That test was cancelled. I haven't been able to get a firm date for the first real show so far. I'll post it as soon as I have it.

Hi Marc!

I have a delicate question here about SRC HD in Montreal!

Their PQ is really random... sometimes, Bons baisers de France appears full screen, sometimes not. For other programs, it is random, picture size suddenly changing after a break, like if someone in a control room would «wake up» - sorry to use that picture, but it is giving that impression.

Sometimes, like in Francoeur, there is really severe pulldown jagged movements - your remember these solved issues at the beginning of CBC on the first fews days.

It really seems that there is nobody really caring in Montreal - we would need your clone there.

I a very sorry being so harsh - I holded my tongue for many months, but since a new season is coming and nothing happens there, I wonder if I could send them a commentary - to who in fact?

For CBC HD now - flowers, flowers, flowers! YOUR do a great job monitoring here and I know that I throw you a bad ball with these «acid remarks» about SRC, but facts must sometimes be exposed... not at ease to post it, but you will understand that diplomacy and silence doesn't state the real facts, sometimes.

I am blushing, but posting, even I am shy to to it... ah.. there shoudl be a SRC thread, but not on in the pilot cabin, it seems...

Hi Marc!

It really seems that there is nobody really caring in Montreal - we would need your clone there.

I a very sorry being so harsh - I holded my tongue for many months, but since a new season is coming and nothing happens there, I wonder if I could send them a commentary - to who in fact?

I couldn't agree more with lancla. In the past months, I sent two emails to the SRC asking specific questions about HD on the French network, and I never got a reply. Meanwhile, Marc is doing a fantastic job keeping us informed as to the CBC's plans and progress.

Sorry folks, I really can't extend my involvement with this forum to include SRC. I work for English in TV Toronto. SRC is based in Montreal.
Your best bet is the SRC website (http://www.radio-canada.ca/).

BTW I'm on holidays now. :p
I'll be lurking for the next few weeks, but I won't be answering questions. I'll resume posting as soon as I'm back.
Later,
Marc

Marc,

What happened to the special "Drum!"? It was supposed to be shown as wide-screen on CBC-HD but instead ended up being picture-boxed.

Looks like somebody forgot to throw the switch again. :(
You would think that with such little HD and widescreen programming available lately that it wouldn't be hard to get the few of them right.

Will it be shown again properly?

When the CBC is displaying SD content on their OTA channel, is the signal upconverted to 1080i? For example, for an SD CFL game, is the transport stream running at 1080i or 480p?

When the CBC is displaying SD content on their OTA channel, is the signal upconverted to 1080i? For example, for an SD CFL game, is the transport stream running at 1080i or 480p?Looks like 1080i to me, judging from how the zoom responds, and how much recording time programs take.

(yes, I record SD programs off the HD channels ... picture always looks a bit better! Particularily for the US stations)

For CBC/Radio-Canada, the transport stream is always running at 1080i.

Marc,

What happened to the special "Drum!"? It was supposed to be shown as wide-screen on CBC-HD but instead ended up being picture-boxed.

Looks like somebody forgot to throw the switch again. :(
You would think that with such little HD and widescreen programming available lately that it wouldn't be hard to get the few of them right.

Will it be shown again properly?

I was holidays when this happen, and now I'm locked out. I won't be able to look into this one, or anything else, for awhile. :(

Marc,

I'm aware your info is limited now due to the strike and all, but was there any discussion about Hockey Night in Canada being broadcast in HD? If so, every Saturday or just a couple games a year?

Pretty much the only thing I watch on TV are the Leafs. I watch every game of the season, and nothing else. I want to get an HDTV, but if the Leafs aren't going to be on in HD, I might as well wait until they are in order to get better technology for my money.

I emailed CTVSN, TSN and CBC asking them if their Leafs games will be in HD. So far only CTVSN replied saying they couldn't due to NHL limitations. I'm assuming CBC won't reply due to the strike.

Marc,

I'm aware your info is limited now due to the strike and all, but was there any discussion about Hockey Night in Canada being broadcast in HD? If so, every Saturday or just a couple games a year?

Pretty much the only thing I watch on TV are the Leafs. I watch every game of the season, and nothing else. I want to get an HDTV, but if the Leafs aren't going to be on in HD, I might as well wait until they are in order to get better technology for my money.

I emailed CTVSN, TSN and CBC asking them if their Leafs games will be in HD. So far only CTVSN replied saying they couldn't due to NHL limitations. I'm assuming CBC won't reply due to the strike.

