Is DirecTv HD closer to BD or HDDVD?

[SnakEyes]

I have DirecTv and have their HD package. I'm not that up to speed on specs and all that. I know very little about it. Is the HD package closer to HDDVD or Blu-Ray? or are the two the same except for the format?

[WinterWolf]

I don't really thing you can compare TV with Optical Disc media. The HD stations that I get on my TV are 720, I think...but thats just regular TV from antenna. As for the Direct TV channels...they might be 720 resolution also

[coolmilo]

The resolution out of DirecTV is 1080i which is comparable to many of the HD DVD players. Blu-ray supports 1080P which is a step above 1080i. Someone correct me if I am wrong: 1080i is interlaced which means ever other line is scanned at 1080. Now 1080P is progressive which means that every line is 1080. DirecTV does have a nice picture, especially when compared to cable (at least in my area). Now some TV's are 1080P and have technology that upconverts the 1080i signal to 1080P. It's not quite as good as a full 1080P signal but it is very excellent for sure.

I have the DirecTV HR20 DVR and I am really enjoying it (but not as much as Blu-ray).

[Heavens Downfall]

Yes, they are broadcast in 720P. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are a 1080p format, which will look better if you have a larger high def tv. The blu-ray discs are 25GB single and 50GB dual layered, while HD-DVD discs are 15 single and 30 dual.

[SnakEyes]

Right-I don't think you can really compare either-I was just curious if anyone knows if my 1080 DirecTv is the "same" as BD or HDDVD 1080? I would guess it would lose something through the dish?! I still stand there with my tongue on the floor watching "Planet Earth" or any of those type of shows.

[Heavens Downfall]

Sports programs are broadcast in 720, as well as most other live events. I think the movies maybe in 1080i. I believe there little difference between 720P and 1080i. Someone correct me if im wrong

[jbuttler007]

For TV, Direct TV is the best. For Discs, BD are far more superior than HD-DVD.

[The Don]

it has more to do with what the channel is broadcast in than your provider...

HBO HD stinks unless you are watching a Star Wars movie...you can tell because it actually has the correct aspect ratio...

Showtime broadcasts in HD...the other premium channels, I'm unaware of...

channels like ESPN etc. vary on what you are watching...especially TNT...

a movie will translate poorly on TNT, but a basketball game will look outstanding...

[bruce]

Originally Posted by The Don

it has more to do with what the channel is broadcast in than your provider...
HBO HD stinks unless you are watching a Star Wars movie...you can tell because it actually has the correct aspect ratio...

Showtime broadcasts in HD...the other premium channels, I'm unaware of...

channels like ESPN etc. vary on what you are watching...especially TNT...

a movie will translate poorly on TNT, but a basketball game will look outstanding...

Untrue to a point, DirecTV, and to a lesser amount Dish, do what is called HD Lite, where they take a 1080i signal, 1920x1080i, and knock it down to anywhere from 1280x1080i to 1440x1080i, they also lower the bitrate, anywhere from a low of 8 up to a 14/15.

This is one of the main reasons why I dropped Dish more then a year ago, after much research I went with Comcast, which does not change the bitrates, I believe it is 19.1, and does not do HD Lite, I get the full 1920x1080i, or for 720P, 1280x720P.

HD on Comcast looks really good, almost great, but HD DVD/Blu Ray is better, for a really good transfer it is about a third better.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by bruce

Untrue to a point, DirecTV, and to a lesser amount Dish, do what is called HD Lite, where they take a 1080i signal, 1920x1080i, and knock it down to anywhere from 1280x1080i to 1440x1080i, they also lower the bitrate, anywhere from a low of 8 up to a 14/15.

This is one of the main reasons why I dropped Dish more then a year ago, after much research I went with Comcast, which does not change the bitrates, I believe it is 19.1, and does not do HD Lite, I get the full 1920x1080i, or for 720P, 1280x720P.

HD on Comcast looks really good, almost great, but HD DVD/Blu Ray is better, for a really good transfer it is about a third better.

I have Comcast as well....and all I keep hearing people talk about is DTV and how great they are...

Comcast charges an arm and a leg...so I'd love to jump ship but I like in the Philadelphia area and Comcast owns the televised rights to the sixers, flyers and phillies....all on comcast sportsnet...and even if one of the games are on ESPN, it would black out....

so DTV isn't an option for me...or the Dish...and hearing you say that Comcast offers better PQ makes me feel better about this

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

The resolution out of DirecTV is 1080i which is comparable to many of the HD DVD players. Blu-ray supports 1080P which is a step above 1080i. Someone correct me if I am wrong: 1080i is interlaced which means ever other line is scanned at 1080. Now 1080P is progressive which means that every line is 1080. DirecTV does have a nice picture, especially when compared to cable (at least in my area). Now some TV's are 1080P and have technology that upconverts the 1080i signal to 1080P. It's not quite as good as a full 1080P signal but it is very excellent for sure.

I have the DirecTV HR20 DVR and I am really enjoying it (but not as much as Blu-ray).

I have direct tv as well, and you have been listening to far to much of their propaganda. I was watching an interview of one of the top officials with Direct TV, and he was asked a direct question "Is DirecTV broadcast in 720 or 1080) he waffled, and came back with some crap like "we broadcast in the highest quality... yada yada yada. ABC uses that same line - the best quality, and they only mean 720.... best is a relative term when you throw the whole interlacing/deinterlacing thing in there.

Yes, our DVRs send a 1080i signal to the TV, but I am almost sure that the feed coming from the satellite is only 720... I mean really, if it was 1080, why did he waffle?

[JTK]

Answer to thread title: Not anywhere even remotely close to either BD or HD-DVD.

[The Don]

yeah...it's probably about as good as a superbit DVD played on an up-conversion DVD player...

some movies in HD come in real nice...

the entire Star Wars series came up well as did Hotel Rwanda the other day....