High-definition Video On Demand -- a Sky (Plus) killer?

[bdav]

Originally Posted by Richardr

It should be a lot better than a current DVD picture.

Why would it be better than a hi-def DVD?

[Richardr]

By current DVD I meant the current standard DVD format.

[bdav]

DVDs currently come in 780p or 1080p. This is High def right?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by bdav

DVDs currently come in 780p or 1080p. This is High def right?

They don't. They use the standard definition broadcast resolution of 720x576. Hi Def is 1024x768 or higher.

[simpsonsFAN]

Originally Posted by bdav

DVDs currently come in 780p or 1080p. This is High def right?

I assume you must be talking about those windows media dvds, WMVdvds, right? I saw them on my trip the the US a few months back, stunning quality!

But alas, Current "normal" DVDs are only SD, there are no "true high definition dvd's" untill blue ray and hd-dvd come out next year.

Even then, there is no international standards yet, so we could find that some disks will play in some players and some wont.
-Chris

[bdav]

What is the current method of connection on the US HD Cable boxes? Component, DVI, VGA or HDMI?

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Therefore there are only two real differences between the outline above and what is currently done for Sky Plus. The first is that after 12 months, ownership and responsibility for maintenance of the box changes. This is exactly the same situation as with "standard" digital services on cable and satellite, and so will not be a major issue.

It's all still open!!

Only true on Sat, on Cable the box ownership remains with the cable co as does the maintainance and repair responsibility. This is I suppose the £5 a month difference between the additional subscription / box fee of NTL at £15 and Sky at £10.

Having used the Time Warner box SA8000 in the US plugged into a fiber optic digital audio out, the future of cable is indeed bright.

[bdav]

Originally Posted by scastle

They don't. They use the standard definition broadcast resolution of 720x576. Hi Def is 1024x768 or higher.

Yep - your right. Looked at the status for my proj. connected to the Prog scan dvd - 576p. I assumed, as the player had "Hi-Res progressive" printed on the front, it must be higher than tv, apparently not. Is that all im going to get from the DVD player, assuming it doesnt play WMDVDs?

[jtwn]

Most likely, Yes.

[kronas]

right off the top of my head high definition broadcasts are usally 1024x780 either progressive or interlaced, however there is also 1920x1080 too.

[Lew]

Originally Posted by kronas

right off the top of my head high definition broadcasts are usally 1024x780 either progressive or interlaced, however there is also 1920x1080 too.

It's usually 1280x720 progressive or 1920x1080 interlaced.

[mike7]

No mention in this forum, so far, of the the need for HDCP circuitry in the LCD or plasma tv. This is essential in order to view some transmissions of copyright material. Sky have more than hinted that this will be essential to view their full service and it is now included in the specification for sets which carry the new European standard HDTV logo. Basically it is to prevent programmes being copied and this will almost certainly apply to sport and movies. The downer is that most of the Plasma and LCDs that have been sold over the past couple of years will not be capable of showing a lot of HD material. So-called High Dfinition sets by the big manufacturers, such as Sony, do not meet this specification although new models, due out later this year, will. Same goes for most makes. This is, partly, the reason why a lot of flat panel sets are being heavily discounted. Once Sky, and possibly new generation DVD players hit the market nobody will want these old sets. It would be interesting to know where Telewest stands on this issue. Any new service is going to depend heavily on movies and sport.

[ntl.wotcha]

Are you in cloud cuckoo land ? NTL announced VOD months ago and so far only available in a handfull of regions.

I wouldn't be holding my breath on a PVR or HD.

I predict backend of 2006 or early 2007 maybe...

Edit: I'm probably being generous though... more like early 2008 knowing ntl

[zoombini]

Of coourse this wont be the end of Sky+.
Sky+ will get better in time too & whereas cable is only just catching up to it's abilities, later on sky+ will yet egain be far superior to anything that NTL can offer.

The new fangled PVR boxes may well have 3 channel ability but you have to remember that those 3 channels are on NTL, I wonder if the red button will work on them all?

[jtwn]

Originally Posted by zoombini

The new fangled PVR boxes may well have 3 channel ability but you have to remember that those 3 channels are on NTL, I wonder if the red button will work on them all?

uhhh, why would you record a red button screen?