recently began using new technology on some channels to compress three HD channels into the bandwidth of one analog station. Other channels continue to get the previous 2-to-1 compression.
In a posting on the AV Science Forum, Ken Fowler of Arlington, Va., compared Comcast signals with those on Verizon Communications Inc.'s all-fiber-optic network, which doesn't have the same capacity limitations. Fowler found the higher-compressed HD stations, including Sci Fi, Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, the Food Network and A&E, fared particularly poorly.
He analyzed the signals by recording them on a digital recorder, then transferring them to a personal computer for analysis. He found there was much less data, measured in bit rates, flowing to some channels than others.
For example, Discovery's bit rate was 14.16 megabits per second on Verizon's FiOS system but only 10.43 Mbps on Comcast; A&E HD was 18.66 Mbps on FiOS compared with 14.48 Mbps on Comcast. The FiOS system didn't offer Sci Fi HD, which Fowler's testing showed at 12.59 Mbps on Comcast.
He found the signals from the major networks and ESPN weren't getting the increased compression.
In an interview, Fowler said he reran his analysis about two weeks ago and found "basically the same thing."
Philadelphia-based Comcast wouldn't identify specific signals that are 3-to-1 compressed, and a Sci Fi channel spokeswoman referred questions back to Comcast.
Harrar said the company works to make sure any new compression technology is invisible to consumers, but Comcast is "constantly monitoring our network and making adjustments" for best picture quality. The company has been rolling out the new compression technology at different times around the country.
In fact, postings on the AV Science Forum from early April suggest the Comcast network has improved in some places.
And there are other reasons a high-definition picture can appear subpar: The source image might not have been recorded in HD, or the television's settings, the viewing angle and even the ambient lighting in the room could be the cause.
New York-based Time Warner Cable Inc. has avoided many of the criticisms aimed at Comcast, although the companies are technologically similar and face the same capacity limits.
Time Warner spokesman Alex Dudley attributed it to his company's testing procedures. He said that before Time Warner rolls out new technology that may affect image quality, it sets up two identical televisions in a lab, one with the old signal and one with the new. Technicians make adjustments until the pictures can't be told apart.
"The testers are our engineers who we call 'golden eyes,' who have a proven track record of picking up subtle differences in picture quality," he said.
Verizon's FiOS doesn't compress the signal once it receives it, and Willcox said it's considered the picture quality "benchmark." However, Verizon said the system is growing but is now available only in parts of 17 states and has just over a million subscribers — compared with more than 24 million for Comcast.
He said two possible solutions are on the horizon, an improved version of compression, called MPEG-4, and something called "switched digital video."
Comcast and Time Warner Cable have introduced switched video on a trial basis across their networks. In concept, it's like on-demand videos. The company sends only the channels the viewer is watching, instead of all the channels at once.
But switched video has its own issues, including possible slower channel switching times and compatibility problems with digital video recorders.
Willcox said cable providers can't afford to ignore quality complaints. Many customers are already picky about quality after paying $800 to $3,500 for an average-size, HD-ready LCD television.
Swanson, the "Battlestar Galactica" fan, is sticking with Comcast for now.
"It hasn't gotten bad enough for me to consider changing," he said.
___
On the Net:
Comcast Corp.: http://www.comcast.com
Time Warner Cable Inc.: http://www.timewarnercable.com
Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Groups: TV Lounge
- Regions: United States , Minneapolis/Saint Paul
 | HD enthusiasts crying foul over cable TV's compressed signals | San Jose Mercury News | Mon Apr 21 | 1 |
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{"commentId":1714417,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
I've just gotten HD. Personally I am considering getting rid of it. While I do notice some improvement in picture quality - it just isn't enough to me to justify the additional monthly.
{"commentId":1714417,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
#1 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1714766,"authorDomain":"basseq"}
I really only notice it when I watch sports.
{"commentId":1714766,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"basseq"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1717062,"authorDomain":"tdd1224"}
I agree. I have had nothing but problems with my service and besides the only place I really notice a difference is certain sports - not all just some. I have been less than pleased with my comcast bandwidth for both HDTV, Phone, and Internet. I am waiting for better Internet T.V service. Heck I can buy most of the shows I like off of iTunes for $2.00 one week after airing, and this why I pay for only what I want and no commercials.
