BBC cripple HD offering to make it fit on Freeview

Years ago, I remember commenting that there was nothing necessarily
wrong with HD on Freeview, but it was likely that the BBC would
cripple its HD offering everywhere else as a result - holding back
from broadcasting multiple HD channels on DSat while there was only
room for one on DTT.

So insisting on making HD available on Freeview would actually
_reduce_ the choice of many people, as further BBC HD channels
launches would be delayed.


Well, straight from the horses mouth...

"I think that broadcasting the whole of the BBC's channel portfolio in
HD is a very long way off - you know better than most what capacity
would be required to do that, and how fast compression is coming into
help. But that doesn't mean that I believe we will only broadcast a
single compilation channel for evermore. We would not want to develop
an HD offer which could not suit all the available HD platforms, and
the capacity limits on Freeview are therefore a limiting factor at the
moment."

....from here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcintern...on_bbc_hd.html

....not to say they have enough to fill the single channel at present,
but as they seek to broadcast more HD content, the limit will always
be "what can we fit on Freeview"?

Cheers,
David.

....snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional cost
of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on satellite.
Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound and recognise
that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be being given away
with a gallon of petrol ;-).

paul DS.

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
...snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional
cost of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on satellite.
Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound and
recognise that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be being
given away with a gallon of petrol ;-).


Or more likely petrol will have become so expensive that the bait will be, a
free gallon of petrol with every satellite system sold!

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message ...
...snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional cost
of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

I disagree.
A hell of a lot of the market for HDTV is at the supermarket end of the scale - £300 32" sets.
A basic HD satellite system with installation is going to be what - £200?
If you want a better selection of programming then you are going to have to pay for a subscription service at £50 (ish?) a month

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on satellite.
Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound and recognise
that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be being given away
with a gallon of petrol ;-).

No , let's have a "best of" HD channel on freeview and then let people go for the more costly satellite options if they want everything in HD


--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger , then I hide until it goes away"

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
...snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional
cost of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on satellite.
Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound and
recognise that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be being
given away with a gallon of petrol ;-).

But no-one will have dis-invented conservation areas and listed buildings.
In fact, I suggest that there will be more of them!

tim

"tim....." wrote in message
...

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
...snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional
cost of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on
satellite. Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound
and recognise that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be
being given away with a gallon of petrol ;-).

But no-one will have dis-invented conservation areas and listed buildings.
In fact, I suggest that there will be more of them!

tim

Tongue a little in cheek...

But the percentage of properties which are in Conservation Areas or listed
buildings is very low compared to the average. Also, such properties tend
to be where cable is a viable alternative.

Surely better to provide one decent "low spec" system and use the high-end
alternatives to HD rather than end up with the high-end system plus a
crippled low-end system straining under the weight of an HD signal when
broadcasters are already unwilling to transmit decent quality SD.

Paul DS.

Comments below...

"Dr Zoidberg" wrote in message
...
"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
...snip...

In order to watch HD, you need an HD TV (thus outlay!). The additional
cost
of an HD satellite system is not much on top.

I disagree.
A hell of a lot of the market for HDTV is at the supermarket end of the
scale - £300 32" sets.

PDS Oh, so we're talking 720? I was hoping for real HD (1080) ;-). But I
take the point that prices will come down over time.

A basic HD satellite system with installation is going to be what - £200?

PDS $ky+HD - £49.00 one off plus £26.25/month. I would be interested to
see what proportion of people are willing to pay for HD just to watch
BBC1/2/ITV etc. I would expect most HD customers to be cable or $ky anyway
in order to get sports and newer movies.

If you want a better selection of programming then you are going to have
to pay for a subscription service at £50 (ish?) a month

So let's face facts, Freeview is fine for SD but HD can stay on
satellite.
Let's get Freeview with SD, some decent bitrates and 5.1 sound and
recognise
that by the time HD takes off, satellite systems will be being given away
with a gallon of petrol ;-).

No , let's have a "best of" HD channel on freeview and then let people go
for the more costly satellite options if they want everything in HD

PDS What is the "best of" that is free? No, seriously - what do you hope
to get for free in HD?

Paul DS.

On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:07:41 +0100, "Paul D.Smith"
wrote:

PDS Oh, so we're talking 720? I was hoping for real HD (1080) ;-). But I
take the point that prices will come down over time.

Freeview HD is only going to be 720p anyway, according to Ofcom.

PDS $ky+HD - £49.00 one off plus £26.25/month. I would be interested to
see what proportion of people are willing to pay for HD just to watch
BBC1/2/ITV etc.

You don't have to pay a subscription just to watch the free HD
channels.

--

"Zero Tolerance" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:07:41 +0100, "Paul D.Smith"
wrote:

PDS Oh, so we're talking 720? I was hoping for real HD (1080) ;-). But
I
take the point that prices will come down over time.

Freeview HD is only going to be 720p anyway, according to Ofcom.

And my point is why waste valuable bandwidth and substantial effort on
implementing a system which is already obsolete? We should be aiming for
tomorrow's picture (1080p) and not phaffing around with something little
better than the existing SD system.

And before you ask, I do look in the store windows at the "720-HD/SD"
comparisons on display - darned if I can see what the fuss is about ;-).


PDS $ky+HD - £49.00 one off plus £26.25/month. I would be interested to
see what proportion of people are willing to pay for HD just to watch
BBC1/2/ITV etc.

You don't have to pay a subscription just to watch the free HD
channels.


True, but what channels are they? Are are people really going to watch HD
in numbers without sport and big bucks movies - neither of which will be
free.

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
"tim....." wrote in message
...
But the percentage of properties which are in Conservation Areas or listed
buildings is very low compared to the average. Also, such properties tend
to be where cable is a viable alternative.

You must be thinking of urban ones. There are a lot of rural conservation
areas, listed
buildings, and areas of outstanding whatsit. They don't have cable.

Bill