[markie101]

Did any watch the footy on ITV this weekend?

Is it just me or did the picture look like it was upscaled or something?

I dont know much about these things but when I watched Strictly Come Dancing on BBC HD it looked amazing but the footy on ITV HD just looked to me like a good quality picture. It didn't exactly blow me away.

I am new to HD and don't know exactly how it all works etc.

[downerd]

I find the picture quality of football in HD does vary from game to game. I suspect it all relates to the ambient light at the time of the recording. Sometimes is blows you away, but as you say, other times it just looks like a good quality picture.

Having said that, I think ITV HD football is inferior in every way when compared with Sky's presentation.

[Starburst]

HD picture quality broadcasts are far more variable than SD broadcasts so it's really impossible to compare a studio production and a stadium outside broadcast. As mentioned even two football matches can look different thanks to the OB unit producing the coverage and stadium lighting/setup etc.

As for the Liverpool game it looked good on ITV HD, the Freeview SD looked fairly acceptable while as per usual the Dsat SD looked awful all of these on my Plasma. If you flicked between SD and HD then the difference was obvious and perhaps the only real way to compare SD and HD.

[mikezoe]

Interesting. The best pq was the Chelsea CL match followed by the Liverpool game yesterday. I suspect the Stamford Bridge lighting is exceptionally good for HD. The Aston Villa game today was rather poorer with the pitch varying in colour etc. but the lighting was failing. However each was way better than any of the SD highlights shown by ITV.

[markie101]

I thought the Liverpool game look quite good but the Villa game just looked average to me.

Like I say I don't know much about HD. Maybe I am expecting too much. From ITV anyway!

[mallard]

I installed Freesat just before Christmas and watched both games over the weekend. I have a Toshiba 32" LCD in one room and a JVC HD1 projector in dedicated room.
The picture on the 32" was an improvement over freeview but on the projector the difference was stunning, not Bluray but a huge improvement over freeview.
If i used freeview on the projector it would give me a reduced size image which was just about acceptable to watch. I certainly couldn't watch the upscaled picture (zoom function on the projector). The freesat SD gives a full size picture which i'm happy to watch which is of much better quality than the freeview.
The football - the difference between SD freesat and HD was really pronounced and i was happy watching the games on the projector. I did think the Aston Villa game looked different because of the lighting. (I think some of the floodlights weren't on/working).
BBC HD - stunning especially the Northen lights program with Joanna Lummely.
(p.s.The screen is about 90" across the base.)
I'm really happy with the quality difference especially with the projector.
John

[orange55]

The standards at ITV are not as high as the BBC, that has a lot to do with it.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by markie101

Did any watch the footy on ITV this weekend?

Is it just me or did the picture look like it was upscaled or something?

I dont know much about these things but when I watched Strictly Come Dancing on BBC HD it looked amazing but the footy on ITV HD just looked to me like a good quality picture. It didn't exactly blow me away.

I am new to HD and don't know exactly how it all works etc.

Was the footy on ITV HD i looked all weekend hopeing to see some footy for the first time not had my system long, i missed it, What games where on

[Wild Weasel]

Originally Posted by pops107

Was the footy on ITV HD i looked all weekend hopeing to see some footy for the first time not had my system long, i missed it, What games where on

Yes it was:

Preston NE vs Liverpool on Saturday evening.

Gillingham vs Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

Yes it was:

Preston NE vs Liverpool on Saturday evening.

Gillingham vs Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

Right i may have some thing wroung then i checked both of them games and watched the Gillingham vs Aston Villa game it was not on itv hd just the itv hd logo was showed, why can i not get it?

[pdoherty76]

I believe the BBC transmit HD at 16 Mb/s and ITV transmit at 10Mb/s. I certainly notice that ITV HD films never look as good as the BBC films.

BBC used to transmit HD at 20Mb/s so it looked even better.

ITV Standard def looks rubbish compared to the other channels too. Im a Celebrity looked hideous on my 42" LCD.

[markie101]

Originally Posted by pops107

Right i may have some thing wroung then i checked both of them games and watched the Gillingham vs Aston Villa game it was not on itv hd just the itv hd logo was showed, why can i not get it?