{"commentId":1717062,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"tdd1224"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1714622,"authorDomain":"mrben"}
While these are concerns for some people, most people do no even notice when their TV is set to the wrong aspect ratio (i'm sick of seeing stretched out images on sports bar 16:9 TVs). There is a huge herd of people who will happily and almost blindly buy "HD" products whether or not there is any truth to the claim. Its simply too complicated for most people to understand the nuances of what constitutes quality image and sound.
And FDBryan points out another problem, yeah the picture is good, but its not THAT much better. Especially not for the price and the headache associated with it.
{"commentId":1714622,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"mrben"}
- 2 votes
#2 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:23 PM EDT{"commentId":1717694,"authorDomain":"ellis-mayer"}
I would agree that people do not seem to notice bad HD. I notice that on TBSHD and TNTHD, for example, almost all of the programming, except sports, appear squashed, or cut-off the heads of the actors, meaning that the picture is simply streched and is simply not really HD. I think the answer appears to be that more HD is not better HD.
That being said, a true HD picture is soooo much better than just analog/digital that if you do not appreciate the difference, you probably are NOT seeing a true HD picture at all.
{"commentId":1717694,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"ellis-mayer"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":1714913,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
HD DirecTV is Cristal, I love it. CBS local HD has a little problem at times, but not often. I have a Toshiba 57" 16:9, and no complaint's. I like the sports packages that DirecTV offers, the NFL ticket is a must, I never miss a Steelers game.
{"commentId":1714913,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
- 1 vote
#3 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:42 PM EDT{"commentId":1714932,"authorDomain":"thenet411"}
What irritates me is that ESPN is not being compressed. I personally don't watch sports that often (the occasional Giants game) but even still, I would much rather see a nature show in crystal clear HD than a sports game of any type. Who cares if you can see the player's uniforms clearly? Wouldn't you rather see every petal of a wildflower in a remote corner of the world you may never get to see otherwise? I know I sure would.
{"commentId":1714932,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"thenet411"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:50 PM EDT{"commentId":1715262,"authorDomain":"basseq"}
You underestimate fanatical sports fans. Everything has merit, and ESPN probably has a much higher revenue stream than the Discovery Channel.
{"commentId":1715262,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"basseq"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1715324,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
Unfortunately (well at least for non-sports fans) he is right. The fact is that HD is where it is today largely because of sports fans who were the early adopters.
{"commentId":1715324,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1717580,"authorDomain":"aalt"}
It's not the uniforms. It's the ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley field, it's the dents in the Big Green Monster at Fenway and the turf on a football field.
My Samsung makes me feel like I am looking through a window in the club seats.
{"commentId":1717580,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"aalt"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1717699,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
It's the ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley field, it's the dents in the Big Green Monster at Fenway and the turf on a football field.
My general thought - is who cares? Its the play I want to see - is it really that much more improved.
But I'm not much of a sports fan, so each their own - if it really improves the experience for you, more power to you.
{"commentId":1717699,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1718025,"authorDomain":"basseq"}
if it really improves the experience for you, more power to you.
Exactly.
Wouldn't you rather see every petal of a wildflower in a remote corner of the world you may never get to see otherwise?
It's all about individual experience.
{"commentId":1718025,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"basseq"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1715473,"authorDomain":"physics"}
Claiming that it's unnoticeable to the human eye is disingenuous at best. Many people don't notice, but in general they're either relatively new to HD and/or haven't been trained to understand what the problems are (and how to isolate them beyond "it doesn't look right"). It's very noticeable once you start paying attention (which I don't recommend since it just leads to anger!).
{"commentId":1715473,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"physics"}
- 4 votes
#5 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:49 PM EDT{"commentId":1716699,"authorDomain":"nefariousone73"}
I can definitely tell the difference from HD to SD on my Uverse package and I only have a small 23" TV. I would think if you cannot see the difference your settings are wrong or your service is just not that great. Or maybe the programming itself was not actually shot in HD. If the broadcast is still an SD program there is going to be little to no discernible difference.
{"commentId":1716699,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"nefariousone73"}
- 1 vote
#6 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:03 PM EDT{"commentId":1716778,"authorDomain":"windmill007"}
I have been complaining about Directv's compression since I got it. Sure it looks great to most people but I know what it should look like. I have bluray and Over The Air to compare it to. Sure on still pictures it looks really good. But you get any fast moving or really dark scenes that's where the compression begins to fail. You can see blocks and really makes the picture look bad. Ya if I want to see something in all its glory I go bluray but I wish directv had as good as a picture. I know they can do it but like every other service they think quantity over quality rules. They advertise the quantity. You never hear them say anything about the quality because they know better. I'm sure they will improve in time I just wish it was now.