As long as the strike ends before th season starts, you won't have to worry about seeing the Leafs in HD. It's looking like the CBC will be doing about a game a week in HD and you can count on it being leaf games most of the time.

functor,

My holidays ran right into this lock out (not a strike) so I can't offer any updates. I'm sure some Leaf games will be HD, but I can't say how many. When I'm back in the building I'll be asking for the schedule.

FYI The people who normally answer the emails/phones are locked out too.

I emailed CTVSN, TSN and CBC asking them if their Leafs games will be in HD. So far only CTVSN replied saying they couldn't due to NHL limitations. I'm assuming CBC won't reply due to the strike.In other threads there has been much talk about RSN (Rogers Sportsnet - they bought it from CTV years ago) not carrying Leafs games in HD since they can only broadcast them in Ontario and they want national content on their HD channel. TSN has shown little interest in doing much in HD and their schedule, does not indicate whether any games will he in HD.

Would you even get TSN or RSN Leafs games in Saskatchewan? I thought that the bulk of games are only available in Ontario, unless you are pretending you are in Ontario.

In other threads there has been much talk about RSN (Rogers Sportsnet - they bought it from CTV years ago) not carrying Leafs games in HD since they can only broadcast them in Ontario and they want national content on their HD channel. TSN has shown little interest in doing much in HD and their schedule, does not indicate whether any games will he in HD.

Would you even get TSN or RSN Leafs games in Saskatchewan? I thought that the bulk of games are only available in Ontario, unless you are pretending you are in Ontario.

Who's in Saskatchewan? I'm from Sault Ste. Marie, ON. I currently get about 90% of the Leafs game on shaw cable. The only ones I don't get are the games on Leafs TV and CFTO. I'm told that if I get the regional games over cable, I will get them on BEV too (and I'm hoping this includes HD coverage).

Who's in Saskatchewan? I'm from Sault Ste. Marie, ON. I currently get about 90% of the Leafs game on shaw cable. The only ones I don't get are the games on Leafs TV and CFTO. I'm told that if I get the regional games over cable, I will get them on BEV too (and I'm hoping this includes HD coverage).Sorry - I thought your location showed up as Sask - it was Oil Fan who responded to your post. My apologies. If you are in the wrong region the games on Sportsnet are blacked out and you get a bare screen. If you are not in Ontario and TSN is showing the game you get alternate programming like billiards.

Leave it to the CBC to finally have a chance to get back all their lost viewers thanks to the NHL lockout by doing the exact same thing to their employees.

Sorry - I thought your location showed up as Sask - it was Oil Fan who responded to your post. My apologies. If you are in the wrong region the games on Sportsnet are blacked out and you get a bare screen. If you are not in Ontario and TSN is showing the game you get alternate programming like billiards.

Your right....TSN will not be showing Oiler/Flames games in Sask. which is a load of BS. Sportsnet realizes that the there is huge # of Oiler/Flames fans in Sask. but TSN has dropped the ball once again!

Everyone accross Canada who gets both TSN and TSN-Ant will see all four games.

What TSN means by Alta only is that Cable customers in Alberta who only have TSN will show the Alberta only games.

For people who have Bell Expressvu and Star Choice, you WILL SEE ALL FOUR GAMES.

For people who have Bell Expressvu or Star Choice it will be the following:

400 - Toronto vs Ottawa (In HD for people with TSN HD)
402 - Edmonton vs whoever they are playing
400 - Vancouver vs whoever they are playing (In HD for people with TSN HD)
402 - Calgary vs Minnesota

Cable heads in Alberta will show the Alt Channel.

Don't worry guys, you will see all the hockey. TSN only has two channels. How would they put billiards up at the same time? 400- Hockey, 402 - Hockey, ??? Billiards? Nope.

I was very disappointed with the recent Star Wars showings by CBC - for one they were all shown cropped - incorrect aspect ratio - I hope that is not going to be the way CBC HD plans on showing feature films in the future. Video quality was also poor - very soft images for A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back with Return of the Jedi being the worst of the lot. Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones were passable as far as the softness was concerned, but I don't think that the HD presentations of these movies should be easily overshadowed by the DVD incarnations of these released a little over a year ago.

It's outrageous that our national public broadcaster is so far behind the American HD rollout and private broadcasters like SportsNET. What are they spending all their money on ... more bilingual programming? Get on with the CBC HD rollout already!