Sky HD
Author
Discussion

Jubal

Original Poster:

930 posts

259 months

Monday 22nd May 2006
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Had this installed today, one of the lucky few who didn't get a postponed install due to box shortages. The picture on the true HD channels is nothing short of magnificent. I have a 32" Sony Bravia which always made the best of an SD source but I never imagined what an improvement HD would make. It must be fabulous on a bigger set. 299 for the box and another 10/month on the subs. Recommended.

jazzybee

3,056 posts

279 months

Monday 22nd May 2006
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Mine's due for installation tomorrow. Can't wait!

Don

28,378 posts

314 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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We've ordered it but won't get it until mid-July.

Its a bugger we won't get Wimbledon in hi-def but I'm not a footie fan so missing the World Cup is irrelevant to me. Shame the F1 won't be in HD...

Glad you reckon its worth it!

Tonsko

6,299 posts

245 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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A friend bought an HD satellite reciever, as the HD content from the World Cup is being done by the BBC (and is therefore classed as free to air).

Sky however, are transporting the signal.

Ostensibly, the feed SHOULD be free, but sky have changed the frequency of the transmission - so if you want HD, you HAVE to get sky [i.e. the sky HD satellite recievers are capable of recieving a signal on a frequency other manufacturers' boxes can't]. Sky have acknowledged their 'mistake' - but you can guarantee they won't change it back until after the world cup. The satellite recievers' manufacturers that my friend has bought are supposed to be bringing out a firmware upgrade to get round this (and therefore make the box capable of recieving sky's altered feed), but have yet to do so.

The long and the short of it? Sky are being very unfair, and no-one should buy it. Saying that is like pissing in the wind though I guess.

>> Edited by Tonsko on Tuesday 23 May 10:47

FourWheelDrift

92,350 posts

314 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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Don said:
Shame the F1 won't be in HD...


I'm staggered it still isn't even in widescreen!

mr_yogi

3,288 posts

285 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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Yeah, it's a joke for such a technically driven sport

tycho

12,285 posts

303 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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What channels are in HD?

FourWheelDrift

92,350 posts

314 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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tycho said:
What channels are in HD?


Sky One
Sky Sports
Sky Movies
National Geographic
BBC One
Discovery
Sky Box Office
Artsworld....(?!)


So far.

tycho

12,285 posts

303 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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FourWheelDrift said:
tycho said:
What channels are in HD?


Sky One
Sky Sports
Sky Movies
National Geographic
BBC One
Discovery
Sky Box Office
Artsworld....(?!)


So far.


Cool, is that most programs or just a few? I believe that the BBC have been filming most programs in HD for a while.

dave_s13

14,031 posts

299 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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mr_yogi said:
Yeah, it's a joke for such a technically driven sport



Indeed, ferkin ridiculous, anyone know why?? Even my gran has a widescreen telly ffs!

FourWheelDrift

92,350 posts

314 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
quotequote all
Not sure but it seems anything European based outside the UK (F1 races, Champions league football, etc....) is not broadcast in widescreen. Might be some backward euro-law stating if one member country doesn't have widescreen TV's they can't broadcast it in WS.

pjskel

10,842 posts

257 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2006
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It's also a matter of what the host broadcaster is offering for the negogiated price. If UK broadcasters wanted WS, they'd have it, but 4:3 and heavy compression mean cheap as chips, hence the abysmal blocking and artefacts you see.
As with all things - lowest common denominator. If enough people complained, they'd set the compression ratio lower, but alas we mostly say nothing and accept what we're given.