" ITV HD to be Freesat exclusive?"

[Phlog]

This is the complete news item from Digital Spy. It puts yet another spin on what will/won't be on Freesat.

" Speculation is mounting today that ITV's new high definition service will be exclusive to Freesat.

Test transmissions for ITV HD are now being broadcast on Eurobird 1 at 11.428 GHz with horizontal polarisation, a symbol rate of 27500, and a service ID of 10510. However, the stream may not be viewed on Sky boxes, nor traditional free to air receivers, as the video stream is being broadcast as H.222 data rather than using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec supported by such receivers and used by existing high definition services such as BBC HD.

Digital Spy forum members who receive digital satellite TV on their home computer have been able to view the stream after installing appropriate codecs. They report that the service information table for the 11.428H transponder is carrying, in addition to the ITV HD stream, data services named "FreesatHome", "FreesatCommonC", "FreesatSSU", and "FreesatOAD".

Freesat is making few public comments until the consumer launch of the new service on May 6, and ITV HD's launch date has yet to be officially confirmed. However, service ID 10510 has been confirmed as present in pre-launch Freesat EPG data, and ITV's online marketing material only advertises it as being "available on Freesat"."

From: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...exclusive.html

[bdlab]

Originally Posted by Phlog

This is the complete news item from Digital Spy. It puts yet another spin on what will/won't be on Freesat.

" Speculation is mounting today that ITV's new high definition service will be exclusive to Freesat.

Test transmissions for ITV HD are now being broadcast on Eurobird 1 at 11.428 GHz with horizontal polarisation, a symbol rate of 27500, and a service ID of 10510. However, the stream may not be viewed on Sky boxes, nor traditional free to air receivers, as the video stream is being broadcast as H.222 data rather than using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec supported by such receivers and used by existing high definition services such as BBC HD.

The ITV HD video stream is encoded in H264 (see log below), only the ts mux is different to other HD transmissions. Dependig on chipset and firmware some setop boxes may be modified to accept this stream format, others not.

BDLAB

------------------------------------------------------------

profile_idc = 77 -----> main profile
constraint_set0_flag = 0
constraint_set1_flag = 1
constraint_set2_flag = 0
constraint_set3_flag = 0
level_idc = 40 -----> level 4.0

seq_parameter_set_id = 0
log2_max_frame_num_minus4 = 5
pic_order_cnt_type = 0
log2_max_pic_order_cnt_lsb_minus4 = 5

num_ref_frames = 4
gaps_in_frame_num_value_allowed_flag = 0

pic_width_in_mbs_minus1 = 89 -----> HRes = 1440
pic_height_in_map_units_minus1 = 33 -----> VRes = 1088
frame_mbs_only_flag = 0 -----> interlaced
mb_adaptive_frame_field_flag = 0

direct_8x8_interference_flag = 1
frame_cropping_flag = 1
frame_crop_left_offset = 0
frame_crop_right_offset = 0
frame_crop_top_offset = 0
frame_crop_bottom_offset = -1

vui_parameters_present_flag = 1
aspect_ratio_info_present_flag = 1
aspect_ratio_idc = 255
sar_width = 4
sar_height = 3 -----> aspect ratio 16:9

overscan_info_present_flag = 1
overscan_appropriate_flag = 1

video_signal_type_present_flag = 1
video_format = 5 ------> unspecified
video_full_range_flag = 1
colour_description_present_flag = 1
colour_primaries = 1
transfer_characteristics = 1
matrix_coefficients = 1

chroma_loc_info_present_flag = 1
chroma_sample_loc_type_top_field = 0
chroma_sample_loc_type_bottom_field = 0

timing_info_present_flag = 1
num_units_in_tick = 1
time_scale = 50
fixed_frame_rate_flag = 1 -----> frame rate 25 fps

nal_hrd_parameters_Present_flag = 0
vcl_hrd_parameters_Present_flag = 0

pic_struct_present_flag = 1
bitstream_restriction_flag = 0

-----------------------------------------------------------

[jakey]

Yes indeed, I just recorded a couple of minutes of stream with my non HD Dreambox and transfered the file to my PC, it wouldn't play with any player I have so I just ran it through tsremux which only took a few seconds, I guess it just changed the header. It now plays with Zoom and PowerDVD 7.3.

Hopefully my Dreambox 800 when it arrives will cope with it.

[jakey]

PowerDVD screenshot

[Starburst]

Thanks for the tip, got a 1440*1080 video clip from the file I recorded via my TT3200 on the PC. It may be all that I have of ITVHD for a while since I am not getting buying a new box just for that channel if that's what the endgame is, they have a very high opinion of themselves

[secretsquirrels]

Is it xmas?
It must be!

The FREESAT BLOG got in there first again with this breaking news, it says it on the internet so it must be true

ITV HD? WHAT? NOT ON A SKY BOX? NOT EVEN A HD FTA/FTV BOX? BUT THAT MEANS SECRETSQUIRRELS HAS BEEN RIGHT ALL ALONG AND THAT TERRIBLE BLOG HE LIKES SO MUCH! OH NO HOW WILL WE EVER LIVE IT DOWN GUYS? lol

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...52#post6904452

Below is a selection of the comments that so-called forum experts on the above thread link have dished out on me these last few days and had I been a lesser man I might have jacked it in by now, yeh right!
I knew what I was talking about just like the publishers of that great Blogger I like to call my Freesat home.

These guys are some times known as forum bully boys and here is how they may get that name!

Originally Posted by J L Jones

Freesat is the EPG, and new boxes are needed to display it. As far as the programmes are concened, there are no test channels. All the prgrammes are already available. And will still be to other satellite boxes after Freesat receivers go on sale.

