When will HD really take off?

[Frank Smith]

This is not about Sky HD, just HD Television in general (move to another forum if appropriate). Despite all televisions being sold now being HD and the number in homes pretty significant, HD services are pathetically limited. I have Sky HD and those who have will know that there are many HD channels which do not show HD content and many channels not showing HD at all.

Sony are now talking about there 3D Televisions (Question about this, I have always heard that 3D for televisions is all about the source and televisions now are capable of showing it) to be released for 2010 or 2011.

When would the time be where most of the things shown on TV are in HD? Because even new and live programs like F1 and La Liga football are not in HD.

[Starburst]

Given that no one is even considering HD being the dominant format for broadcast TV I doubt it will ever happen. The infrastructure required and the political fall out of scraping tens of millions of SD receivers and associated cost to the environment and the consumers pocket makes it a big no no and the important bit is that unlike analogue to digital there is no immediate benefit to the broadcasters.

F1 is not produced in HD due to the costs and the low demand globally, La Liga is but SKY atm are not equipped to exploit the HD feeds, that's an economic and production decision on their part which is rather pathetic.

The main problem is that in 2009 nothing much has changes compared to HD's minimal launch on TW in late 2005 and SKY's in 2006.
The advert driven broadcasters are simply moving viewers from their cheap SD broadcasts to expensive HD ones and the BBC has more interest in funding other projects and both business models can not upgrade studios and production facilites for the hell of it.
For PAY telly then a levy covers the costs of HD infrastructure, production and marketing etc but even then bandwidth limitations on satellite and cable restrict growth and economics come into play with HD costing more to make and buy in.

I have hopes HD on DTT will be the spur that makes free HD a significant part of the next decades growth and in time dvb-t2 and dvb-s2 hardware becomes defacto standard thus in time making the removal of mpeg2 SD much less painful.

[confused88]

I don't agree . I think it has already taken off. Shows that really benefit from the higher resolution are already in HD to a great extend. We have 2 movie channels+box office, 2 sports as well as all the big ducumentary channels in HD. Let's not forget BBC and SKY one. Would it really matter to have ITV, Chanell 4 or comedy Channels in HD? It would be nice to see more movies I guess or more sports but maybe it doesn't always depend on SKY. Maybe they cannot broadcast La Liga on HD yet. Is every champions league game on HD?
In addition Bluray has also taken off too. Most hollywood productions and some popular foreign films are released in BLURAY. It would be nice if every new film and every old classic is released in HDH but I think the cost is too hgih for now.

[Trollslayer]

HD terrestrial is in the works, all we need is cable with H.264.
It is spreading.

[mikehiow]

I think, for many, there is little incentive to move over the HD, advertisers are not going to pay any more to have their adverts in HD, and any increase in ratings when moving to HD are going to be minimal.

I think as time goes on, and equipment becomes defunct, we'll see more, but there lies another problem.

HD content is extremely bandwidth hungry, and bandwidth isn't something we have an abundance of, even via satellite or cable, although these mediums are far less restrictive than terrestrial freeview.

As for 3D, the new 3D technology (ie. with the "polarizing" glasses) requires two images to be shown, I believe the 3D TVs basically have two "screens", layered, one for each eye/lens.

[AndyCob]

Originally Posted by Frank Smith

Sony are now talking about there 3D Televisions (Question about this, I have always heard that 3D for televisions is all about the source and televisions now are capable of showing it) to be released for 2010 or 2011.

In general most current TV's will not support the new 3D technologies that are being developed. However some may but there are no guarantees. Those manufacturers using the polarised glasses need a ploarised layer as part of the screen, and while it is not impossible a polarised sheet of plastic could be retrofiited to an existing TV it is likely alignement issues and incompatibilities with current forms of image processing and refresh rates would make it impossible.

Both the older red blue glasses and some types of shutter system glasses can be used with existing TVs provided they don't have any image processing that inteferes and a suitable refresh rate. However a system is needed to sync the glasses with the screen, this could potentially be accomplished with some form of set top box (3D enthusiasts have been doing via PC for years) and the newer 3D version TVs again may well be operating at a different refresh rate and again require any potentially interfering image processing to be disabled meaning the new setup will probably not work on a current dislpay.

