Separate HD channels

[MartinQ]

I don't know if this has been asked before, or if it belongs in the Home Cinema forum, but I shall ask away.

I don't understand why there are separate HD channels running a simulcast of the same SD channel. Surely it's a very inefficient way of doing things due to the extra bandwidth used. If people still have CRT TVs they won't be able to see the HD picture anyway and there must be a tiny proportion of HDTV owners who don't pay the extra £10 to Sky. Surely it makes more sense just to have, for example, Sky Sports 1 broadcasting the HD signal as standard and removing HD version.

[JustinP1]

If they broadcast the HD signal to everyone, then they wouldn't be able to charge extra for HD...

Doh!

[Tycho]

As you said, people with CRTs won't be able to see the HD signal so can't watch HD channels...

Also SD digiboxes and Sky+ boxes can't decode HD streams, only HD boxes can so you'd cut off a lot of people and the revenue that goes with them. If it was cheaper to give away HD boxes to all people without them then you could only broadcast HD channels but it isn't viable financially.

[MaximumJed]

It would be nice to be able to map the HD channels over the standard ones though, I've gotten used to Sky being 106 and have to consciously use the guide to find the HD version. I'd use the favorite channels but then you don't see what's on the in-between channels.

[LeoSayer]

I much prefer watching SD on a HD simulcast channel. The picture is much better that the SD channel. Must be due to the extra bandwidth.

[Halb]

LeoSayer said:

I much prefer watching SD on a HD simulcast channel. The picture is much better that the SD channel. Must be due to the extra bandwidth.

Which channels are they?

[LeoSayer]

Halb said:

LeoSayer said:

I much prefer watching SD on a HD simulcast channel. The picture is much better that the SD channel. Must be due to the extra bandwidth.

Which channels are they?

Channel 4 and (I think) E4 and ITV.

Why the smiley?

Edited by LeoSayer on Thursday 4th November 15:22

[TEKNOPUG]

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

If I have an HD TV (which you'd presume as I have a SKY HD box and contract) why would I possibly be intereested in SKY Sports SD channels, Channel 4 SD, ITV SD etc etc???

[fizz876]

TEKNOPUG said:

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

If I have an HD TV (which you'd presume as I have a SKY HD box and contract) why would I possibly be intereested in SKY Sports SD channels, Channel 4 SD, ITV SD etc etc???

Because when your friends/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend say - 'HD is just a waste of money and there is hardly any difference', you can then go onto channel hop between the two channels and see clearly how good HD is. ( Though part of this will depend on how good your own TV is)

On another note I have found Sky HD to be a bit rubbish compared to Freesat HD. I find Freesat HD much better than Sky. Is anyone else finding this?

[TEKNOPUG]

fizz876 said:

TEKNOPUG said:

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

If I have an HD TV (which you'd presume as I have a SKY HD box and contract) why would I possibly be intereested in SKY Sports SD channels, Channel 4 SD, ITV SD etc etc???

Because when your friends/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend say - 'HD is just a waste of money and there is hardly any difference', you can then go onto channel hop between the two channels and see clearly how good HD is. ( Though part of this will depend on how good your own TV is)

On another note I have found Sky HD to be a bit rubbish compared to Freesat HD. I find Freesat HD much better than Sky. Is anyone else finding this?

Quantify "better". Picture quality of BBC HD is better on Freesat than SKYHD? I find that Freeview HD is better than Freesat HD....

[LeoSayer]

TEKNOPUG said:

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

It would be even better if Sky gave an options to remove all channels which I don't subscribe to.

[TEKNOPUG]

LeoSayer said:

TEKNOPUG said:

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

It would be even better if Sky gave an options to remove all channels which I don't subscribe to.

I guess that they want you to be tempted into subscribing to them?

[Halb]

LeoSayer said:

Halb said:

LeoSayer said:

I much prefer watching SD on a HD simulcast channel. The picture is much better that the SD channel. Must be due to the extra bandwidth.

Which channels are they?

Channel 4 and (I think) E4 and ITV.

Why the smiley?

I didn't know, makes me wonder why split it.


ANd why not the smiley?

LeoSayer said:

TEKNOPUG said:

I find it frustrating that you can't easily switch to the HD version of an SD channel when browsing/searching the menu. It would also be good if you could configure the SKY box to remove SD channels where HD equivalents exist, from the TV Guide completely.

It would be even better if Sky gave an options to remove all channels which I don't subscribe to.

I think this all the time, faves is simply not as good, I want to be able to decide what my numbered channels are. Is there anyone that does this in the civilised world?

Edited by Halb on Thursday 4th November 16:49

[im]

Take ITV1 SD on Channel 103

It would make sense if you could move (re-map) ITV1 HD to channel 103 and move ITV1 SD to channel 178 - effectively swapping them over. Or else, delete ITV1 SD from the planner altogether.

[Magic919]

JustinP1 said:

If they broadcast the HD signal to everyone, then they wouldn't be able to charge extra for HD...

Doh!

Very good!

[TEKNOPUG]

Can you manually tune in the SKY receiver? Or does it only run in auto mode and therefore it will register and set every channel it can receive?

For example, when manually tuning a TV with a terrestial reception, you can just decide not to bother looking for Channel 5 or not record it as a preset etc

[Bullett]

I was watching BBC1 HD this morning. Saw the news and then it went to the local news, except it didn't it put up a screen saying some programs are not available in HD yet. So I switched back to 101.

Why would they not just send an SD feed in place and put an OSD saying not HD.

[LeoSayer]

Halb said:

I think this all the time, faves is simply not as good, I want to be able to decide what my numbered channels are. Is there anyone that does this in the civilised world?

The only way I've found to do anything like this is to buy a programmable remote control like a Harmony One and create icons for the channels that you want. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.