What do you mean just the itv hd logo was showed? Do you mean the "press red for hd" or the actual ITV HD logo?

[fuzzlewoof]

After pressing the Red button I always find football amazing in HD against SD. SD football always looks a mess.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by pdoherty76

I believe the BBC transmit HD at 16 Mb/s and ITV transmit at 10Mb/s. I certainly notice that ITV HD films never look as good as the BBC films.

ITV also use a different generation of encoder so the actual bitrate is not as important as it seems on the surface and as for movies you have to compare the same movie on both channels, movies far more so than other HD content is stylised so can have a look which isn't always going to give a HD wow to many people.


Quick get me a strong drink, I am defending ITV

[pdoherty76]

Originally Posted by Starburst

ITV also use a different generation of encoder so the actual bitrate is not as important as it seems on the surface and as for movies you have to compare the same movie on both channels, movies far more so than other HD content is stylised so can have a look which isn't always going to give a HD wow to many people.


Quick get me a strong drink, I am defending ITV

Its not just films. Even the ITV made stuff like Brittania High look worse than the BBC equivalents. And ITV HD never seem to show films in their proper aspect ratio and the BBC do.

Surely you wouldnt defend the quality of ITV SD? Its abysmal. ITV 1 and 2 are the worse channels I have seen. I have freeview, tiscali TV and Freesat.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by markie101

What do you mean just the itv hd logo was showed? Do you mean the "press red for hd" or the actual ITV HD logo?

I have a fortec star passion+ hd box you dont get the red button option comming up on itv you have a channel for itv hd that shows the itv hd logo when nothing is on i have watched things on it but like i say no footy.

Any reason for me not been able to get the footy?

Is itv hd diffrent in diffrent reagions?

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by pdoherty76

Its not just films. Even the ITV made stuff like Brittania High look worse than the BBC equivalents. And ITV HD never seem to show films in their proper aspect ratio and the BBC do.

Surely you wouldnt defend the quality of ITV SD? Its abysmal. ITV 1 and 2 are the worse channels I have seen. I have freeview, tiscali TV and Freesat.

Again production choices, it is totally pointless comparing different shows due to the variables involved long before encoding and bandwidth leave their mark. Right now BBC HD is getting some more praise in the HD programme forum yet bandwidth hasn't changed yet some shows look better now than they did before, that's the curse of HD, so much more has an effect on the PQ compared to the SD we've watched for the last few decades.

I'd never defend ITV's choice to penalise Dsat viewers with an inferior product yet I have praised them for the limited HD they do offer (well their footy coverage which has been very good for 10.7mbps) with the reservations of non-sky carriage, wasting bandwidth when they could be simulcasting superior upscaled HD inside of a place holder.

I just found it a little amusing and ironic that the complexities of HD are actually working in favour of ITV a company I wouldn't trust to do anything to a high standard like OAR and 5.1 etc.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by pops107

I have a fortec star passion+ hd box you dont get the red button option comming up on itv you have a channel for itv hd that shows the itv hd logo when nothing is on i have watched things on it but like i say no footy.

Any reason for me not been able to get the footy?

Is itv hd diffrent in diffrent reagions?

If you have the ITVHD channel as a channel in it's own right (same way all generic receivers and PC sat cards would) then whenever they broadcast a HD programme you will see it.
As you know on Freesat boxes the red button pops up so you manually change to the HD version, the rest of use just wait for HD to appear and no ITVHD is not regionalised although I believe a couple of ITV regions (when entering postcode into Freesat box) do not offer the red button option.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by Starburst

If you have the ITVHD channel as a channel in it's own right (same way all generic receivers and PC sat cards would) then whenever they broadcast a HD programme you will see it.
As you know on Freesat boxes the red button pops up so you manually change to the HD version, the rest of use just wait for HD to appear and no ITVHD is not regionalised although I believe a couple of ITV regions (when entering postcode into Freesat box) do not offer the red button option.

