Hi Marc, could you please comment on these posts:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=107969 (Post #1113 and replies)

cheers

Lots of posts deleted. topic of the thread is CBC-HD Official Thread (No Hockey).

This thread is not for discuss picture quality on Shaw or the picture quality of Global HD and CTV HD.

I have not been watching CBC for a very long time. However the last few days I tuned in to check it and I noticed they have reverted to the standard CBC watermark, rather than the previously used 'HD' logo.
I also noticed there has been nearly zero HD progress (other then new studio for the 'National') towards HD improvement in last few years. Still, the entire 24 hours a day all promos and everything between the programmes remains in 4:3, with those ugly black bars.
Also, some of the widescreen programmes like financial news shows have such a terrible picture quality, which makes it almost unwatchable.
As I understand CBC may not be willing to invest in upgrading in studios and cameras towards HD at this point, but I wonder why the 'National' cameras are just sitting unused all day long, while they use the old ones for producing other shows. Would it really be so difficult to combine those.

Also, now that CBC HD is carried by Comcast in Seattle, it's becoming a bit embarrassing with all this content.

I still believe that the only reason CBC ever even launched the Newsworld in HD was that they were becoming embarrassed with French CBC HD progress, leaving the English CBC in dust, while being publicly funded just the same.

Running HD commercials will remain an issue until our 1990's vintage automation system is upgraded as part of a larger project. The entire project will be done by 2011.
The conversion to HD is ongoing. Here's a rundown of what is SD/WS/HD: 636 The blanks are SD 4:3.

Marc,
Is that PDF schedule available weekly anywhere on the CBC website or elsewhere? The regular schedule indicates HD but there's nothing to say what shows are anamorphic. A weekly version of this chart would be useful.

To my knowledge, that information is not available on the website. I'll pass your comments on to the appropriate people.

What I don't understand is that CBC is getting WORSE in HD programming recently! Most of CBC Sports are not real HD, including hockey, figure skates, soccer, etc. Some of them are like WS SD while others are a bit better like upconverting 720p to 1080i. This includes original programming like Battle of the Blades. Even last week's Championship Figure Skating in Tokyo coverage were in better HD PQ than Figure Skating events in Canada.

Besides CBC Sports, movies and specials are getting worse. I mean the same movie or special presentation broadcasted one year ago in real HD is now in bad HD. Take Cirque Du Soleil Kooza for example. One year ago it was shown in real HD. Last week, it was shown in WS SD.

And I've been talking about OTA, which always has better PQ than Shaw's feed regardless of programming, while other local stations have identical PQ with Shaw and OTA. Somebody mentioned bad PQ with CBC HD on another TV provider as well. It's like when other local stations are moving forward with HD, CBC is moving backward.

I just wanted to voice my displeasure at the CBC News logo that is being used currently. (Both on their 5:00pm new and on their CBC news network)
It is a red CBC sign on a white background (rather large) and it's causing image retention on my plasma (which has been calibrated).
I wish they would make it transparent. Anyone else having this issue?
Oh, and then there's the "Toronto at 5" logo which is just as painful.

A major overhaul of the distribution system is just starting. When it's done, the data will come from our automation system in real time with separate PSIP streams for each station.

Hi Marc, are there any updates on this project? Last I heard the target date is 2011. Is that still the case? If so, any idea when in 2011?

Can you also provide more details about how the data will be affected by last minute schedule changes (for example if there is a special news report or a live program runs overtime). One situation that I am especially curious about is if there is an "Special Overtime Edition" of The National squeezed into the intermission. Will it be labeled as a separate program? If so, it could really mess up a PVR. :)

It still baffles me why networks continue to use bugs. The CBC hit bottom,in my opinion, this morning with their coverage of the opening ceremonies at the Commowealth Games. One bug on the left of the screen told us it was live and the other bug on the right side of the screen identified the CBC. As for the ceremonies....colourfull and exciting.

The use of bugs has become much worse in the last few years and is unlikely to go away. Networks care more about visibility forntheir "brand" than they do about the quality of their product.

roger1818,

august 2011
I haven't seen the module yet so I don't know how the data will be filtered for PSIP

I just noticed that CBC has finally started making and airing HD promo clips and announcements. As i see only the old ones are still in 4:3, all new stuff is being made in WS and fully HD.
Well done and finally long awaited.

I agree with the post on poor picture quality for some shows.

I also agree with the poor taste of the use of bugs & now we even have scrolling commercials/announcements - this is just more spam rudely forced on us! As is the auditory assault of blaring commercial volumes.

What really irks me is the sound quality of CBC HW - it displays as Dolby Digital on my receiver (RX-Z11) - but sound can only be heard with Stereo sound options - it is obviously in AC3 or a very poor DD that cannot be DSP'd or matrixed.
AMC also has this sound "glitch" for some shows (Walking Dead) but sound dies only during commercials (glad for that bonus).

All programs on CBC HD are encoded as DD 5.1, even stereo shows. This should change in August 2011. The details were dicussed some time ago. I'll post a link if I find it. "Gliches" (clicks,pops, mute) during AC3 transitions is normal. It is a byproduct of DD encoding and different decoders.

Marc

CBCHW consistantly has the audio glitch only the .1 bass channel is in any DD format - only by using stereo can I get any sound.
This issue is found fulltime on CBCHW & only for a few shows on other networks.


Receiver displays Dolby Digital but cannot be listened to in DD - it can only be heard in stereo.

Either live or via PVR - something is happening with the DD broadcast info.

It is not with my equipment - other folks I know have the same issue - except those that have stereo only equipment.

I also have another Bell satbox (nonPVR) with a Pioneer Elite receiver - same problem with that as well.

I can switch to other stations & the glitch is not there.

As mentioned by Marc, two channel (stereo) programming is sent as DD5.1 L&R channels only. See the following FAQ, point 1, etc:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17870

As mentioned in the FAQ above, PBS Buffalo is the same. I believe that CH sends out only DD2.0 at this time...

Dougofthenorth,
What is: "CBCHW"?

Tx 57,

So then it is indeed a ridiculous idea to send stereo as 5.1.

This defeats the auto detect features on AVRs & requires a time wasting manual
reconfig of the AVR settings, then setting it back for normal 5.1 programming.

I wonder who comes up with these idiotic brain f@rt ideas?

Why not just send it out as stereo?

The reason they don't send it out as DD2.0 was discussed previously and in the FAQs. The affiliates don't have the money/equipment to properly switch between DD2.0 and DD5.1 on the applicable programming (or to purchase an upmixer). These "public" broadcasters are attempting to do what they can with the equipment they can afford.

Originally, they were sending out DD2.0 only, but then we customers who wish to hear DD5.1 programming, when available, caught their ear and PBS and CBC decided it was OK to send out DD5.1 full time so that we could get our wish - thus "sacrificing" the DD2.0 signal (that could be decoded by DPL). I prefer what they have done to getting only DD2.0, as is the case with CH.

One of the problems with switching between DD2.0 and DD5.1 was a "pop" from the older equipment they were using - also the switching was not always done correctly...

As mentioned by Marc, this should all just be a bad memory in a year.