Hdtv - Sky

Jim Rae · 16-06-2005, 12:36

Artsworld is to offered in HDTV to the UK in the Autumn - no mention of price yet mind you...

oRiCN · 16-06-2005, 16:55

Hmm, Looks like things are moving..

Discovery HD Theatre
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1094.htm

Sky Sports HD
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1114.htm

sanderton · 16-06-2005, 18:46

I'm getting 404s from those links?

16-06-2005, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanderton

I'm getting 404s from those links?

Works okay for me

amstereofan · 16-06-2005, 19:30

Hmm did'nt expect separate channels so quickly as this, can we expect BBC HD and ITV HD soon ?!

Spearman · 16-06-2005, 19:52

As I said in Broadcasting, this is hardly news (and DS have made it out to be), as we've known for over a month.

And getting a licence in itself isn't news, even if it has just happened - Ofcom are hardly going to say no.

daniel99 · 16-06-2005, 22:04

Those links work fine for me!

Paddy C · 16-06-2005, 22:22

If they are going to start broadcasting it from the autumn, noone will be watching it as the Sky HD boxs wont be out until 2006. Will this be a case of "BBC Choice" - broadcasting a channel that noone can access?!

Paddy

Spearman · 16-06-2005, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy C

If they are going to start broadcasting it from the autumn, noone will be watching it as the Sky HD boxs wont be out until 2006.

Paddy

No, it won't. Mark my words - Autumn of this year.

Paddy C · 16-06-2005, 22:35

I don't get your post, what part are you saying "No, it won't" to? Artsworld HD this year or Sky's HD in 2006?

Paddy

Spearman · 16-06-2005, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy C

I don't get your post, what part are you saying "No, it won't" to? Artsworld HD this year or Sky's HD in 2006?

Paddy

Oh, sorry!

Nah, Sky's HD service won't launch in 2006 - I'm pretty sure it'll launch by the end of this year (2005).

Various reasons for and against that idea, but I think it'll happen.

andyk22 · 16-06-2005, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spearman

Oh, sorry!

Nah, Sky's HD service won't launch in 2006 - I'm pretty sure it'll launch by the end of this year (2005).

Various reasons for and against that idea, but I think it'll happen.

Soft launch in some cases , a major retailer (currys) took out large adverts in todays major nationals promoting HD ready (the official HD ready sticker) TV's gearing up for Skys launch giving Sky a good promotion , surprised they didn't include the fact X-Box 360 takes advantage of the technolgoy as will the PS3 with HD games and blu-ray discs.

camaj · 16-06-2005, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyk22

surprised they didn't include the fact Xbox 360 takes advantage of the technology as will the PS3 with HD games and Blu-ray discs.

I don't think enough people know what Blu-ray is for them to put it in the ad. Those who do don't need to be reminded. The others might be a good idea.

Anyway, this is great news. Yet more evidence for a september launch

Jarrak · 16-06-2005, 23:29

Fantastic news about Discovery Theatre HD, they show some excellent stuff with the truely awe inspiring Alien Planet being a prime example.

Just hope it's part of a bundled package, could be pricey if it's only standalone.

camaj · 17-06-2005, 00:26

I'd probably pay for it standalone. I never watch the discovery channel but I could see myself watching a lot more if it were in HD. Also I get the feeling that Discovery US is a lot better than Discovery UK

Apollo11 · 17-06-2005, 06:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaj

I'd probably pay for it standalone. I never watch the discovery channel but I could see myself watching a lot more if it were in HD. Also I get the feeling that Discovery US is a lot better than Discovery UK

Check it out for yourself.

http://www.discovery.com

Jim Rae · 17-06-2005, 10:21

Sky is planning to have the initial HDTV service ready for a pre Christmas splash to move both the new boxes and new HD TVs.

Expect the PR build up to begin at the end of August.