Basicly 3D almost certainly will require you to buy a new 3D compatible display. The prismatic screens which don't require any glasses at all defintely will for example (though they do require your head to be in the right place instead).

Personally I doubt 3D will catch on, it was always just a bit of a gimmick to me that never really managed to add much to the experience. Indeed because almost anything shot in 3D tried too hard to find excusses to show off the effect making that more important than producing a good film or program it teneded to be a rather dire failure IMHO. For evidence try watching the new 3D Brendan Fraser Journey to the Center of the Earth, it's is almost unbelievably bad.

[thechippy]

Originally Posted by Starburst

F1 is not produced in HD due to the costs...

when one brake disc costs £15000?!?!? I dont think cost is an issue for F1.

I do agree with your latter point though. The economic downturn must also play a part as globally who wants to pay huge sums of money for a slightly better picture? Well, me and a few others but that's not going to fuel the entire world and allow everyone to film in HD.

It will gradually become standard as many new shows are being filmed in HD and most movies have been filmed in HD for at least 30 years now.

[confused88]

Originally Posted by thechippy

when one brake disc costs £15000?!?!? I dont think cost is an issue for F1.

I do agree with your latter point though. The economic downturn must also play a part as globally who wants to pay huge sums of money for a slightly better picture? Well, me and a few others but that's not going to fuel the entire world and allow everyone to film in HD.

It will gradually become standard as many new shows are being filmed in HD and most movies have been filmed in HD for at least 30 years now.

Actual Film is more detailed than HD and has always been that way.

[thechippy]

Originally Posted by confused88

Actual Film is more detailed than HD and has always been that way.

So it is filmed in HHD

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by thechippy

when one brake disc costs £15000?!?!? I dont think cost is an issue for F1.

The companies that pay for the brake discs do not pay for the TV service, the FOM and Bernie are in charge there and he didn't become a multi-millionaire by spending money that could not be recouped

It wasn't that long ago widescreen was still a pipe dream!

[thechippy]

I think you'll find that each race is filmed by the TV channel who is used for broadcast in that particular country. When Bernie gets his arse in gear and realises that it is 2009 he could stipulate that he wants it filmed in HD. You know as much as I do, when you sport a haircut like he does, what chance do we have....

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by thechippy

I think you'll find that each race is filmed by the TV channel who is used for broadcast in that particular country.

That used to be the case but a couple of years ago the FOM took over the production/oversight to ensure a constant level throughout the season for the world feed however I believe the Japanese GP is produced in HD for it's home market and of course broadcasters still have on sight crews and facilities for live reporting.

[adrian3221]

Originally Posted by Starburst

F1 is not produced in HD due to the costs and the low demand globally, La Liga is but SKY atm are not equipped to exploit the HD feeds, that's an economic and production decision on their part which is rather pathetic.

Funnily enough, just had a look at the planner and tonights Spanish game is listed as being shown in HD as is the game next saturday!!

[thechippy]

Originally Posted by Starburst

That used to be the case but a couple of years ago the FOM took over the production/oversight to ensure a constant level throughout the season for the world feed however I believe the Japanese GP is produced in HD for it's home market and of course broadcasters still have on sight crews and facilities for live reporting.

Yes you are right, the production in now overseen by the FOM as some races were ridiculous. In Barcelona in 2005, about half the race was Alonso on the TV due to the local producer just wanting to show the Spanish driver. I think they had so many complaints after that race the FOM had to do something about it.
The equipment used to film it is not owned by the FOM which is the issue. I dont think it will be long before the poisoned dwarf will implement changes. It is a real shame that the BBC now show the races and yet we cant watch in HD. It was one thing that I was really looking forward to seeing

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by adrian3221

Funnily enough, just had a look at the planner and tonights Spanish game is listed as being shown in HD as is the game next saturday!!

Yes the new TV rights contract offered and only bought a few weeks ago would have been much more HD friendly and it is about time SKY were able to exploit those imported sporting events which offer HD feeds.

I don't care for the league myself but I do know there is a strong demand for vastly improved coverage and unlike Nascar/Indycar at least one group are going to be happier