Anyone notice a difference in HD broadcast quality? - Blu-ray Forum

jbeuchert · 05-13-2008, 09:03 PM

I have a local channel that has begun broadcasting in HD.

However, when I watch a game on the local channel and watch a game on ESPN, TNT, or the national networks, the picture quality cannot compare.

Has anyone else experienced this? There must be lower quality, less expensive "HD" cameras that broadcast an HD, yet lower quality signal. Wouldn't surprise me if this was the case due to the difference in image quality in HD camcorders on the market today. I just thought there would be tougher standards in HD broadcast quality.

BStecke · 05-13-2008, 09:04 PM

Are you watching your local channel OTA? Typically OTA HD signals have less compression than cable, DirecTV, etc.

jbeuchert · 05-13-2008, 09:05 PM

No, using a newly install DirecTV HD receiver.

tiger roach · 05-13-2008, 09:09 PM

The quality of HD broadcasts varies a great deal IME. The Golf Channel's HD broadcasts, for example, always have more digital artifacts and symptoms of a weak data stream compared to golf on CBS or NBC.

Pisses me off.

KenThompson · 05-13-2008, 10:29 PM

Watching any sporting event can look marvelous but from station to station there is a difference in the quality of their hd broadcast. Some are in 1080i and some are in 720p. Maybe better cameras being used by some studios?

The Lion King · 05-13-2008, 10:30 PM

The HD channels in Australia suck. I even prefer watching the SD channels, since the picture is smoother. The only difference between the two is that the HD looks sharper.

KenThompson · 05-13-2008, 10:36 PM

The color is usually more vibrant as well as sharper picture. It also looks better on a 16: 9 tv. The black on ends sucks. If you have to zoom it to fill the screen then the picture is somewhat distorted.

Variable · 05-13-2008, 11:52 PM

I have found that the New York Mets and Yankee HD stations, generally, look better than the big network hd stations (save for late night with conan... that show looks phenomenal).

I haven't been able to test all the Fios HD channels but I hope to soon.

owa · 05-14-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

Are you watching your local channel OTA? Typically OTA HD signals have less compression than cable, DirecTV, etc.

Dang, wish you hadn't posted that. I recently switched from OTA to cable for the HD channels and thought it didn't look quite as good but I was hoping it was just my imagination. So far, I've resisted hooking the antenna back up but maybe I'll get around to that soon. Not that it matters. I won't go back to just having local stations in HD. I'm liking Universal HD, Mojo, ESPN and a couple of the other HD stations too much to give it up.

05-13-2008, 09:03 PM	#1
jbeuchert New Member Member since:May 2008	Anyone notice a difference in HD broadcast quality? I have a local channel that has begun broadcasting in HD. However, when I watch a game on the local channel and watch a game on ESPN, TNT, or the national networks, the picture quality cannot compare. Has anyone else experienced this? There must be lower quality, less expensive "HD" cameras that broadcast an HD, yet lower quality signal. Wouldn't surprise me if this was the case due to the difference in image quality in HD camcorders on the market today. I just thought there would be tougher standards in HD broadcast quality.

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05-13-2008, 09:04 PM	#2
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Are you watching your local channel OTA? Typically OTA HD signals have less compression than cable, DirecTV, etc.

05-13-2008, 09:05 PM	#3
jbeuchert New Member Member since:May 2008	No, using a newly install DirecTV HD receiver.

05-13-2008, 09:09 PM	#4
tiger roach Special Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Houston, TX Blu-ray collection:141 Blu-ray reviews:1	The quality of HD broadcasts varies a great deal IME. The Golf Channel's HD broadcasts, for example, always have more digital artifacts and symptoms of a weak data stream compared to golf on CBS or NBC. Pisses me off.

05-13-2008, 10:29 PM	#5
KenThompson Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Location:B.C. Canada	Watching any sporting event can look marvelous but from station to station there is a difference in the quality of their hd broadcast. Some are in 1080i and some are in 720p. Maybe better cameras being used by some studios?

05-13-2008, 10:30 PM	#6
The Lion King Special Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Somewhere you aren't. Blu-ray collection:48 Blu-ray reviews:20	The HD channels in Australia suck. I even prefer watching the SD channels, since the picture is smoother. The only difference between the two is that the HD looks sharper.

05-13-2008, 10:36 PM	#7
KenThompson Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Location:B.C. Canada	The color is usually more vibrant as well as sharper picture. It also looks better on a 16: 9 tv. The black on ends sucks. If you have to zoom it to fill the screen then the picture is somewhat distorted.

05-13-2008, 11:52 PM	#8
Variable Special Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Northern New Jersey Blu-ray collection:12	I have found that the New York Mets and Yankee HD stations, generally, look better than the big network hd stations (save for late night with conan... that show looks phenomenal). I haven't been able to test all the Fios HD channels but I hope to soon.

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