BBC HD now not so HD ?

Mike 1972

Interesting article in todays (UK) Independent about the reduction in bitrate on the Beeb's HD service following from the cutting back in bitrates on many ITV SD services

Hundreds of complaints have been posted online saying that broadcasts became fuzzy and grainy after the Corporation lowered the bitrate of its HD encoding technology from 16 megabytes to 9.7MB.......Protests began in August after the BBC changed its encoding system, leading to claims that its HD service, available on the Freesat platform, was little better than normal television. The Corporation's main commercial rival Sky transmits HD programmes at a bitrate of between 1MB and 15MB....According to one theory, the BBC changed encoders so that it could offer more programmes on HD BBC1, which is due to be launched next year on Freeview, where bandwidth is limited. But Nick Caley, a spokesman for the BBC, rejected the idea, saying: "The reason the [encoders] were replaced was because they had come to the end of their lives. We did extensive testing which showed [the new encoders] could produce pictures at the same or even better quality than the old encoders at the higher bitrate

Zonda999

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055669261&highlight=bitrate

Aye, tis disappointing alright and very noticeable IMO, long looked forward to seeing Top gear in HD but now its finally here, it has been very diluted because of this!:(

breaux

Have noticed this meself over the time - have freesat HD for some time and BBC HD was fanastic - now i would not see any difference from BBC1 to BBC HD....definately diluted over time.....disappointing as it was fantastic..!:mad:

Mossy Monk

I wouldn't say that it is the same as BBC One. There is a notable difference but when you compare it to Sky Sports it is night and day.

spadder

Why is the sound so out of snyc on BBC HD?

fat-tony

spadder wrote: »

Why is the sound so out of snyc on BBC HD?

Do you mean right now or generally? What equipment are you watching it on? Is it just a satellite receiver and tv? Do you have the sound routed through a separate sound system?
Whatever about the reduction in bit rate and perceived quality, the BBC seem to take the issue of sound synchronisation very seriously. On my Freesat receiver and Panasonic plasma the sound is always in sync on BBBC HD. I'm looking at the preview at the moment on my PC and it's perfectly in sync. At intervals, during the preview transmissions the BBC transmit a test card for setting up your screen and sound system and also transmit at a different time a sound synchronisation setup, where there is a moving bar and click sound - a sort of digital clapper board.
If you are getting sound sync problems on a SKY HD box, then try shutting it down, turning off the mains power for a couple of minutes and then re-booting.

Mossy Monk

No sync issues that I have noticed

tlaavtech

spadder wrote: »

Why is the sound so out of snyc on BBC HD?

I had the same issue on a PC based system - Sound would drift out over a few minutes then the audio would glitch and re-sync, only to drift again. A change of codec solved it for me!

spadder

Generally it's BBC HD thats out of snyc. When ITV shows a HD movie it doesn't happen. I use a humax freesat HD. I played around with the snyc settings on it but to no avail.

Satdog

spadder wrote: »

Generally it's BBC HD thats out of snyc. When ITV shows a HD movie it doesn't happen. I use a humax freesat HD. I played around with the snyc settings on it but to no avail.

I have a humax freesat HD connected directly to TV with no sysc problems.

fat-tony

spadder wrote: »

Generally it's BBC HD thats out of snyc. When ITV shows a HD movie it doesn't happen. I use a humax freesat HD. I played around with the snyc settings on it but to no avail.

I Have a Humax HD (PVR version). Absolutely no sync problems with BBC HD or ITV. Occasionally I see a sync problem with stuff recorded on CBS Drama, sound is delayed, but I figure this is a broadcast issue as other programmes from the same channel are ok.

delsutton2008

I emailed the BBC back in late summer about the HD reduction issues and they told me that technically the picture quality is now better than on their old encoders. Technically they may be correct, but they must never look at the picture itself as reality tells a different story

Oddly, the transition took place at the same time I changed to a Humax so initially I thought it might be that, but one look at Luxe HD showed me how good a HD image should be. Even ITV HD (when it broadcasts) seems better than BBC these days.

Roar

The Beeb have defended the HD picture quality

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8415636.stm

The quality of pictures broadcast on the BBC High Definition (HD) channel have been criticised by viewers who complain of fuzzy and grainy images.

The head of the channel, Danielle Nagler, says that despite a series of tests, no technical fault can be found.

Not all HD programmes have the "bright, crisp look which for some is synonymous with HD", she wrote on the BBC's internet blog.

Camera and production techniques all affect the overall quality, she added.

The BBC replaced the encoders which process HD pictures in August 2009.

The replacement encoders work at a bitrate of 9.7Mbps (megabits per second), while their predecessors worked at 16Mbps, the standard for other broadcasters.

The BBC HD website describes HD as "exceptionally clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and up to five times more detail than standard definition."

Some disgruntled viewers think the new encoders have affected this viewing experience.

"We did extensive testing on the new encoders which showed that they could produce pictures at the same or even better quality than the old encoders at the higher bitrate," a spokesperson told BBC News.

In her blog post, Ms Nagler said that the services was created to be at its best for "typical viewing set ups" and that user groups with standard equipment were happy with the service.

She told the BBC that "there is not a major issue with picture quality" and added the corporation had only received one formal complaint.

The majority of those leaving comments on her blog post disagreed.

"Even my wife can see a reduction in picture quality and she's got cataracts," wrote one.

that last line made me laugh I have to say

Mossy Monk

In her blog post, Ms Nagler said that the services was created to be at its best for "typical viewing set ups" and that user groups with standard equipment were happy with the service.

I have far from a fancy setup and the poor picture is very noticable

John mac

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/12/the_hitchhikers_guide_to_encod_4.html#P

more info on it.



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