BBC/ITV 5.1 surround sound problems

[Mellow7]

My setup amongst other things comprises a 2010 Samsung C5800 series 40" HD LED TV and an Arcam AV200 amp. I connect the TV to the amp via a digital fibre optic cable as it preceeds HDMI. Suffice to say it works a treat...or it did! From the start I had BBC HD, BBC 1 HD, ITV1 HD and S4C HD (in Wales). All HD channels switched the amp to provide 5.1 surround, apart from ITV, which for some reason was only 2.1 or stereo.

With recent retunes, and the fact that S4C is not HD anymore, I now have BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD , ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. However, Channel 4 is now the only one that seems to be providing 5.1 surround.

If I put my ear to the surround speakers I can hear the amp switching over, and it works fine with Bluray/DVD/SACD etc. Could it be that the digital sound broadcast is now subtley different to a format my amp recognises, or am I (and others) being conned?

[OldSkoolRS]

I've got an Arcam AV9 connected via optical to a Humax HD PVR, so I can double check what you are saying. However as recently as last weekend I was trying out some different settings and my AV9 was correctly switching between DD5.1 for the main program and was dropping down to PL IIx for the trailers/adverts on ITV HD. Pretty sure I've had 5.1 on BBC 1 recently as well. However, I'll check and post back later. FWIW I'm in the Berkshire area picking up my signal from Crystal Palace transmitter.

[OldSkoolRS]

Just confirmed that all 4 HD channels were broadcasting in 5.1 about 15 minutes ago. When the ad break came on for Channel 4 my AV9 dropped back to Pro Logic IIx so it was behaving as I'd expect it to. Whether there was much surround effect on the programs is another matter, but at least they were being sent out using DD 5.1 from my Humax PVR.

EDIT: Just to add you should be able to check BBC One HD is broadcasting in 5.1 today if you check Doctor Who (not sure exactly what time, but early evening).

Edited by OldSkoolRS on Saturday 6th April 09:53

[JimbobVFR]

OldSkoolRS said:

EDIT: Just to add you should be able to check BBC One HD is broadcasting in 5.1 today if you check Doctor Who (not sure exactly what time, but early evening).

Actually that's a good point, could it be that the particular programme on wasn't in 5.1 at the time?