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TG4 HD testing on saorview

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Comments

  • #92
    STB.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    The Cush wrote: »
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94032189

    Thanks Cush and Sam. I wasn't aware of its existence.

    Its all pie in the sky stuff anyhow and assumes the existence of a load of content.

    This TG4 service is a temporary opt service from what I can see, the LCN they assign it is irrelevant as it will still be the last channel. It doesnt signal anything, just like the presence of a HD carrier doesn't signify that it is a place holder for X channel. They are all labelled as Test channels by the network operator.


  • #93
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    pad e wrote: »
    So the test I saw the other day may actually have been for TG 4+1?

    How long are channels going to on-off test for before they actually launch, and if they aren't launching for months and months away, why test so early? Saorview seems like a real mess of a platform.

    Everything Saorview have done has been cloaked in secrecy - (because of commercial sensitivity - they are a monopoly heavily constrained by regulation from Comreg and The BAI so they have to protect themselves).

    Everything Saorview have done since they started has been a disappointment - not delivering what they promised when they promised it, and deliberately screwing the service - with no explanation as to why - see above.

    They have deliberately (and without explanation) removed the ability for UK spec PVRs to series link, and have deliberately altered the signal by including two data channels in the first slot on each mux which screws up non approved TV sets. They have also deliberately included 38 blank channel IDs that screw up other non-approved TV sets.

    They have been forced by Comreg to introduce a charging model that has caused TV3, TG4, and UTV Ireland to not broadcast in HD despite the room on the Mux being available - and instead Saorview continues to broadcast an HD demo channel and HD and SD test cards.

    They continue to allow SD channels to use 544 by 576 instead of 720 by 576, despite using 720 by 576 on the NI mux. All SD channels should go 720 by 576 - they have the room on the Mux. I would have thought all they need to do is change their specification of their service to be SD = 720 by 576i, and HD is 1440 by 1080i. It would have a significant effect of picture quality and only a slight effect on charges.

    Saorsat is another disappointment - only RTE and TG4.

    Expect more disappointments with the new Saorview Connect product.


  • #94
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,141 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    Sam Russell wrote: »
    Everything Saorview have done has been cloaked in secrecy - (because of commercial sensitivity - they are a monopoly heavily constrained by regulation from Comreg and The BAI so they have to protect themselves).

    Everything Saorview have done since they started has been a disappointment - not delivering what they promised when they promised it, and deliberately screwing the service - with no explanation as to why - see above.

    They have deliberately (and without explanation) removed the ability for UK spec PVRs to series link, and have deliberately altered the signal by including two data channels in the first slot on each mux which screws up non approved TV sets. They have also deliberately included 38 blank channel IDs that screw up other non-approved TV sets.

    They have been forced by Comreg to introduce a charging model that has caused TV3, TG4, and UTV Ireland to not broadcast in HD despite the room on the Mux being available - and instead Saorview continues to broadcast an HD demo channel and HD and SD test cards.

    They continue to allow SD channels to use 544 by 576 instead of 720 by 576, despite using 720 by 576 on the NI mux. All SD channels should go 720 by 576 - they have the room on the Mux. I would have thought all they need to do is change their specification of their service to be SD = 720 by 576i, and HD is 1440 by 1080i. It would have a significant effect of picture quality and only a slight effect on charges.

    Saorsat is another disappointment - only RTE and TG4.

    Expect more disappointments with the new Saorview Connect product.

    This is quite a damning report you give. I have no reason to disbelieve any of what you have stated and as I live in NI I am annoyed by all these blank channels. Also I have a Sony Freeview HD PVR which does not allow me to reorder channels so those Saorview channels on the second mux are way down near the bottom of the channel list. Since Channel 5 has now gone HD on Freeview its time that TV3/TG4 went HD on Saorview.


  • #95
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    Digifriendly wrote: »
    This is quite a damning report you give. I have no reason to disbelieve any of what you have stated and as I live in NI I am annoyed by all these blank channels. Also I have a Sony Freeview HD PVR which does not allow me to reorder channels so those Saorview channels on the second mux are way down near the bottom of the channel list. Since Channel 5 has now gone HD on Freeview its time that TV3/TG4 went HD on Saorview.

    But it's TV3's own decision not to go HD. I know the retort will be that carriage fees are too high but that's the way of it. If TV3 won't pony up then that's their call.


  • #96
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    former total wrote: »
    But it's TV3's own decision not to go HD. I know the retort will be that carriage fees are too high but that's the way of it. If TV3 won't pony up then that's their call.

    No, there is nothing to stop 2RN saying the specification for SD is now 720 by 576, and that all SD channels will be that from now on. This would only result in about a 10% to 20% rise in transmission charges because more of the mux capacity would be used (and therefore paid for) and since it would apply to all channels, they would all pay it - only RTE would benefit because they have two HD channels. Currently, I reckon that RTE pay €8 million of the €12 million to transmit Saorview. They pay another million for Saorsat. It would cost the three broadcasters a bit less than €2m between them to go 720 by 576 which is about €400k per channel with significant improvement in PQ.


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  • #97
    gordongekko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,299 ✭✭✭gordongekko


    Sam Russell wrote: »
    No, there is nothing to stop 2RN saying the specification for SD is now 720 by 576, and that all SD channels will be that from now on. This would only result in about a 10% to 20% rise in transmission charges because more of the mux capacity would be used (and therefore paid for) and since it would apply to all channels, they would all pay it - only RTE would benefit because they have two HD channels. Currently, I reckon that RTE pay €8 million of the €12 million to transmit Saorview. They pay another million for Saorsat. It would cost the three broadcasters a bit less than €2m between them to go 720 by 576 which is about €400k per channel with significant improvement in PQ.

    400k will pay for a lot of makeup for Lucy Kennedy


  • #98
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    gordongekko wrote: »
    400k will pay for a lot of makeup for Lucy Kennedy

    She would need it if the improve PQ.


  • #99
    Mickey Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 820 ✭✭✭Mickey Mike


    Just came across this thread and read all. It leaves me feeling a bit sick in the stomach. Comreg or any of that crowd don't seem to give a damn. By all pulling together they could resolve all of this. Resolve what one might say 'sur its all common sense' Just down right blagarding by the powers that be.


  • #100
    aindriu80
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,968 ✭✭✭aindriu80


    I see TG4 HD on Sky now but didn't see anything on Saorview


  • #101
    jelutong
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,165 ✭✭✭jelutong


    Just copped it on SKY now myself. Good news


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  • #102
    brick man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭brick man


    aindriu80 wrote: »
    I see TG4 HD on Sky now but didn't see anything on Saorview
    Just seen a tweet from TG4 saying they are in discussions with saorview and hope to have it available as soon as possible


  • #103
    glineli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,098 ✭✭✭glineli


    brick man wrote: »
    Just seen a tweet from TG4 saying they are in discussions with saorview and hope to have it available as soon as possible

    I asked them yesterday and at least they replied. TV3 and UTVi never reply.


  • #104
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,392 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    glineli wrote: »
    I asked them yesterday and at least they replied. TV3 and UTVi never reply.

    https://twitter.com/TG4TV/status/761284863823585280


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