The BBC are also planning a launch and I would be very surprised if that didn't come before Christmas too to allow Sky users to access it- after all, they have the back catalogue sitting ready right now.

The only thing which could mess it all up is a shortage of boxes...

Radio Ruderham · 17-06-2005, 11:35

Now it is all making sense,
Comet (here in Edinburgh) have a plethora of HiDef and HiDef ready sets in stock, on the shelves.
Sagem, Hitachi and Pioneer. I was in there yesterday and boy did I get the hard sell.
Very nice they are too and in some cases Cheaper than plasma panel sets.
If you are thinking of buying one, go for the LCD set, they last longer and are more reliable.

amstereofan · 17-06-2005, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Rae

Sky is planning to have the initial HDTV service ready for a pre Christmas splash to move both the new boxes and new HD TVs.

Expect the PR build up to begin at the end of August.

The BBC are also planning a launch and I would be very surprised if that didn't come before Christmas too to allow Sky users to access it- after all, they have the back catalogue sitting ready right now.

The only thing which could mess it all up is a shortage of boxes...

BBC ? How do you know this ?

steveg2112 · 17-06-2005, 11:51

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. I am thinking about getting Sky+ in the near future, will there be some add on hardware so that existing boxes will receive HD or will I have to get a completly new box. If the latter will Sky be doing free/low cost upgrades for existing users or should I wait until the new boxes arrive.

digibear · 17-06-2005, 14:46

our local panansonic shop has a demo on at the moment
the picture is amazing

andyk22 · 17-06-2005, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveg2112

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. I am thinking about getting Sky+ in the near future, will there be some add on hardware so that existing boxes will receive HD or will I have to get a completly new box. If the latter will Sky be doing free/low cost upgrades for existing users or should I wait until the new boxes arrive.

No , wait for the new Sky+HD box , it's HD will be big enough to store a good amount of HD and SD content.

Bill S · 17-06-2005, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyk22

No , wait for the new Sky+HD box , it's HD will be big enough to store a good amount of HD and SD content.

Andy, How big a HDisk do you think will be needed? It is relatively easy to fit a 250Gb disk into existing boxes but will that be enough? and will existing boxes allow recording of HD? (data rate must be higher!)

The 160 included USB connections - could this be to allow extra HDisk modules?

Bill

andyk22 · 17-06-2005, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S

Andy, How big a HDisk do you think will be needed? It is relatively easy to fit a 250Gb disk into existing boxes but will that be enough? and will existing boxes allow recording of HD? (data rate must be higher!)

The 160 included USB connections - could this be to allow extra HDisk modules?

Bill

All the channels so far will be broadcasting in MPEG-4. Current Sky+ boxes do not support this decoding format.
Number of GB for such a Sky+HD box have been around the 200GB-500GB region , but still that's a large difference in order to try and work out what the final capacity might be.

As for exsisting boxes the problem is they don't support MPEG-4, the signal is recieved and decoded with the MPEG2 chipset , I've never heard of a work around using a USB port or similar add on to re-route the signal. You would need to look at the finer points of the Sky160 box to see if any feasible work around is provided.

Bill S · 17-06-2005, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyk22

All the channels so far will be broadcasting in MPEG-4. Current Sky+ boxes do not support this decoding format....

...As for exsisting boxes the problem is they don't support MPEG-4, the signal is recieved and decoded with the MPEG2 chipset ....

Thanks Andy!

That seems to be the killer for current Sky+ box sales.

As soon as that is realised by the general public (or publicised by the press) that will almost certainly reduce current sales to such a level that Sky will be forced to bring out the new box very quickly.

Bill

16-06-2005, 12:36	#1
Jim Rae Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayrshire Services: Sky Digital, DTT, DAB, 5.1 and DTS soundd Posts: 4,112	Hdtv Artsworld is to offered in HDTV to the UK in the Autumn - no mention of price yet mind you...

