DISH Network's 1080p VOD service gets inspected, looks impressive

[xtop]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/d...oks-impressiv/

A couple of months back, we saw what was to come with DISH Network's 1080p video-on-demand service. Now, the cats and kittens over at Sound & Vision have a definitive writeup explaining the value of the aforementioned offering. At the time of review, Speed Racer was DISH's 1080p VOD movie of the month, so critics fired it up via the satcaster's set-top-box while comparing it to the version on Blu-ray. Obviously, DISH's 1080p isn't the same quality 1080p as what you'll find on a BD-50, but the results were pretty astounding, regardless. In fact, critics had a tough time deciphering between the two from a normal viewing distance, and while they were fully expecting to be underwhelmed by DISH Network's 1080p material, they were actually stunned by just how impressive it looked. Of course, the dearth of titles available at any given time means that this won't sway potential customers in and of itself, but you can rest assured DISH is looking to beef up its 1080p HD VOD lineup as quickly as possible.

from the article...

DISH 1080p immediately impressed me. Speed Racer's brilliant colors and intricate details looked fantastic whether I was watching the satellite or the disc. Flipping back and forth between the two sources while sitting at a normal viewing distance, I could detect only subtle differences. In fact, I couldn't be sure I was seeing any difference at all, since the movie's frantic action made it hard to judge picture quality. Even if I was seeing a difference, I wasn't sure which source was better.

But ferreting out differences is my gig, so I moved closer. From the way-too-intimate viewing distance of about 4 feet, I started to notice a subtle graininess in the DISH 1080p picture, especially in scenes of slow, steady motion. I could see the difference mainly in fairly static shots (of which Speed Racer has few), especially during close-ups, when actors spoke for at least 10 seconds (again, a rarity in Speed Racer).

Of course, different movies will yield different results, but the fact that there wasn't a substantial difference in picture quality between the satellite and the disc bodes well for DISH's new service.

this won't stop all the dish hate as of late, but nice to hear it actually looks good. hit up the link in the engadget link to read the full review