HD Transmissions (movies) how does it work? - Blu-ray Forum

Bullseye · 01-10-2008, 03:22 PM

Sorry if this seems a silly question but how does HD movies from the likes of SKYHD work? I recently watched Lawerance of Arabia in HD but I know that it has not been released on Blu Ray. What codecs are the broadcasters employing for transmitting these movies in hi definition. I was quite impressed by LoA.

WickyWoo · 01-10-2008, 03:26 PM

MPEG-2, I don't know if Sky is using MPEG-4 yet

IF you were impressed by a digital Satellite broadcast, Blu should blow your mind. Any cable or other broadcast is way too compressed

g.k. · 01-10-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

All HD channels are broadcast in the 1080i format (though the box can be set to scale this to 720p if the user wishes), in the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format, broadcast from the SES Astra and Eurobird 1 satellites at 28.2E and 28.5E in a new DVB standard, DVB-S2. They use HDMI to connect to an HD Ready TV. BBC HD is however DVB-S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_HD

WriteSimply · 01-10-2008, 04:47 PM

They use a HD tape as source, which can be transfered into HDDs at the station. From there, it is programmed into the scheduling system and airs when its recalled.

With MPEG-2, there are online encoders that can re-encode the movie on the fly (hence online). Otherwise the movie consumes too much bandwidth of the transmission. I don't know if there are online encoders for AVC yet. So maybe these movies were pre-encoded in AVC to a maximum bandwidth limit so that it can be beamed up to the sats.

fuad

Bullseye · 01-10-2008, 06:51 PM

Thanks guys. They have Batman and Robin showing now on Sky HD and its pretty impressive. The colours look incredible. Pity about the film lol.

lch · 01-11-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

They use a HD tape as source, which can be transfered into HDDs at the station. From there, it is programmed into the scheduling system and airs when its recalled.

With MPEG-2, there are online encoders that can re-encode the movie on the fly (hence online). Otherwise the movie consumes too much bandwidth of the transmission. I don't know if there are online encoders for AVC yet. So maybe these movies were pre-encoded in AVC to a maximum bandwidth limit so that it can be beamed up to the sats.

fuad

there are 'realtime' h.264 encoder.

WickyWoo · 01-11-2008, 07:02 AM

With movies at least, many studios have taken to providing pre-compressed versions because the reatime encoders...stink to be kind

Bullseye · 01-11-2008, 02:41 PM

Is this the same case with live sports transmissions?

WickyWoo · 01-11-2008, 04:20 PM

Sports and news obviously have to be done by a realtime encoder. Which is why the DVNR on them is maxed and everyone is plastic people.

01-10-2008, 03:22 PM	#1
Bullseye Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Ireland Home Theater Gallery:24 4K collection:70 Blu-ray collection:760 Blu-ray reviews: 44	HD Transmissions (movies) how does it work? Sorry if this seems a silly question but how does HD movies from the likes of SKYHD work? I recently watched Lawerance of Arabia in HD but I know that it has not been released on Blu Ray. What codecs are the broadcasters employing for transmitting these movies in hi definition. I was quite impressed by LoA.

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01-10-2008, 03:26 PM	#2
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	MPEG-2, I don't know if Sky is using MPEG-4 yet IF you were impressed by a digital Satellite broadcast, Blu should blow your mind. Any cable or other broadcast is way too compressed

01-10-2008, 04:47 PM	#4
WriteSimply Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	They use a HD tape as source, which can be transfered into HDDs at the station. From there, it is programmed into the scheduling system and airs when its recalled. With MPEG-2, there are online encoders that can re-encode the movie on the fly (hence online). Otherwise the movie consumes too much bandwidth of the transmission. I don't know if there are online encoders for AVC yet. So maybe these movies were pre-encoded in AVC to a maximum bandwidth limit so that it can be beamed up to the sats. fuad

01-10-2008, 06:51 PM	#5
Bullseye Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Ireland Home Theater Gallery:24 4K collection:70 Blu-ray collection:760 Blu-ray reviews: 44	Thanks guys. They have Batman and Robin showing now on Sky HD and its pretty impressive. The colours look incredible. Pity about the film lol.

01-11-2008, 07:02 AM	#7
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	With movies at least, many studios have taken to providing pre-compressed versions because the reatime encoders...stink to be kind

01-11-2008, 02:41 PM	#8
Bullseye Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Ireland Home Theater Gallery:24 4K collection:70 Blu-ray collection:760 Blu-ray reviews: 44	Is this the same case with live sports transmissions?

01-11-2008, 04:20 PM	#9
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	Sports and news obviously have to be done by a realtime encoder. Which is why the DVNR on them is maxed and everyone is plastic people.

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