British GP in HD? - Page 2

Del Lardo · 27-04-2009, 02:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

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

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.

lostkat · 27-04-2009, 05:52

Nevermind HD, I think we'll be lucky to have a British GP at all next year!

Glaucus · 27-04-2009, 09:00

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.

Jonny69 · 27-04-2009, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

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.

Daz · 27-04-2009, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

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

27-04-2009, 05:52	#12
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Nevermind HD, I think we'll be lucky to have a British GP at all next year! __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

27-04-2009, 09:00	#13
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	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. __________________ Last edited by Glaucus; 27-04-2009 at 09:07.