Every supplier in Canada has CBC HD EXCEPT Shaw owned companies and some cable companies who get their HD feeds from Shaw owned Cancom.

The Heritage Classic game was on SHAW-HD

if CBC in fact had a "CBC-HD" channel to broadcast on and according to them they don't yet, however I also spoke to a Bell CSR today that said they did. So who's pullin my leg here?

Neither. CBC does have an OTA HD channel in Toronto and Montreal, and Vancouver is supposed to go live sometime this Fall, but nothing yet in cities like Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Halifax, etc; BEV is based in Toronto and sources its CBC-HD from there, so the CSR is right as well.

As CBC is considered a "must carry" service, I suspect Shaw's hand will be forced, at least for its West Coast customers, when the Vancouver transmitter goes live.

Marc, not being critical, just trying to understand. On PBS-HD, many of the programmes are upconverted widescreen (at the beginning of each programme they tell you if it's WS or HD). PBS upconverted widescreen programmes often look almost as good as HD - sometimes people with smaller TVs swear that it is HD.

When I view the WS programmes on CBC-HD, this is not the case. They are obviously "inferior", although better than SD.

Is this due to the upconversion method? Or perhaps the original material?

Suggestion - I don't know if you wish to consider doing a similar "this programme is available in "HD or WS" in front of these programmes like PBS does or not...

When I view the WS programmes on CBC-HD, this is not the case. They are obviously "inferior", although better than SD.
Well, I'd have to say that last week's (June 21) episode of Doctor Who was one of the best upconversions that I've seen on any channel. On my 46" RP DLP TV, I had trouble believing that it wasn't true HD. I've seen some upconversions on PBS that were worse and easy to tell that the were originally SD.

Dr Who is supplied from Europe as an anamorphic from more original lines of resolution. Not totally unexpected.

I guess I'm most familiar with Da Vinci and Nature of Things (SD WS programmes, not last week's HD programme)

You're right, it does tend to vary with programme.

I spoke with someone from CBC today and found out that recently obtained their new "HD Bus" and will begin broadcasting live HD events starting with the Grey Cup, and also they intend to broadcast 1 of the HNIC games every week if & when there is an NHL season this fall.
I told them I was a fairly new Shaw HD subscriber in Edmonton and wanted to know if they knew if Shaw could somehow pick up their HD feed for these broadcasts, they said that for the Heritage Classic game Shaw carried it on their preview channel. Is this true?
If it is, wouldn't Shaw still be able to do this? I also asked if CBC in fact had a "CBC-HD" channel to broadcast on and according to them they don't yet, however I also spoke to a Bell CSR today that said they did. So who's pullin my leg here?
CBC also said that the live HD signals will be broadcast OTA but only in TO & Montreal, and have plans in the near future to put OTA transmitters in Vancouver & Ottawa.

Starting with the Grey Cup? Not sure I understand why they wouldn't start putting that thing to use, oh say today instead of waiting until November. Could that be true?

When I view the WS programmes on CBC-HD, this is not the case. They are obviously "inferior", although better than SD.

Is this due to the upconversion method? Or perhaps the original material?


I suspect it has to do with the source material. Some SD shows like Dr. Who and The Pianist look very good after upconversion, while others are less impressive. They all pass through the same hardware.

Does BEV carry CBC-HD???
This thread says something about 802 then 829 but
it does not show up on Zap2it listings or BEV's website.

Does BEV carry CBC-HD???
This thread says something about 802 then 829 but
it does not show up on Zap2it listings or BEV's website.

802 = CBC English and 860 = SRC French according to Bell's channel list. (http://www.bell.ca/media/en/all_regions/images/pdf/television/channels/lineup_alpha.pdf)

Thank you...
It didn't show up on their HDTV 'theme' when you
customize your programming.

On another topic,ie; When will CBC-HD come to the prairies?

I spoke to someone (who shall remain nameless and unidentified) in the CBC today and they told me that CBC in Winnipeg, at least, has started to equip with HD gear. They expressed surprise because they weren't expecting this to happen so soon.

If little 'ol CBC Wpg is purchasing HD equipment I can't imagine the Alberta stations aren't also. So it may be sooner than we think that CBC-HD will come to the prairies.

Good news.

I spoke to someone (who shall remain nameless and unidentified) in the CBC today and they told me that CBC in Winnipeg, at least, has started to equip with HD gear.Hi birdman, I've started a thread in the OTA Forum linking to your post. Please drop by and let us know what you're hearing from CBC Winnipeg!

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27129

Forgive me if this has been asked before but I have a question. Perhaps Marc can answer this:

Let's assume that hockey starts up one day in the future and the CBC is doing an HD game in Toronto and SD games in the rest of the country. (A likely situation) What will CBC- Montreal HD (and other CBC HD stations when they are on the air) be showing - the HD game from Toronto or the SD game from Montreal?

I can see arguments for both but I think it would make more sense to show the HD game, even though it involves the hated Leafs, doesn't it?

In other words - what gets precedence on CBCHD - HD content or local content if the two conflict?

If little 'ol CBC Wpg is purchasing HD equipment I can't imagine the Alberta stations aren't also. So it may be sooner than we think that CBC-HD will come to the prairies.

Good news.

CBC Winnipeg is due for some upgrades. It makes sense that any new equipment purchases like cameras and editing systems should be HD capable, but these are production not distribution tools.

Like most networks, CBC uses a centralized distribution system. Regardless of the local production format, there cannot be over air HD transmissions in Winnipeg until the distribution infrastructure is in place. As mentioned earlier, Vancouver is the only city with a firm rollout planned for the fall. Ottawa will likely be next.

CBC Winnipeg is due for some upgrades. It makes sense that any new equipment purchases like cameras and editing systems should be HD capable, but these are production not distribution tools.

Marc you are probably correct, but the person I spoke to is in transmissions so I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the equipment was transmitter related.

Hi birdman, I've started a thread in the OTA Forum linking to your post. Please drop by and let us know what you're hearing from CBC Winnipeg!

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27129

Roger Wilco

Marc you are probably correct, but the person I spoke to is in transmissions so I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the equipment was transmitter related.

Just to close the loop…
I have spoken with operations, maintenance and transmission staff in Winnipeg this week. They are installing digital video production equipment, some of which can produce HD content as well. There is no transmission gear involved.

Still no word on the CFL HD schedule. The game on July 9th will be SD, but our HD mobile will be there too for testing purposes.

The test of the HD mobile was postponed. I post the new date when it becomes available.

Would the truck be in Montreal, for Swimming Games. I saw a huge CBC Truck at Ile Sainte-Hélène this morning.... CBC International Broadcasting Center.... Maybe?