Europe will have to wait for HDTV

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"K. B." <hotmail.com@lis2lis2> wrote in message
news:41bea29e.10010978@netnews.worldnet.att.net...
> <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4065565.stm&gt;
>
> "The BBC will start broadcasting in HDTV when the time is
> right, and it would not be just a showcase, but a whole set
> of programming,"

Like most things the BBC will do sweet F.A. until it gets to a point where it
challenges its existence, BSkyB however is launching a HD service next year into
2006, and HD-DVD will also be available by that date.

Ironically even if the Beeb are producing the majority of their content in HD in
five years time they will be amongst the last to broadcast it, if that ever
happens at all, this is due to their vested interest in a low-quality Freeview
service. When a household uses this method of going digital the BBC viewing
share plummets the least compared to other services like cable or satellite,
hence the resistance in making any other platform more attractive than Freeview
(such as BBC HD content on satellite).



Az.

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
news:8f_vd.6828318$6p.1073840@news.easynews.com...
> "K. B." <hotmail.com@lis2lis2> wrote in message
> news:41bea29e.10010978@netnews.worldnet.att.net...
> > <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4065565.stm&gt;
> >
> > "The BBC will start broadcasting in HDTV when the time is
> > right, and it would not be just a showcase, but a whole set
> > of programming,"
>
> Like most things the BBC will do sweet F.A. until it gets to a point where
it
> challenges its existence, BSkyB however is launching a HD service next
year into
> 2006, and HD-DVD will also be available by that date.
>
> Ironically even if the Beeb are producing the majority of their content in
HD in
> five years time they will be amongst the last to broadcast it, if that
ever
> happens at all, this is due to their vested interest in a low-quality
Freeview
> service. When a household uses this method of going digital the BBC
viewing
> share plummets the least compared to other services like cable or
satellite,
> hence the resistance in making any other platform more attractive than
Freeview
> (such as BBC HD content on satellite).
>
>
But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on satellite,
surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract' extra
viewers?


>
> Az.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
<
> But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on satellite,
> surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
> implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract' extra
> viewers?

Well indeed, but to the wrong platform.


Az.

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
news:y32wd.6839659$6p.1075468@news.easynews.com...
> "ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> <
> > But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on satellite,
> > surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
> > implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract'
extra
> > viewers?
>
> Well indeed, but to the wrong platform.
>

I still don't understand, as around 8 million homes already have digital
satellite anyway, so wouldn't it make sense to attract a core of viewers who
want HDTV? Because if the BBC don't, then in the next couple of years there
are other programme makers who will.


> Az.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
news:y32wd.6839659$6p.1075468@news.easynews.com...
> "ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> <
>> But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on satellite,
>> surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
>> implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract'
>> extra
>> viewers?
>
> Well indeed, but to the wrong platform.

Surely this depends partially on what happens with FTA satellite in the UK.
If ITV ditch Sky encryption and join the Beeb FTA on 2D - then there is real
scope for a non-Sky FreeSat service that would add to the Freeview
proposition, and allow non-Sky satellite viewing to drive digital
"Freeview"-style non-sub take-up in non-Freeview covered areas.

IMHO the Beeb WILL end up with HD on satellite, and it will be compatible
with Sky HD receivers, to not do so would be a major problem. They won't be
able to wait for a second generation DTT service to launch before they start
HD transmissions, and given their status as a large producer of original
content (most of which may be in HD well before analogue switch-off - when
Freeview might be able to expand) they will want an outlet for this in HD
before 2012...

Too many variable to say for sure - but I wouldn't be at all surprised if a
BBC HD proposition were part of a Sky HD line-up at launch, or soon after.

Steve

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:32bregF3koshgU1@individual.net...
>
> "Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
> news:y32wd.6839659$6p.1075468@news.easynews.com...
>> "ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> <
>> > But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on satellite,
>> > surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
>> > implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract'
> extra
>> > viewers?
>>
>> Well indeed, but to the wrong platform.
>>
>
> I still don't understand, as around 8 million homes already have digital
> satellite anyway, so wouldn't it make sense to attract a core of viewers who
> want HDTV? Because if the BBC don't, then in the next couple of years there
> are other programme makers who will.