{"commentId":1716778,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"windmill007"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:22 PM EDT{"commentId":1716807,"authorDomain":"windmill007"}
All the channels I like they seem to compress the most. Ya sports seem to be the elast compress but I don't watch them so go figure.
And don't get me wrong. HD looks great compared to SD but not as good as it is suppose to look because of compression.
{"commentId":1716807,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"windmill007"}
#8 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:28 PM EDT{"commentId":1716838,"authorDomain":"creatingascreennamesucks"}
So this is what is going on. I've noticed over the last couple of months that pixelation during action sequences was showing up where before it was unnoticable. More irritating, however, is that with the last round of Comcast's HD channel additions, some channels lose the sound all together. Try flipping to MHD to see a musical performance only to find there is no sound... And to anyone that claims the difference between HD and standard digital signals is unnoticeable, you need to invest in better cables. Component cables at a minimum = HDMI or DVI preferred.
{"commentId":1716838,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"creatingascreennamesucks"}
- 1 vote
#9 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:36 PM EDT{"commentId":1716848,"authorDomain":"creatingascreennamesucks"}
I'd rather see both.
{"commentId":1716848,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"creatingascreennamesucks"}
#10 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:39 PM EDT{"commentId":1717081,"authorDomain":"oneillbp"}
The difference between HD and non-HD is huge in my eyes (no pun intended) but there will be people that don't notice or really don't care. Take my wife for example, she just wants to watch a darn show - she'll have the the non-HD channel on and not even think twice - till I walk in the room and switch it...and she's like "wow". But that's still not enough for her to care and worry about it the next time.
I've had Comcast, DirecTV and Verizon over the past 4 years and Verizon has the best picture by far for both HD and non-HD channels. Even on my standard non-HD set the picture is better. No question for me that Verizon provides a much better picture (even that same wife mentioned above noticed a difference...lol).
{"commentId":1717081,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"oneillbp"}
- 1 vote
#11 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:28 PM EDT{"commentId":1717090,"authorDomain":"echevarria68"}
When I sold HDTV's for a large Company, we had two TV's on display showing the difference between HD and SD. I myself never knew how much change there was. I am an HD fan and DirecTV is my favorite because of the NFL Package. But watching baseball or golf is awesome. Now with SCIFI HD, Battlestar Galactica is even better.
{"commentId":1717090,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"echevarria68"}
#12 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:30 PM EDT{"commentId":1717139,"authorDomain":"george-sica"}
Most have to realize that old movies shot from film and converted to HD is not 100% HD and old TV shows, though broadcast at HD resolution will never look HD since the old film grain and reproductions will never get a 100% clear digital picture.
But when a show is shot with HD DIGITAL cameras, like Discovery's Plant Earth series, it is absolutely fantastic. Also great are pictures come from live TV news and sports (like golf) where you can see the dimples on the golf balls and the TV news people. I now do not want to watch SD TV anymore.
I have Directv and my son has cable and a better SAMSUNG DLP (1080p) than my SAMSUNG LED (1080i), and in HD my pictures are better. Unless you can get TV via fiber optic, satellite is much better. Coax will never have the bandwidth needed. Your converter box for cable or satellite must be HD and those who complain may not realize this and how your TV is set also matters.
Beware of those low priced LCD TV's. Most are 720p (lines of resolution) but most important is the contrast ratio. When is reads 500:1 your blacks will not always be black. Good sets are now over 15,000:1 and the blacks are blacker. My set is 5000:1 and in some HD shows the black is a bit blotchee because LCD's do not completely turn off. High end sets are now well over 50,000:1.
I also have a 19" LCD HD TV in the bedroom and no HD signal or converter box, and in standard TV the picture is very very good. I have the sidebars in stretch mode and not the whole picture
{"commentId":1717139,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"george-sica"}
- 1 vote
#13 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:39 PM EDT{"commentId":1717155,"authorDomain":"rclark174"}
I put in a wonderfull little box where my cable comes into the house called picture fixer. I got it on Amazon ($35). I have 8 TVs, 3 are HD. I put a splitter on the cable coming in and connected one output to my Internet box and the other to the picture fixer. All the TVs are fed from the 8-port picture fixer. I also ran direct cable to all HD TVs (No intervening splitters) and all are now perfect. Make sure to use RG-6 coax or better.