Originally Posted by derek500

The only way to watch the Freesat EPG is on a Freesat box. You can watch all the channels on Freesat/generic FTA/Sky boxes.

Originally Posted by Neil Watson

How does the blog linked to convey that you won't be able to view the freesat channels on anything other than a freesat box?

It only says that there will be two sets of metadata on each channel. I.e. the channel's non-freesat metadata will be visible on boxes other than Freesat but that any info held in the freesat metadata will not be visible to non-freesat boxes.

However does it imply though that in theory they could alter the channels so that they are FTV via Freesat metadata and FTA for non-freesat metadata thereby effectively making you still have to pay in some way to watch them on non-freesat boxes?

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd2

You will not see any Freesat logos on any channel on freesat except possibly on the now and next epg banner across the bottom and in any of the menus unless the box itself places an on screen DOG.

The guy writing those Blogs does not really have a clue. The BBC do not have any valid licences to broadcast any extra channels to those already broadcasting so how does the blog writer or yourself think they will be allowed to broadcast.

Originally Posted by rayferry

I must applauded Steven Neal, taking the time to give a complete rebuttal of the posts by secretsquirrels, which at the end of the day are complete rubbish.

I look forward to having a freesat, sky and FTA receiver all displaying BBC1 and trying to spot the difference I don’t think I am going to find any though.

Originally Posted by fernandez

Thank you Stephen Neal

Maybe the title of this thread should be more accurately named and corrected to

"Only official FREESAT TV boxes will see FREESAT TV EPG"

Originally Posted by Stephen Neal

I'd go further - that blog is misinformed and scaremongering. It appears to be based on no real concrete information and the author has jumped to wildly incorrect conclusions. They seem to neither have nor offer any real insight into the way freesat has been set-up or is being operated.

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd2

The author of that blog posted for a very short time on the Digital Spy forums but got very abusive when people pointed out the holes in his previous attempts at a blog and criticised the web design. Aberdeen Domain Holdings aka Aberdeen Web Design are the authors of that blog.

As you can see not many picked the right answer above this line ____ and guess what boys you aint seen nothing yet as it will be all going black soon unless you buy an official Freesat box with the proper Freesat Logo.

You don't need to say sorry to me am a big boy but the abuse you have handed out to that Blog has been disgraceful and as AV forum members you should be ashamed of yourselves big time.

PS If you delete this post it will be to late as I will have already screen captured it for future laughter and spread it around like you have never seen before and the places it may turn up on well, this is going to be so funny seeing all you experts answer this one? lol.

And you wonder why people don't post on these forums, come on guys you could do better than this its your job to make sure your arguments are balanced and above all correct and in this case you failed or is it your really not as smart as a 10 year old after all!

Over to the experts?

[bob1]

Does this mean its going to be soft encrypted ?

[secretsquirrels]

Hello m8,

Originally Posted by bob1

Does this mean its going to be soft encrypted ?

It does not matter what its called if you can't see a channel on any other box other than Freesat logo'ed box.

I know people on here hate links I put up as it normally goes to the websites the above people dont like but this fully explains why the above example will become the norm m8 for this patform.

HD DIGITAL BOX

Look for the graphic on page 2 its official BBC graphic and if I know it is and the publishers of that website knows it is real then why has no one else found it from here or other forums?

Better still copy it and take it back here?

With Regards and Respect,
SS.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by bob1

Does this mean its going to be soft encrypted ?

It seems for some bizarre marketing reason (for a product that is claimed not to exist to make money) that ITV HD will be a mpeg4 broadcast but in a format that can not be accessed by SKY or generic FTA HD boxes.
It's not encryption, it's just a tweak to the broadcast parameter but the result is that we now have proprietary FTA which is even worse than proprietary PAY broadcasting

I would be if a home nation was in Euro2008 but since they are not then ITV can shove it

[bob1]

Originally Posted by secretsquirrels

Hello m8,



It does not matter what its called if you can't see a channel on any other box other than Freesat logo'ed box.

SS.

I think dubious as proved that is not true ,if the stream can be decoded on a pc already the sat boxes won't be far behind.

[secretsquirrels]

Originally Posted by bob1

I think dubious as proved that is not true ,if the stream can be decoded on a pc already the sat boxes won't be far behind.

This may be true m8 of right now but what happens if its them mixed with the new BBC meta-data when it all goes live?

Best Regards,

SS.

[fernandez]

This really is incredible and beyond belief

Let's hope that Freesat/ITV/whomever have well and truly shot themselves in the foot with this shock news

[glugwine]

Well lets be realistic here with the amount of garbage on ITV1 it wont be massive loss if it is Freesat only
The ONLY time I watch this poor channel is for any footie that they choose to show in their usual poor standard that is not available elsewhere.

I do not see Freesat taking off tbh, infact remember Ondigital

They only have one HD channel atm I think and thats BBC's half baked attempt.

[Jalu]

Originally Posted by Starburst

It's not encryption, it's just a tweak to the broadcast parameter but the result is that we now have proprietary FTA which is even worse than proprietary PAY broadcasting

Indeed. And not just a tweak, they're effectively creating a new broadcast standard which complies neither to MPEG nor to DVB standards... In fact, the word FTA doesn't apply to this imho if you can't use ANY FTA receiver.

[Bachstrad]

Originally Posted by Starburst

It seems for some bizarre marketing reason (for a product that is claimed not to exist to make money) that ITV HD will be a mpeg4 broadcast but in a format that can not be accessed by SKY or generic FTA HD boxes.
It's not encryption, it's just a tweak to the broadcast parameter but the result is that we now have proprietary FTA which is even worse than proprietary PAY broadcasting

I would be if a home nation was in Euro2008 but since they are not then ITV can shove it

I whole heartedly agree with that .... shove it!

ATB

Max