General Channels switched to MPEG4 - Page 2

cheekyangus · 22-04-2019, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

Those look more like data right now than tv/radio channels.

I think you are correct. Especially as those streams already have as many TV channels as they are capable of carrying at MPEG4. I should have realised that earlier. I blame my coffee not kicking in

I didn't mention the new items on Tsid 4 earlier as those looked like data, with their Tier labels.

The new Tsid 2 and Tsid3 items will probably be housekeeping.

Media Boy UK · 23-04-2019, 15:12

PCR says Virgin Media are set to move all the Red button streams this week.

PCR 8191 is for on Demand or Red Button steams.

---------- Post added at 14:12 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

If you look up the new PMT and PCR it will reveal what is set to move.

Media Boy UK · 25-04-2019, 18:14

CO67 has this week been closedown by Virgin Media UK.

Two Channels has been added to C065 (Still in MPEG2)

-Sky Hits (Moves from CO69)
-Sky Sports Racing (Moves from CO67)

The following channels has been readded to CO69:

-NDTV India
-NDTV Spice
-NDTV Good Times

Q: WHY DID I HAVE TO RESET MY FAVOURITES CHANNELS FOR SKY SPORTS RACING?
A: Virgin Media UK has this week (Found on April 24th) has moved all channels listed on this post to new streams (But still broadcasting in MPEG2). So if you are an fan of any channel listed you will have to readd it to your Favourites Channels list.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------

12 Streams has still to join MPEG4 so we have work out.

-If Virgin Media add up to 5 streams to MPEG4 every two weeks we feel it will now end on May 28th.

-We feel the next streams will join on April 29th.

C034
-A Message For Parents

C036 (Red Button stream)
-SptsETV01

C046
-alibi +1

C052
-Pop Power

C053
-Kerrang

C054
-ITVBe

C064
-I.D.

C065
-Sky Action

C068
-Desi Entertainment

C069
-BBC Parliament

C070
-New Music On Demand

C073
-Vevo

On April 29th, May 13th and May 27th viewers will not need to reset their FAVOURITES CHANNELS as the channels moving to MPEG4 on that day will just start broadcasting in MPEG4 on the streams their are broadcasting on right now.

Media Boy HQ do not work for Virgin Media UK so dates may change.

cheekyangus · 25-04-2019, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

CO67 has this week been closedown by Virgin Media UK.

Two Channels has been added to C065 (Still in MPEG2)

-Sky Hits (Moves from CO69)
-Sky Sports Racing (Moves from CO67)

The following channels has been readded to CO69:

-NDTV India
-NDTV Spice
-NDTV Good Times

Q: WHY DID I HAVE TO RESET MY FAVOURITES CHANNELS FOR SKY SPORTS RACING?
A: Virgin Media UK has this week (Found on April 24th) has moved all channels listed on this post to new streams (But still broadcasting in MPEG2). So if you are an fan of any channel listed you will have to readd it to your Favourites Channels list.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------

12 Streams has still to join MPEG4 so we have work out.

-If Virgin Media add up to 5 streams to MPEG4 every two weeks we feel it will now end on May 28th.

-We feel the next streams will join on April 29th.

C034
-A Message For Parents

C036 (Red Button stream)
-SptsETV01

C046
-alibi +1

C052
-Pop Power

C053
-Kerrang

C054
-ITVBe

C064
-I.D.

C065
-Sky Action

C068
-Desi Entertainment

C069
-BBC Parliament

C070
-New Music On Demand

C073
-Vevo

On April 29th, May 13th and May 27th viewers will not need to reset their FAVOURITES CHANNELS as the channels moving to MPEG4 on that day will just start broadcasting in MPEG4 on the streams their are broadcasting on right now.

Media Boy HQ do not work for Virgin Media UK so dates may change.

I hadn't noticed that closure or those moves. I saw the NDTV thing a few days ago but couldn't work out what it was that had occurred given it hadn't seemed to have changed anything obvious.

cheekyangus · 26-04-2019, 10:52

I've been thinking about the move of Sky Hits and Sky Sports Racing onto the multiplex/frequency mentioned by Media Boy above. They have been moved alongside what seems to be all (?) of the other Sky Cinema SD channels. It occurred to me that they might just switch off all of these SD channels as part of a new Sky deal.

My reasoning being that, as I understand it, Sky Cinema subscribers get all the channels, both HD and SD, and given VM customers all have HD capable boxes now they will see the carrying of the SD Cinema channels as a needless duplication.

As for Sky Sports Racing, there is an HD version, and it hasn't launched on VM yet. Maybe they will simply replace the SD one with the HD version?

So my theory is the whole of Tsid 18 multiplex/frequency, which these are now on, will simply be switched off rather than switch to MPEG4 SD versions.

horno46 · 26-04-2019, 19:19

Once all streams are switched to Mpeg4 will there be any benefits for users? Improved PQ perhaps?

BenMcr · 26-04-2019, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by horno46

Once all streams are switched to Mpeg4 will there be any benefits for users? Improved PQ perhaps?

The main benefit for customers is lower recording space needed for the same picture quality (and for Virgin Media, less network capacity needed).

Overall picture quality is more the domain of the original broadcaster than Virgin Media.

Raider999 · 27-04-2019, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by horno46

Once all streams are switched to Mpeg4 will there be any benefits for users? Improved PQ perhaps?

Seriously doubt it

Mr K · 27-04-2019, 20:21

Have to say the change to MPEG4 hasn't improved my life in any way. Very disappointing !

cheekyangus · 27-04-2019, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

Have to say the change to MPEG4 hasn't improved my life in any way. Very disappointing !

It's made my recording percentage stay relatively stagnant.

RichardCoulter · 28-04-2019, 14:05

Have channels 1-5 moved over to MPEG4 yet?

denphone · 28-04-2019, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

Have to say the change to MPEG4 hasn't improved my life in any way. Very disappointing !

Well it does take quite a lot to cheer up dear old Victor.

cheekyangus · 28-04-2019, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Have channels 1-5 moved over to MPEG4 yet?

As all HD on VM is MPEG4 now what follows is with regards to SD versions of 1-5.

I think all the variations of BBC2 are, as are Channel 4 regions and Channel 5. I'm not certain all the regions of ITV are, and there are some BBC1 regions that aren't.
E.g. based on DBR website, which I believe is showing VM network in Manchester, Tsid 101 on DBR for North West isn't, neither is BBC1 Scotland and BBC1 Wales on Tsid 10.

VirginMediaPhil · 28-04-2019, 21:26

Apologies if this has been mentioned, but has anyone else noticed that the picture is stretched vertically on SD channels that have moved to MPEG4? Very noticeable to me, especially when the same coverage is being shown on Sky Sports Main Event and one of the other Sky Sports channels, Main Event shows it correctly but graphics are much closer to the edge of the screen on the other Sky Sports channels.

spiderplant · 28-04-2019, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

Apologies if this has been mentioned, but has anyone else noticed that the picture is stretched vertically on SD channels that have moved to MPEG4? Very noticeable to me, especially when the same coverage is being shown on Sky Sports Main Event and one of the other Sky Sports channels, Main Event shows it correctly but graphics are much closer to the edge of the screen on the other Sky Sports channels.

Well spotted. It happens because it's impossible to exactly encode 720x576 video in MPEG4. The closest available resolution is used instead, and this results in just over 2% of the picture being cropped.