Thanks Starburst I do not have the choice of putting in my post code it just gives me uk as my region i can not change it, Do you think that is my problem with not receving the footy last week end?

I want to try and resolve this problem do we no when some thing else is on itv hd or the next footy game so i can test it again?

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by pops107

Thanks Starburst I do not have the choice of putting in my post code it just gives me uk as my region i can not change it, Do you think that is my problem with not receving the footy last week end?

I want to try and resolve this problem do we no when some thing else is on itv hd or the next footy game so i can test it again?

The postcode is only for Freesat hardware so since you are not restricted by that you should have access to actual HD programming when broadcast on the channel that is showing the ITVHD placeholder.


I think Superhuman on now is HD and Nanny McPhee this saturday is in HD.

[Wild Weasel]

ITV is a mess. Their website doesn't even work with Firefox. I have to fire up Internet Explorer to view it.

Their HD programming schedule hasn't been updated for weeks and even their own TV Guide doesn't list the ITV HD channel.

[pdoherty76]

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

ITV is a mess. Their website doesn't even work with Firefox. I have to fire up Internet Explorer to view it.

Their HD programming schedule hasn't been updated for weeks and even their own TV Guide doesn't list the ITV HD channel.

Erm....theres no such thing as the ITV HD channel. Its a red button service on selected programmes. ITV's tv guide does say HD if a programme is in HD.

[markie101]

I can view itv.com with firefox np but compared to the bbc the site is rubbish!

Back to my original question. I think I know why my picture looked a bit rubbish - I had overscan turned on I just watched some of the villa game what I recorded and although it still doesn't look fantastic, it looks alot better with overscan off!!

[Wild Weasel]

Originally Posted by pdoherty76

Erm....theres no such thing as the ITV HD channel. Its a red button service on selected programmes. ITV's tv guide does say HD if a programme is in HD.

I'm aware of that, although I have it saved as a separate channel in DVBviewer.

If they want people to view it they should try and promote it more.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by pdoherty76

Erm....theres no such thing as the ITV HD channel. Its a red button service on selected programmes. ITV's tv guide does say HD if a programme is in HD.

Hi Pdoherty76 i get a ITV HD channel all the time just saying the itv logo: ITV HD is not curretly available, But when hd programs are broadcast thay come on in hd you do not have to press the red button i do not have that option on my box.
All i think your dooing buy pressing the red button is hopping across to a diffrent Transponder But tell me if iam wroung

My problem what i did not get the footy over the weekend on itv hd and i was trying to find out why

[peteoc]

I have a Fortec Star Innovation. I went to ITV HD just before the game and got the logo. After watching on SD for 5 minutes I thought I would retry the HD and Lo and Behold the match was there. As soon as the match was finished it went back to the logo. I watched the summing up on SD.

[pops107]

Originally Posted by peteoc

I have a Fortec Star Innovation. I went to ITV HD just before the game and got the logo. After watching on SD for 5 minutes I thought I would retry the HD and Lo and Behold the match was there. As soon as the match was finished it went back to the logo. I watched the summing up on SD.

I was thinking that the hole program was in hd not just the match

i found a place to find out what it on itv hd if any did not already no lists footy for wensday night will have to watch then see what it is like thanks peteoc will have to remember that

ITV HD Schedule » Join Freesat

[pops107]

Just found this if any one is intrested:

Zingzing TV Listings | Freeview, Freesat, Virgin Media and HD Television Guide

[pdoherty76]

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

I'm aware of that, although I have it saved as a separate channel in DVBviewer.

If they want people to view it they should try and promote it more.

They have promoted it. There was a half page advert in the sun the other day explaining that freesat was the only way to get HD football on ITV.

I have found the footie to be pretty variable on ITV HD. I remember the day I bought the FOXSAT and plugged it in (in a big rush) to watch liverpool in the cahmpions league, I was blown away. But then games I have seen since have been good or bad, mainly as was stated before, I believe on the size of the occasion! There was an FA cup ties involving leeds that looked bad, but have seen chelsea and that was great!

There is an interesting BBC blog about their HD variable quality floating around somewhere too.