Cable Forum - View Single Post - Picture quality problems right at source, not tranmission medium

dukeofearl · 14-02-2004, 19:07

Just watched the two rugby games on the BBC, using NTL cable through my very old Pioneer 502 Plasma screen - What a difference between them !!

The game from France was only 4:3, with black bars left and right as part of the widescreen BBC source, but the picture quality was superb. Both still frame and fast action was encoded superbly giving an overall great picture.

Then game the Wales/Scotland game. In widescreen this time, the still(ish) frame shots were fine, but as soon as the picture was panning or there was a lot of action in shot, it just turned into a grainy, "boxy" mess !!

Perhaps the BBC need to spend a bit more on the MPEG encoders they use !!

It shows that there is no right answer about the quality of broadcast TV through digital. It's the source that matters - not the transmission medium.

14-02-2004, 19:07	#1
dukeofearl Inactive Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 65 Posts: 25	Picture quality problems right at source, not tranmission medium Just watched the two rugby games on the BBC, using NTL cable through my very old Pioneer 502 Plasma screen - What a difference between them !! The game from France was only 4:3, with black bars left and right as part of the widescreen BBC source, but the picture quality was superb. Both still frame and fast action was encoded superbly giving an overall great picture. Then game the Wales/Scotland game. In widescreen this time, the still(ish) frame shots were fine, but as soon as the picture was panning or there was a lot of action in shot, it just turned into a grainy, "boxy" mess !! Perhaps the BBC need to spend a bit more on the MPEG encoders they use !! It shows that there is no right answer about the quality of broadcast TV through digital. It's the source that matters - not the transmission medium.