View Full Version : British GP in HD?
There were rumours last year that some odd races, such as Silverstone and/or Monaco, could be shown in HD. With both of these races fast approaching there's been no more on this so it's not looking likely, or has anyone got different info?
In general, given the amount of money host nations have to pay to get a GP in the first place, to then not be able to provide an HD broadcast of the race is inexcusable. Why on earth doesn't Bernie make it a condition of hosting a race that the host has to provide an HD broadcast of it?
Matblack
26-04-2009, 12:19
Doesn't the dwarf actually own/ run the coverage and then sell it on to a local network?
MB
Yeah I think FOM owns all the rights to the coverage but it's the host broadcaster that actually produces it. FOM could easily add a stipulation that the host has to provide an HD feed.
Obviously the BBC is the host broadcaster at Silverstone so could provide an HD feed.
Matblack
26-04-2009, 12:25
Are they shooting with HD cameras then? I don't really know much about this sort of stuff.
MB
I'd be amazed if they weren't shooting all major sporting events in HD these days, although you never know.
TBH, the BBC's HD output is a disgrace IMO. Whenever the licence fee is up for review, all we hear from them is how they need more money to invest in new technology, be it digital or HD or whatever, yet their lack of HD output is shocking. Supposedly major new series such as Merlin aren't available in HD along with many others. I believe the recent Dr. Who Easter special was the first one ever available in HD.
When you look over the pond at the US, every major TV series they produce has been available in HD for years.
I want to punch anyone who says "I'll give 110%".
Here's an idea BBC, why don't you not compress the signal so ****ing much and you won't need to invest so much in HD and we won't all have to keep upgrading our perfectly good tellies :angry:
TBH, I've read a lot about poor quality on BBC HD but, in my experiments so far with Freesat, I've found the quality remarkably good, averaging a solid 16Mb/s with a very clear picture.
Don't know whether it varies from programme to programme though.
F1 isn't shot in HD, simple as that and from what i've read it's FOM that own the equipment.
Japanese GP was in HD last year IIRC, because FOM don't do the cameras there.
It's a complete joke to be honest.
Interesting if FOM do actually do the broadcasting themselves. I don't know that much about it but I've heard the phrase "host broadcaster" a lot which would suggest that the host nation does the donkey work themselves.
Either way I agree, that such a rich sport which pioneers automotive technology is so backward when it comes to broadcasting technology is indeed a complete joke.
Del Lardo
27-04-2009, 02:10
I'd be amazed if they weren't shooting all major sporting events in HD these days, although you never know.
TBH, the BBC's HD output is a disgrace IMO. Whenever the licence fee is up for review, all we hear from them is how they need more money to invest in new technology, be it digital or HD or whatever, yet their lack of HD output is shocking. Supposedly major new series such as Merlin aren't available in HD along with many others. I believe the recent Dr. Who Easter special was the first one ever available in HD.
When you look over the pond at the US, every major TV series they produce has been available in HD for years.
What the BBC want to do and what the BBC are allowed to do are two totally different things. It wouldn't surprise me if the regulators were the blocking point for more HD content as it would be anti competitive. As for new technology, iPlayer HD is pretty darn impressive IMO.
As for the GP, HD from Silverstone would be rather boring as the race will be a Donnington :p IIRC it's all down to Bernie, some races are already filmed in HD but the mad midget will only allow SD broadcast. There may be some method in his madness as in car shots will be in SD regardless (HD cameras are too big) so it allows them to stick to a single standard.
Nevermind HD, I think we'll be lucky to have a British GP at all next year!
How had is it to take hd and convert to sd?
I very much doubt it. they would have to produce two feeds sd and HD, either by down mixing or having 2 actual feeds. Can't see it happening this year.
How had is it to take hd and convert to sd?
I very much doubt it. they would have to produce two feeds sd and HD, either by down mixing or having 2 actual feeds. Can't see it happening this year.
Most of the HD programmes we shoot are shot in normal pixel count and upscaled to HD. It's simply too expensive for most budgets to justify HD all the way. Downscaling is no different and as far as I know they broadcast both side by side don't they? I don't have HD myself so I don't know the ins and outs from the viewer's end.
TBH, I've read a lot about poor quality on BBC HD but, in my experiments so far with Freesat, I've found the quality remarkably good, averaging a solid 16Mb/s with a very clear picture.
Don't know whether it varies from programme to programme though.
We had Sky HD put in last week and I have to say, from what I've seen the BBC HD content was great.
Think I read the BBC's outside broadcast units which can shoot HD are actually big enough to cover the GP. Hope they do though :)
Kinda hoping they do Eurovision in HD though ;D
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