HD Picture Quality from Direct TV, etc. - Blu-ray Forum

JJBOOGIE · 10-22-2008, 01:06 AM

this might be a very easy question to have answered - but take a Saturday watching college football - why are some stations and games much clearer in HD than others? there might be a 3:00 HD game that is noticeably less clear than a 12:00 or vice versa...sometimes even the prime time game is not as clear as the day games...i'm assuming it either has something to do with the cameras doing the filming or possibly is something to do with the signal itself?

olds403 · 10-22-2008, 01:20 AM

Not every program on a HD channel is HD. They could be filmed in SD.

J6P · 10-22-2008, 01:30 AM

What you were noticing with football is that FOX (as a network) broadcasts HD in 720p, and CBS (as a network) broadcasts HD at 1080i.

Here's a link to how the networks break down, as of Sept. 2007.

pujols4mvp · 10-22-2008, 04:56 AM

Saturday afternoon games on ABC aren't always filmed in HD.

JJBOOGIE · 10-22-2008, 08:16 PM

i guess i am still a bit confused - if my direct TV guide says it's in HD the actually filming could be in SD - so i am getting an HD broadcast of a SD film?

if that's not the case, i am talking about noticeable picture quality differences of programs that are in HD according to my guide - and they are definitely not in SD because i can switch over to my non-local channel and watch them in SD and it's an even bigger difference...

i understand is it's the 720 vs 1080 - that could be it

VinnAY · 10-22-2008, 08:24 PM

I think for the most part I see the differences as SD source material upconverted and then passed off as HD, you know, the 4:3 letterbox crap. I call it fake HD. But even I do notice that at times, real HD (1080i, 720p) seems to vary in quality across and even within the networks from time-to-time. I keep hoping things will leap forward in Feb 09.

Gmen8u · 10-22-2008, 08:31 PM

I received an update last night from Directv stating that it will be for future programing that will be available in 1080P. Anyone else see this message?

bageleaterkkjji · 10-22-2008, 08:31 PM

when you push info does it say 1080 or 720?

well let me tell you what i know from watching nfl i dont know about college though
nfl on cbs looks mint
sunday night football on nbc looks pretty good
nfl on fox looks like ass
cbs is filmed on a sony camera probably the best that money can buy so it could either be that the other stations use crappier cameras...or they might have a lower bitrate.. or could be a combination of both
alls i know is nfl on cbs is a beaut

xtop · 10-22-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gmen8u

I received an update last night from Directv stating that it will be for future programing that will be available in 1080P. Anyone else see this message?

thats for vod, like dish has been doing

as for the differences, maybe its the equipment theyre using at that game, combined with different resolutions. who knows

odin24 · 10-22-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

when you push info does it say 1080 or 720?

well let me tell you what i know from watching nfl i dont know about college though
nfl on cbs looks mint
sunday night football on nbc looks pretty good
nfl on fox looks like ass
cbs is filmed on a sony camera probably the best that money can buy so it could either be that the other stations use crappier cameras...or they might have a lower bitrate.. or could be a combination of both
alls i know is nfl on cbs is a beaut

CBS broadcasts in 1080i
NBC nowadays broadcasts in 720p, they used to do 1080i
Fox broadcasts in 720p

Green Bay Packers fan here, I usually watch their games on Fox (crappy 720p), but it surely was a treat watching them manhandle Peyton and the Colts on 1080i CBS this past Sunday.

...None of which compare to Blu

JJBOOGIE · 10-22-2008, 09:56 PM

i think i tend to notice the differences in HD quality pictures more during saturday college games...my guess is that with the larger number of total games, they probably have to pick and choose the camera technology they film with...i could be wrong - but it would make sense that i see very little difference in the NFL games (less total games to cover)

i'm definitely talking about what Vinnay writes - differences in HD quality - not huge but noticeable

surfdude12 · 10-22-2008, 10:01 PM

yeah, take the best example: the presidential debates...same show on 3-4 HD channels.

ABC and NBC looked good, FOX didn't. I don't recall what CBS looked like.
I recall ABC's was much brighter, while FOX was dark/dull, it was as if I had changed my picture settings from vivid to movie

JJBOOGIE · 10-22-2008, 10:06 PM

ok - great example! so why is that? is it the cameras they use? the signal strength? i'm guessing camera filming choice?

bageleaterkkjji · 10-22-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJBOOGIE

ok - great example! so why is that? is it the cameras they use? the signal strength? i'm guessing camera filming choice?

signal strength has nothing to do with it it either skips or it comes in.

bda4life · 10-22-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin24

CBS broadcasts in 1080i
NBC nowadays broadcasts in 720p, they used to do 1080i
Fox broadcasts in 720p

Green Bay Packers fan here, I usually watch their games on Fox (crappy 720p), but it surely was a treat watching them manhandle Peyton and the Colts on 1080i CBS this past Sunday.

...None of which compare to Blu

That is not true (about NBC). They broadcast all of their programs in 1080i (if HD of course). I have Directv and have my receiver set to native. When I was watching part of the Sunday night game, the receiver reflected 1080i.

