agnerc

How does HD Programs work?

I am not sure how to ask this question without asking a couple others.

I do not currently have HD, but when a network channel say like ESPNHD is broadcasting a game, I assume that cameras they are using are HD. First question, is it possible for me to watch the same game on regular ESPN? IF so, then I assume since I do not have HD, I will only be seeing it SD?

Another question. NBC, CBS, etc.. have HD channels as well but they are seperate than my regular channels, so what is confusing is if I switched to HD programming, would I then start watching say NBCHD? Would I still be seeing the same Jay Leno but in HD? IF so, then why am I still able to see Jay Leno if it's broadcast in HD? It seems like to me that if I just bought an HD DVR then I would be ok, so why would I have to buy HD programming from my provider.

My apologies for so many questions all over the place, I just typed them as they came to my head.

Thank you for any help,

Chris

JeremyErwin

Re: How does HD Programs work?

I can only comment about Over the air-- I don't have cable. Usually, the HD channel mirrors the analogue channel. If nbc shows leno on its analogue feed, you'll get leno in HD on the digital feed. It's clearer, it's widescreen, it's often accompanied by a "5.1" dolby digital soundtrack. A few low budget shows are still produced in SD-- so the picture quality is poorer, the sound is merely stereo, and it's 4x3, pillarboxed.

If you prefer the picture and sound of a DVD to television, you'll probably prefer HD. However, if you believe that the major advantage of a DVD is the lack of ads, you won't be amused by HD commercials.

Also note that the ultra cheap TV converter boxes don't have spdif or component video connections.

chuckg

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Actually, the HD Jay Leno is a completely different person than the SD Jay Leno. the HD guy has more wrinkles, and finer patterns in his clothing. His audience is much more 3D, too: they are all aound you rather than just a bunch of cardboard cutouts up front.

Nah, I'm just kidding.

If there is a show (like Leno) shot on HD cameras, and then broadcast on the HD channels, they take the same sound and the same image (with the sides cropped off) and broadcast it in good old analog. they may send a standard def digital signal over cable to the SD-only subsribers.

But, you see the same thing in SD as you do in HD, for the most part. the HD picture is wider, so you get a bit more.

I have no idea what the other poster means about the commercials...

In order to see the HD shows, you will need an HD TV, an HD converteer box, and the cable company must allow you to see the HD channels. this may or may not mean an additional subscription fee; only yuour cable or satellite provider can answer that last part.

--ignore the man behind the curtain

agnerc

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Can anyone answer the question about the local channels having their own HD channels, like NBCHD, etc.. Is this a totally different channel than plain old NBC? If so, then why?

If regular old NBC is your SD channel, then is NBC just plitting the signal into two different tv channels? If so, I wonder why they would want to do that?

Chris

JeremyErwin

Re: How does HD Programs work?

And it's much clearer. You can see extra details. The glistening of perspiration adds something to Lost, in my opinion.


You've never seen an HD commercial, for say, the ipod? Some of them use the surround sound and extra clarity to good effect. But it's still a commercial, and sometimes the HD makes it just that much more obnoxious.

Patrick Sun

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Local stations, say the NBC affiliate on channel 10, will broadcast on their shows on the VHF band for channel 10, and it's an analog broadcast that your old TV could handle (plus it was in SD, and according to NTSC standards so that your old TV will display the broadcast properly). That same NBC affiliate will also broadcast a digital signal (according to ATSC specs, and in HD, 16x9 aspect ratio) in the UHF band (for this example, let's say it'll be on channel 25, sub-channel 1), a HDTV tuner that can pull in and tune to channel 25-1 will take the ATSC digital signal being broadcasted, and convert it so that a HDTV set will display it on the screen.

Even though it's the same programming, 2 different broadcasting streams are used, one in SD with NTSC specs, the other in HD with ATSC specs. The SD/NTSC broadcast is formated so that the content will show in a 4x3 aspect ratio display space on the TV, while the HD/ATSC broadcast is formated for 16x9 content, and sometimes you'll see pillarboxes on the sides of commercials with 4x3 aspect ratio to make it look normal inside the 16x9 display area. ESPN will pillarbox footage that is in 4x3 aspect ratio as well for their HD broadcast.

A station can also split their HD channel band (UHF) into multiple sub-channels if they want to simu-cast other content, so sometimes you'll find that your ATSC tuner can find 25-1, 25-2, 25-3. With March Madness NCAA basketball on the horizon, CBS affiliates can show many different games going on at the same time on their one UHF channel band within their sub-channels, but simu-casting and splitting that band into many sub-channels will degrade picture quality for each game shown on its own sub-channel.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar!"
Patcave | 2006 Films | 2007 Films | Dragon Con 2007

chuckg

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Oh - now I gotcha. I just hit the "mute" button on my rcvr during the commercials!


After February 19th (or something like that) of 2009, the confusion will go away. Right now, the tv stations are broadcasting BOTH the old analog signal, and the new, spiffy digital signal. They need to do this because they are required to broadcast in HD, but there are still lots of folks with old analog TVs. After the magic date next year, the analog signals are supposed to be turned off. Those broadcast frequencies are already sold to cellphone providers and others, so I imagine there will be a big hullabaloo from all the folks whose televisions suddenly stop working. their only recourse is to buy a new TV, or get a converter box. There is a coupon from the federal government, good for $40 off the converter price. I have recently seen converters at Wally Mart for $50.

Cable companies are exempt from these laws, so they can do whatever they want.

--ignore the man behind the curtain

Jeff Gatie

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Of course they have to "split it into two channels." One is HD and one is SD. The SD channel can be viewed on SD and HD sets, the HD can only be viewed on HD sets. Most of the time they have the same content (I have seen instances where the commercials on HD were different than on SD, but that is rare). If they aren't featuring an HD program, the SD gets upconverted to HD (either stretched or with bars on the side) and sent out via the HD channel. If they are broadcasting an HD program, the SD version goes out via SD and the HD goes out via HD. Why? Well the majority of people still own SD sets and they have to support the SD channels until the big shutoff in 2009 (2010? 2011? . . . ).

JeremyErwin

Re: How does HD Programs work?

Maybe they should just burn in spanish subtitles at the movie theater. (As well as English for the hearing impaired).