SD Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?

desi112 · 24-01-2022, 18:30

Hi Folks,

I was just wondering why do we still have some channels being broadcast in both SD and HD on cable?

I though everyone on Virgin Media must have a TV that supports HD?....

ScottishSteve · 24-01-2022, 19:14

It depends on the package you are on whether you get the HD version or not.

The 360 boxes remove one or the other depending on what package you are subscribed to.

eg Sky Showcase SD is on lower packs where HD is on Maxit

Taf · 24-01-2022, 20:11

I have several neighbours who don't have HD-capable sets.

Raider999 · 24-01-2022, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by desi112

Hi Folks,

I was just wondering why do we still have some channels being broadcast in both SD and HD on cable?

I though everyone on Virgin Media must have a TV that supports HD?....

Very doubtful

cheekyangus · 24-01-2022, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by desi112

I though everyone on Virgin Media must have a TV that supports HD?....

Everyone who has TV Services via Virgin Media has a box that supports HD, they don't however need a TV that displays it. Original Tivo boxes have SCART as an option and downscale the picture to output via it if you choose to connect to a television using that type of cable.

v0id · 25-01-2022, 02:38

I think it's because currently it's only possible to watch some regional news in standard definition

**Paul** · 25-01-2022, 05:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by desi112

I though everyone on Virgin Media must have a TV that supports HD?....

You thought wrong.

kgollop · 25-01-2022, 08:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

I have several neighbours who don't have HD-capable sets.

I had the Telewest TVDrive 15 years ago and it downscaled BBC HD quite happily to my CRT TV, surely the newer boxes do the same? I can't imagine there are any SD boxes left on the VM network now?

desi112 · 25-01-2022, 10:22

Thank you for the replies I wrongly assumed every VM customer must have the VM V6 box as a minimum therefore are using a HDMI Connection....

I just find it slightly odd that in terms of changing channels to HD on Cable and Freeview things appear to be going at a snails pace. is this probably due to the bandwidth required?

cheekyangus · 25-01-2022, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgollop

I had the Telewest TVDrive 15 years ago and it downscaled BBC HD quite happily to my CRT TV, surely the newer boxes do the same? I can't imagine there are any SD boxes left on the VM network now?

There are no SD-only boxes on VM, haven't been for a while now.

Only the Original VM Tivo has a SCART, all the other models currently supplied by VM only have HDMI output (there are other outputs but they are disabled), so are basically for HD TVs only (unless you get your own converter device/cable).

I've not have my morning coffee, so I await someone pointing out I've got something misremembered somewhere.

---------- Post added at 09:51 ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by desi112

Thank you for the replies I wrongly assumed every VM customer must have the VM V6 box as a minimum therefore are using a HDMI Connection....

I just find it slightly odd that in terms of changing channels to HD on Cable and Freeview things appear to be going at a snails pace. is this probably due to the bandwidth required?

V6 has basically been the minimum for a while, but TV-Only Customers, still had Original VM Tivo as it doesn't require you to be a Broadband Customer since it has a built-in dedicated internet connection.

Freeview's snail pace is a combination of lack of space and legacy installed equipment, there's (proportionally) a lot of SD-Only Freeview equipment still in use, broadcasters on Digital Terrestrial don't want to lose those viewers, it's the largest platform.

An example: On 1st July 2021 5Select (though it remained SD) moved to a transmission that only works on HD-capable Freeview devices, though had 8% more UK population coverage. Despite it also being available on other platforms like VM, Sky and Freesat, 5Select ratings went down approx 28% in its first few weeks, and they've never fully recovered, they are still 20% down. Those ratings figures are for all platforms, so the Freeview proportion must be bigger and demonstrates the installbase without the required HD equipment.

1701-e · 25-01-2022, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

V6 has basically been the minimum for a while, but TV-Only Customers, still had Original VM Tivo as it doesn't require you to be a Broadband Customer since it has a built-in dedicated internet connection.
.

My mum has BB but when I ask to change from TiVo to V6 they want to charge more. They replaced like for like sadly when her old box was slowing down to a crawl.

Yes no new TV and BB customer will get a TiVo but legacy treated differently.

cheekyangus · 25-01-2022, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1701-e

My mum has BB but when I ask to change from TiVo to V6 they want to charge more. They replaced like for like sadly when her old box was slowing down to a crawl.

Yes no new TV and BB customer will get a TiVo but legacy treated differently.

That surprises me, the service charge for Tivo was the same for Original and V6 to my recollection when we changed, we wouldn't have otherwise. There was a one-off charge, it wasn't for an engineer as it was sent in post and installed by myself.

Media Boy UK · 25-01-2022, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

There are no SD-only boxes on VM, haven't been for a while now.

I think it down to broadcaster if both SD and HD are carry by Virgin Media.

Drop SD:
Discovery
BBC
Sky Cinema
BT Sport
A&E
STV

HD comes before SD:
Sky Basic
Sky Sports
ViacomCBS
ITV (Channel 3)
UTV
GOLD (UKTV's)

TV360 broadcasts only HD Channels and drop their SD Channel - if it have a HD Channel.

BenMcr · 25-01-2022, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

That surprises me, the service charge for Tivo was the same for Original and V6 to my recollection when we changed, we wouldn't have otherwise. There was a one-off charge, it wasn't for an engineer as it was sent in post and installed by myself.

Service charge is the same, but it doesn't mean that a TV + BB bundle price is the same between the two.

cheekyangus · 25-01-2022, 18:54

MB, I'm not sure why you quoted me, I was responding to a comment about boxes rather than channels with the bit you quoted.

---------- Post added at 17:54 ---------- Previous post was at 17:53 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Service charge is the same, but it doesn't mean that a TV + BB bundle price is the same between the two.

Fair enough. I was just going by recollection the bill break down rather than bundle discount.