{"commentId":1717155,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"rclark174"}
#14 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:43 PM EDT{"commentId":1721238,"authorDomain":"mpiper"}
What is the brand name of the "picture fixer?" Can't find it on Amazon, so am looking for more information. Many thanks.
{"commentId":1721238,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"mpiper"}
{"commentId":1717195,"authorDomain":"pbterrapin"}
Some "HD" signals are only 720 vertical lines, whereas true HD is 1080 vertical lines. If your input signal from cable or satellite or ATSC antenna is 720 and your TV/monitor is not exactly 720 pixels vertical, there will have to be a conversion taking place to match the input signal to the TV's physical capability. Anytime there is a conversion (upconvert or downconvert), you will loose quality.
Don't buy TV/monitors that are not physically 1080 lines vertical. Read the specs before buying the TV. Most "HDTVs" are not 1920x1080. You will have to look closely to find one of these, but they are out there. You will usually have to pay a little bit more for the higher resolution, but it's worth it.
To get the best quality picture, your signal source (from cable, satellite, antenna) should be 1080 vertical and your TV/monitor should also be 1080 vertical. When these two match, there is no conversion taking place and the picture quality is awesome.
{"commentId":1717195,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"pbterrapin"}
#15 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:53 PM EDT{"commentId":1717279,"authorDomain":"mdowd"}
We have Cox cable here in AZ and the quality is horrible. We have had tech out 3 times on new HD TV thinking that was the problem - but is has been narrowed down to the reception coming in - also problem with sound "hickups".
{"commentId":1717279,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"mdowd"}
#16 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:11 PM EDT{"commentId":1717294,"authorDomain":"lugnutathome"}
I've truly enjoyed my DirectTV HD and yes some channels cheat and stretch SD programming. I was annoyed that Sci Fi muted the LFE on BSG. I assume this was done to limit "damage" to viewers using just TV for sound. Though it was annoying.
If the guy was a fan of BSG he would note that they film in 480i and have a "news reel" like quality to their production. Even a well upscaled image shows it to be a crappy master compared to many network HD shows.
Right now the biggest problem with HD is all the mis information and confusion. Its a complex set of not quite ready for prime time of sweet video and audio treats that require an in depth understanding how to use it to get full effect.
When it gets truly consumer friendly it will rock.
Don "a happy early adopter" Bolton
{"commentId":1717294,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"lugnutathome"}
#17 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:15 PM EDT{"commentId":1717308,"authorDomain":"exsolis"}
I bought a 32 inch LCD for my bedroom to start, and given the low quality, and constant borders on the screen it will be a long, long, time before I spring for a big screen for the livingroom. And the price Comcast wants for its second class service!
{"commentId":1717308,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"exsolis"}
#18 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:18 PM EDT{"commentId":1717309,"authorDomain":"ed-t"}
I thought the only way to view 1080p on your new tv was to watch a blue ray disk or be using a sony play station
That everything else was brodcast at 720p
Am I wrong ?
{"commentId":1717309,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"ed-t"}
#19 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:18 PM EDT{"commentId":1719013,"authorDomain":"george-sica"}
Most are not 720p but 1080i broadcast. ABC is 720p, NBC & CBS are 1080i. ESPN2 is 720p. How can you tell. There are web sites that will tell you but it also depends what the provider is sending.
The DirecTv HD DVR has a setting in the set up menu for HDTV. It is called NATIVE and when you turn the feature on, the converter box will change the output to to broadcast feed. The DVR has three LEDs that represent 480, 720 and 1080. When you change channels one of these LED's will light up. The idea on this is your TV will usually accept maybe three resolutions such as 480p, 720p, & 1080i but the converter box can accept & send more than three. Therefore, this setting on the DVR will only send the signals that the TV can accept. That what is the TV INPUT button on the remotes are all about but it is more of a manual mode where as this NATIVE setting is automatic.
{"commentId":1719013,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"george-sica"}
{"commentId":1717324,"authorDomain":"dsands"}
I have dish with a 42 inch HD TV. The pictures on some shows are fantastic but others are so-so. Overall, I am satisfied with what I have but would like access to more HD channels. I had Direct for a while but they could not give me local or network channels. I purposely wait for movies top be on HD channels as theey look bad in comparison in STD.