I personally believe that CBS' NFL games look best, but Fox is not that bad. Too bad we cannot get any games in 1080p.

JJBOOGIE · 10-22-2008, 11:03 PM

that would make sense - signal strength not having an impact...good point...

bageleaterkkjji · 10-23-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJBOOGIE

that would make sense - signal strength not having an impact...good point...

is this sarcastic or not lol im not sure

JJBOOGIE · 10-23-2008, 02:29 PM

sorry - i meant it seriously in that you either are getting a picture or not and signal strength does not have a bearing on picture quality that we speak of in this thread...

although obviously you could have picture issues of a different nature of course due to signal strength

that said - back to my question, is the general consensus that it's more likely to be the quality of camera the network is using for filming over anything else?

bageleaterkkjji · 10-23-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJBOOGIE

is the general consensus that it's more likely to be the quality of camera the network is using for filming over anything else?

thats what im going with for nfl games

10-22-2008, 01:06 AM	#1
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	HD Picture Quality from Direct TV, etc. this might be a very easy question to have answered - but take a Saturday watching college football - why are some stations and games much clearer in HD than others? there might be a 3:00 HD game that is noticeably less clear than a 12:00 or vice versa...sometimes even the prime time game is not as clear as the day games...i'm assuming it either has something to do with the cameras doing the filming or possibly is something to do with the signal itself?

10-22-2008, 01:30 AM	#3
J6P Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Aug 2007 Home Theater Gallery:117 Blu-ray collection:270	What you were noticing with football is that FOX (as a network) broadcasts HD in 720p, and CBS (as a network) broadcasts HD at 1080i. Here's a link to how the networks break down, as of Sept. 2007. Last edited by J6P; 10-22-2008 at 01:33 AM.

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10-22-2008, 01:20 AM	#2
olds403 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Michigan	Not every program on a HD channel is HD. They could be filmed in SD.

10-22-2008, 04:56 AM	#4
pujols4mvp Member Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:212	Saturday afternoon games on ABC aren't always filmed in HD.

10-22-2008, 08:16 PM	#5
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	i guess i am still a bit confused - if my direct TV guide says it's in HD the actually filming could be in SD - so i am getting an HD broadcast of a SD film? if that's not the case, i am talking about noticeable picture quality differences of programs that are in HD according to my guide - and they are definitely not in SD because i can switch over to my non-local channel and watch them in SD and it's an even bigger difference... i understand is it's the 720 vs 1080 - that could be it

10-22-2008, 08:24 PM	#6
VinnAY Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	I think for the most part I see the differences as SD source material upconverted and then passed off as HD, you know, the 4:3 letterbox crap. I call it fake HD. But even I do notice that at times, real HD (1080i, 720p) seems to vary in quality across and even within the networks from time-to-time. I keep hoping things will leap forward in Feb 09.

10-22-2008, 08:31 PM	#7
Gmen8u Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	I received an update last night from Directv stating that it will be for future programing that will be available in 1080P. Anyone else see this message?

10-22-2008, 08:31 PM	#8
bageleaterkkjji Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:in the garbage 4K collection:59 Blu-ray collection:322 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:4	when you push info does it say 1080 or 720? well let me tell you what i know from watching nfl i dont know about college though nfl on cbs looks mint sunday night football on nbc looks pretty good nfl on fox looks like ass cbs is filmed on a sony camera probably the best that money can buy so it could either be that the other stations use crappier cameras...or they might have a lower bitrate.. or could be a combination of both alls i know is nfl on cbs is a beaut

10-22-2008, 09:56 PM	#11
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	i think i tend to notice the differences in HD quality pictures more during saturday college games...my guess is that with the larger number of total games, they probably have to pick and choose the camera technology they film with...i could be wrong - but it would make sense that i see very little difference in the NFL games (less total games to cover) i'm definitely talking about what Vinnay writes - differences in HD quality - not huge but noticeable

10-22-2008, 10:01 PM	#12
surfdude12 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:343 Blu-ray reviews:112 Trading Score:1	yeah, take the best example: the presidential debates...same show on 3-4 HD channels. ABC and NBC looked good, FOX didn't. I don't recall what CBS looked like. I recall ABC's was much brighter, while FOX was dark/dull, it was as if I had changed my picture settings from vivid to movie

10-22-2008, 10:06 PM	#13
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	ok - great example! so why is that? is it the cameras they use? the signal strength? i'm guessing camera filming choice?

10-22-2008, 11:03 PM	#16
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	that would make sense - signal strength not having an impact...good point...

10-23-2008, 02:29 PM	#18
JJBOOGIE Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:11	sorry - i meant it seriously in that you either are getting a picture or not and signal strength does not have a bearing on picture quality that we speak of in this thread... although obviously you could have picture issues of a different nature of course due to signal strength that said - back to my question, is the general consensus that it's more likely to be the quality of camera the network is using for filming over anything else?

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