BBC iPlayer goes high definition

brantome · 20-04-2009, 8:53 PM

BBC NEWS | Technology | BBC iPlayer goes high definition
and at some point on Virgin...

Badger0-0 · 20-04-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brantome

BBC NEWS | Technology | BBC iPlayer goes high definition
and at some point on Virgin...

I wouldn't hold my breath

If they could do another HD channel, it would be one of the Sky movie channels.

It's not going to happen for a long while

dante01 · 21-04-2009, 3:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

I wouldn't hold my breath

If they could do another HD channel, it would be one of the Sky movie channels.

It's not going to happen for a long while

Its not another channel mate, it would be an expansion of the existing BBC iPlayer service. I've a feeling Virgin would quite like the Beeb to take the responsibility for BBC HD VoD content off their hands and let the Beeb use the iPlayer to deliver it?

The existing BBC Virgin catchup services is already the iPlayer and not Virgin's own implementation.

Badger0-0 · 21-04-2009, 10:01 AM

Don't get me wrong, I hope it's true.
But surely it will take up the same bandwidth, which is what's causing the hold up?

dante01 · 21-04-2009, 3:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

Don't get me wrong, I hope it's true.
But surely it will take up the same bandwidth, which is what's causing the hold up?

I'd imagine it will require additional babdwidth, but I'm not even sure that the HD content being discussed will be full blown HD? If it is to be the same HD content associated with the web then that content will be of a much lower bitrate than full blown HD. You've also got to remember that this service would be VoD via the iPlayer and would only be streamed to viewers using the on demand service (iPlayer). The programmes would not be continually streaming to everyone all the time. I've no idea what the bandwidth requirements would be for such a service?

TheTrancelator · 21-04-2009, 4:54 PM

If you go a genre on the site like ex BBC iPlayer - Drama - All Programmes - Page 1 it will put a BBC HD icon next to the ones that are "HD"

So like this BBC iPlayer - All the Small Things: Episode 3 once you click play it automatically full screens and is clearly of higher quality

BikeNutt · 21-04-2009, 5:40 PM

As more and more content is added, I wonder how many users will be STM'd quicker using this new service?

TheTrancelator · 21-04-2009, 7:08 PM

Here is the link for all current BBC HD programs up

BBC iPlayer - BBC HD - All programmes - Page 1

m.stephens · 22-04-2009, 5:28 PM

Just had a quick check at one of the huge selection of programmes you really wouldn't care about whether they were in HD or not (do I really need to see Kirsty Wark in anything more than SD ?) and it seems to require an actual speed of 3.2Mb/sec - just as well we are all being forcibly upgraded to 10Mb really !

dante01 · 01-05-2009, 6:48 AM

All BBC HD programmes are now available via the integrated VM iPlayer services. They started implementing the HD programmes yesterday and the content has been steadily getting bigger. Anything that now shows on the BBC HD channel will be made available via the VM implementation of the iPlayer catch up service.

No Dolby Digital audio though.

*JayAy* · 07-05-2009, 4:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dante01

No Dolby Digital audio though.

For those HD programmes with a 5.1 audio it's still best to record them from the linear feed onto you V+ box (space permitting on the disc of course) for later viewing rather than view from iPlayer.

dave_bass5 · 07-05-2009, 9:17 PM

This stinks IMO.
so, unless you see the program live (or record it) you dont get DD 5.1 on any of the BBC HD programs any more on the replay/on demand section

what a joke. we are going backwards not forwards. Even compared to a couple of years ago we now have less.

baraduim · 29-05-2009, 8:34 AM

At least you get the iplayer service. My area (Loughton) still don't provide it on the boxes, you just get "Temporarily Unavailable" ... last time an engineer came in to change the STB broadband to a modem for the 10MB service he said they can tell areas by the sticker on them, and ours is the colour that means it doesn't supply it. No plans for upgrade. Hmm!

C:>
(I can't get caller id either, what a service!)

dante01 · 30-05-2009, 6:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

This stinks IMO.
so, unless you see the program live (or record it) you dont get DD 5.1 on any of the BBC HD programs any more on the replay/on demand section

what a joke. we are going backwards not forwards. Even compared to a couple of years ago we now have less.

You still get it via VoD, but some of the content that originally had DD audio no longer has it when it becomes available on VoD. This appears to be something the Beeb is doing rather than VM? The BBC mess about with the audio, they even have a special unit that tampers with the audio for the HD channel.