{"commentId":1717324,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"dsands"}
#20 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:21 PM EDT{"commentId":1717340,"authorDomain":"ed-t"}
I thought the only way to view 1080p on your new tv was to watch a blue ray or hd disk on use a sony play station
I thought all other brodcasts of HD was at 720p
Am I wrong
{"commentId":1717340,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"ed-t"}
#21 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:25 PM EDT{"commentId":1717422,"authorDomain":"restso"}
HDTV is not broadcast in 1080p, you are correct about that. (I think it has something to do with the amount of bandwith needed to send 1080p)
I don't know if all others are 720p though, I think we might get 1080i from our cable HD channels, that's what the TV says when we push the info button.
{"commentId":1717422,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"restso"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1717600,"authorDomain":"ocmdba"}
My over-the-air is 1080i, far superior to cable with ZERO compression.
{"commentId":1717600,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"ocmdba"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1718734,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
DirecTV HD claims, and I have to say from the appearance it is 1080i. I have the full HD package they provide. Not all the Sports or movie channels. Discovery, History Channel, Smithsonian, etc., all are in HD. It's worth checking out their site for info. The picture and sound quality thru the HDMI cable is great. If they ever get the price down on their internet service I'll switch to it. The claim that DTV goes out in heavy rain storms is true, but rarely out for more than 10 15 minutes. I live in the rainy state. When I had cable it was out for hours at a time. In short, I like it, and feel it's worth the cost.
{"commentId":1718734,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
{"commentId":1717468,"authorDomain":"y10kday"}
Yes, I am getting exactly what I paid for which is full, uncompressed HD for $0.00! Its called rabbit ears folks. No, I don't get all the special channels, but all the major networks are full HD in prime time and also a lot of other times. And the price is exactly right for me.
{"commentId":1717468,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"y10kday"}
#22 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:45 PM EDT{"commentId":1718741,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
Do you live in an area that is dropping analog transmission ? It is in our area, people that have antennas have to get a digital conversion box.
{"commentId":1718741,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1717511,"authorDomain":"mildredevans"}
We have a Sony which is 1080 and use Comcast. We watch a lot of sports and anything that is in HD and our local news just went with HD. Why do we get black sides or a small picture with black all around on an HD channel when it swtiches to commercials or other content. Is it because they don't film in HD? ESPN does this when they go to commentators sometimes. I don't like watching in stretched out view. Will this change in the future when everyone switches to digital? Do I need to change the settings?
{"commentId":1717511,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"mildredevans"}
- 2 votes
#23 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:53 PM EDT{"commentId":1717638,"authorDomain":"restso"}
Is it because they don't film in HD?
Yep, that's why. They don't film all content in HD yet, maybe at some point in the future it will happen, but not when there's a switch to digital in February of 09. I hypothesize they don't film commercials in HD because it's more expensive to air an HD commercial, sometimes we even see commercial we've seen in HD aired with the boxes on the side, again, my guess is that it's due to the cost of airing HD.
{"commentId":1717638,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"restso"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1717557,"authorDomain":"aalt"}
Every time I hear somebody complain about the quality of their HD it amazes me. I have had to adjust HD sets for quite a few people only to find out that they had the TV on the wrong aspect ratio or it was just hooked up wrong all together. I have HD cable with Brighthouse and I have an absolutely spectacular picture. I have a Samsung LNT4065F 40" and I watched the same Battlestar Galactica episode mentioned above in the article and I was amazed by the explosion sequences. The edges were razor sharp.
I do not have the cable going directly to the TV. I have a digital box and I use an HDMI cable from that to one of the component inputs on the TV.
If people would take the time to read the manual that comes with their TV they would find that the TV has several different setups.
Also, some of the sets I have tried to adjust are just plain trash. People go out and buy the most affordable (cheapest) HDTV they can find and that is a mistake. buying a component like this because of price is the wrong move.
{"commentId":1717557,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"aalt"}
- 1 vote
#24 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:03 PM EDT{"commentId":1717564,"authorDomain":"david-switzler"}
i thought i was going crazy the other day when TNT HD started looking horrible. granted, the episode of Law and Order i was watching was filmed in '92 and definitely not in HD but regardless, the quality of the programming should be no less than standard broadcast and on my 1080 full HD LG 42", it definitely shouldn't have been doing the same things described in "Battlestar Galactica" above (darkest parts getting super-pixelated/grainy/blocky... whatever the problem, DirecTV needs to either stop charging so much for additional HD service that looks worse than standard broadcasts taken off of an antenna or fix the problem
{"commentId":1717564,"threadId":"253036","contentId":"1442388","authorDomain":"david-switzler"}
#25 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:05 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"253036","isPrivate":false}
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