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jfman · 16-09-2018, 14:08

I think an issue is the fact that the move to HD represented a number of simultaneous changes - not just resolution.

With the move to HD in the UK many users experienced three improvements for the first time.

1) a digital interface between STB and TV.
2) moving from low bitrate MPEG2 streams
3) improved resolution, some of the SD channels aren't even full resolution standard definition.

Back in the day I had a FTA HD set top box and motorised satellite dish, and viewing the German public broadcasters in SD over HDMI was night and day compared to what we were being offered in the UK. Routinely fixed bitrate 8 Mb/sec was the norm, as opposed to 2-3 Mb/sec (and sometimes less) variable and 544x576 resolution that we were routinely offered in the UK.

16-09-2018, 14:08	#2116
jfman Architect of Ideas Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 11,146	Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018) I think an issue is the fact that the move to HD represented a number of simultaneous changes - not just resolution. With the move to HD in the UK many users experienced three improvements for the first time. 1) a digital interface between STB and TV. 2) moving from low bitrate MPEG2 streams 3) improved resolution, some of the SD channels aren't even full resolution standard definition. Back in the day I had a FTA HD set top box and motorised satellite dish, and viewing the German public broadcasters in SD over HDMI was night and day compared to what we were being offered in the UK. Routinely fixed bitrate 8 Mb/sec was the norm, as opposed to 2-3 Mb/sec (and sometimes less) variable and 544x576 resolution that we were routinely offered in the UK.