17-06-2005, 11:51	#20
steveg2112 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Services: Sky+, PlusNet Posts: 13	Equipment to receive HD Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. I am thinking about getting Sky+ in the near future, will there be some add on hardware so that existing boxes will receive HD or will I have to get a completly new box. If the latter will Sky be doing free/low cost upgrades for existing users or should I wait until the new boxes arrive.

16-06-2005, 16:55	#2
oRiCN Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Farnborough, Hants Services: Sky+, Euro1080, Xantara 2Mb DSL Posts: 75	Hmm, Looks like things are moving.. Discovery HD Theatre http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1094.htm Sky Sports HD http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1114.htm

16-06-2005, 18:46	#3
sanderton Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Somerset Services: Freeview, Vista Media Center, Linkys DMA2200 & 2100 and PS3 as HD streamer Posts: 2,807	I'm getting 404s from those links?

16-06-2005, 19:30	#5
amstereofan Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,192	Hmm did'nt expect separate channels so quickly as this, can we expect BBC HD and ITV HD soon ?!

16-06-2005, 19:52	#6
Spearman Banned User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nottinghamshire Services: NTL Base Pack TV, phone, 1Mb Broadband and DAB (NOW Notts, D1, BBC) Posts: 4,450	As I said in Broadcasting, this is hardly news (and DS have made it out to be), as we've known for over a month. And getting a licence in itself isn't news, even if it has just happened - Ofcom are hardly going to say no.

16-06-2005, 22:04	#7
daniel99 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Doncaster South Yorkshire Services: Sky+HD Multiroom BT Broadband Freeview Posts: 10,216	Those links work fine for me!

16-06-2005, 22:22	#8
Paddy C Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,131	If they are going to start broadcasting it from the autumn, noone will be watching it as the Sky HD boxs wont be out until 2006. Will this be a case of "BBC Choice" - broadcasting a channel that noone can access?! Paddy

16-06-2005, 22:35	#10
Paddy C Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,131	I don't get your post, what part are you saying "No, it won't" to? Artsworld HD this year or Sky's HD in 2006? Paddy

16-06-2005, 23:29	#14
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Services: SKY+ HD, Freesat via PC, Philips DTR 1500 & Humax 9200 Freeview, SKY Max Posts: 17,424	Fantastic news about Discovery Theatre HD, they show some excellent stuff with the truely awe inspiring Alien Planet being a prime example. Just hope it's part of a bundled package, could be pricey if it's only standalone.

17-06-2005, 00:26	#15
camaj Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 750	I'd probably pay for it standalone. I never watch the discovery channel but I could see myself watching a lot more if it were in HD. Also I get the feeling that Discovery US is a lot better than Discovery UK

17-06-2005, 10:21	#17
Jim Rae Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayrshire Services: Sky Digital, DTT, DAB, 5.1 and DTS soundd Posts: 4,112	Sky is planning to have the initial HDTV service ready for a pre Christmas splash to move both the new boxes and new HD TVs. Expect the PR build up to begin at the end of August. The BBC are also planning a launch and I would be very surprised if that didn't come before Christmas too to allow Sky users to access it- after all, they have the back catalogue sitting ready right now. The only thing which could mess it all up is a shortage of boxes...

17-06-2005, 11:35	#18
Radio Ruderham Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the Waverley Route. Services: Track laid on the Waverley Route, ♥ Autism Awareness, be PosAutive! Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 16	Now it is all making sense, Comet (here in Edinburgh) have a plethora of HiDef and HiDef ready sets in stock, on the shelves. Sagem, Hitachi and Pioneer. I was in there yesterday and boy did I get the hard sell. Very nice they are too and in some cases Cheaper than plasma panel sets. If you are thinking of buying one, go for the LCD set, they last longer and are more reliable.

17-06-2005, 14:46	#21
digibear Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: inverness Services: freeview Posts: 380	our local panansonic shop has a demo on at the moment the picture is amazing