Because the Beeb viewing figures for those with Sky is under half that of a
household that has Freeview, making satellite more appealing only makes matters
worse, it devalues Freeview.


Az.

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
news Ejwd.4804323$yk.722043@news.easynews.com...
> "ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:32bregF3koshgU1@individual.net...
> >
> > "Aztech" <az@tech.com> wrote in message
> > news:y32wd.6839659$6p.1075468@news.easynews.com...
> >> "ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> >> <
> >> > But as the BBC has already got around seven FTA channels on
satellite,
> >> > surely adding an extra couple of HDTV channels would be cheaper to
> >> > implement, have virtually universal coverage, and actually 'attract'
> > extra
> >> > viewers?
> >>
> >> Well indeed, but to the wrong platform.
> >>
> >
> > I still don't understand, as around 8 million homes already have digital
> > satellite anyway, so wouldn't it make sense to attract a core of viewers
who
> > want HDTV? Because if the BBC don't, then in the next couple of years
there
> > are other programme makers who will.
>
> Because the Beeb viewing figures for those with Sky is under half that of
a
> household that has Freeview, making satellite more appealing only makes
matters
> worse, it devalues Freeview.
>
>
Freeview co-exists quite happily in many homes which already have Sky and
cable, and now that that receivers can be purchased for around the 30/£40
mark it's a situation that's increasing daily.

Only this week a customer of mine purchased three receivers, two for his
young kids' bedrooms and one for his older daughter who lives at a different
address, she originally had a cable box in her bedroom but has now replaced
it with the much cheaper Freeview option, although she still keeps cable in
the main sitting room.






> Az.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 13:09:42 -0000, "Stephen Neal"
<stephen.neal@nospam.as-directed.com> posted:

>IMHO the Beeb WILL end up with HD on satellite, and it will be compatible
>with Sky HD receivers, to not do so would be a major problem.

Perhaps slower than real time distribution of HDTV content
using broadband Internet with home (probably PC based)
storage.

IIRC, license fee payer funded content is currently
available over dial-up and broadband Internet.

Kirk Bayne
alt.video.digital-tv Home Page
<http://www.geocities.com/lislislislis/avdtv.htm&gt;

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"K. B." <hotmail.com@lis2lis2> wrote in message
news:41c3cc61.2691467@netnews.worldnet.att.net...
> On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 13:09:42 -0000, "Stephen Neal"
> <stephen.neal@nospam.as-directed.com> posted:
>
>>IMHO the Beeb WILL end up with HD on satellite, and it will be compatible
>>with Sky HD receivers, to not do so would be a major problem.
>
> Perhaps slower than real time distribution of HDTV content
> using broadband Internet with home (probably PC based)
> storage.

Yep - I believe the Beeb experimented with some HD material during their
recent "IMP" download trials, where BBC material was available for download
(with some DRM to keep copyright holders happy?) The aim is to do for TV
what their successful "Listen Again" site has done for radio content.

You are right that this might be the first outlet for BBC HD material -
along with HD DVD or Blu Ray? However neither of these are strictly
"broadcasting" - though that may not be relevant!

>
> IIRC, license fee payer funded content is currently
> available over dial-up and broadband Internet.
>

Yep - lots of radio content is available - both live streams and recorded
stuff for streaming over the following 7 days. Some shows are now also
available for MP3 download.

There is a lot of video material available on-line, and the BBC operated a
broadband streaming service for the Olympics (restricted to UK IP addresses
I think)

Unlike many other, commercial, broadcasters - the Beeb is keen to make its
output as accessible as possible to UK licence fee payers, though has to
balance this with not reducing the value of its output to non-UK
broadcasters in overseas sales terms.

Steve