TCM HD Blackout - Page 5 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

gabagoo · 2011-01-21, 11:57 PM

I have found that when a movie is blacked out in HD, the exact same movie is playing on the regular non hd tcm channel.
Makes no sense

rogue17 · 2013-02-26, 04:25 PM

Just noticed that TCM HD is blacked out on Bell Satellite.

When I press info, it says TCM HD does not have broadcast rights in Canada.(Programming available in SD on channel 292).

I don't know if this has been discussed here already. Does anyone what has happened.

57 · 2013-02-26, 04:39 PM

Your post was moved to this existing thread on the topic, found by searching for "TCM* blackout". Please check out the earlier posts. HD rights are often negotiated separately from SD rights. Rights for countries also need to be negotiated, so what's available in the US may not be available in Canada. In addition, rights for programming on the internet for computers, tablets, etc are also negotiated separately.

MCIBUS · 2013-02-26, 06:41 PM

This blackout is not just for Rogers. I've seen this on Bell SAT & Fibe as well so its not a Rogers thing its a Canadian thing.

57 · 2013-02-26, 07:00 PM

Who said anything about Rogers? Are you referring to post 1 from 2009 which was subsequently clarified in this thread? Post 62, which restarted this thread, after a two-year hiatus, was regarding Bell, but as you say, this is a TCM-HD Canada issue, not a provider issue.

rogue17 · 2013-02-26, 07:32 PM

Holy Crap!! I didn't know any of this.

I just got TCM a couple of days ago with TMN.And noticed the blackout today.

Thanks 57, for the explanation and putting it in the right section.

Ken H · 2013-02-26, 09:10 PM

The interesting thing is that TCM HD, in Canada or the US, has never aired a single film or program in HD.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125622

Here we are a year plus later and nothing has changed.

ExDilbert · 2013-02-26, 11:12 PM

The TCM HD blackouts have been brutal the last couple of days. With the launch of more Canadian HD channels, like Hollywood Suite, I can see it getting worse instead of better.

thenewdc · 2013-02-27, 06:31 AM

I believe the rights problems are mostly with the RKO library. Hollywood Suite programming has nothing to do with it. TCM buys the rights for Canada but they may not be exclusive. It's possible some movies on Hollywood Suite may be the same ones airing on TCM.

JamesK · 2013-02-27, 07:43 AM

Last week I watched an old movie, from 1941, on TCM. It was blacked out in HD. But since that movie was originally in 4:3, it didn't lose much on the SD channel.

ExDilbert · 2013-02-27, 09:31 AM

I see a lot of wide screen movies blacked out as well. As you say, it doesn't make a lot of difference with 4:3 B&W films. On something like Ben Hur and more recent movies, it makes a lot of difference. On those, we are getting about 1/8th the resolution of HD.

57 · 2013-02-27, 11:49 AM

If you see my photos in the link in post 67 of this thread, you'll see that although there is a minor difference in resolution due to TCM doing the upconversion instead of your TV or STB, the difference is not huge - certainly not a factor of 8:1.

Of course if they were airing the true HD masters you would see additional difference, also shown in my photos which show SD upconverted by my TV, SD upconverted by TCM, HD Master from PBS.

If you wish to discuss that topic instead of the blackout topic, please use that thread, not this one.

ExDilbert · 2013-02-27, 03:12 PM

Quote:

certainly not a factor of 8:1

Here is how I did the calculation: 1/4 for SD vs HD (a widely quoted figure.) Another 1/2 for having to zoom the SD picture to get rid of the sidebars. I think 1/8 is a very valid number and it certainly looks like it on my TV. Never mind that extra BDU compression on SD channels could make it even worse than that. The picture quality of a zoomed TCM movie on Shaw Direct is closer to a VHS tape than it is to DVD and nowhere near HD. Then there is the DD2.0 audio vs DD5.1 on most newer HD movies. Even though they are not true HD or 8 times the resolution, there is a lot of difference on widescreen movies that are not blacked out on TCM.

JamesK · 2013-02-27, 04:52 PM

^^^^
Actually, assuming 1080, SD is 4/9 the resolution and letterboxing is another 3/4, so the actual resolution is 12/36 or 1/3 the resolution of HD or 360 lines, instead of 1080.

ExDilbert · 2013-02-27, 05:34 PM

You are forgetting about the horizontal resolution. Use both figures when comparing 1920x1080i to 720x480i. That is approximately as much again. Applying your figure of 1/3 to both dimensions, it comes out to 1/3*1/3 or 1/9. Count the zoom and you will find that my 1/8 figure is an understatement, not an overstatement. Using a 25% zoom figure, 1/12 would be more accurate.

2013-02-26, 04:25 PM	#62
rogue17 Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 556	TCM HD Blackout in effect? Just noticed that TCM HD is blacked out on Bell Satellite. When I press info, it says TCM HD does not have broadcast rights in Canada.(Programming available in SD on channel 292). I don't know if this has been discussed here already. Does anyone what has happened. Last edited by 57; 2013-02-26 at 04:39 PM. Reason: Moved to existing thread.

2013-02-26, 04:39 PM	#63
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,302	Your post was moved to this existing thread on the topic, found by searching for "TCM* blackout". Please check out the earlier posts. HD rights are often negotiated separately from SD rights. Rights for countries also need to be negotiated, so what's available in the US may not be available in Canada. In addition, rights for programming on the internet for computers, tablets, etc are also negotiated separately. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2013-02-26, 06:41 PM	#64
MCIBUS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,098	This blackout is not just for Rogers. I've seen this on Bell SAT & Fibe as well so its not a Rogers thing its a Canadian thing. __________________ OC TRANSPO People Moving People O-TRAINDD BUSESD60LFR*INVERO

2013-02-26, 07:00 PM	#65
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,302	Who said anything about Rogers? Are you referring to post 1 from 2009 which was subsequently clarified in this thread? Post 62, which restarted this thread, after a two-year hiatus, was regarding Bell, but as you say, this is a TCM-HD Canada issue, not a provider issue. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2013-02-26, 09:10 PM	#67
Ken H Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern Windsor, ON Posts: 185	The interesting thing is that TCM HD, in Canada or the US, has never aired a single film or program in HD. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125622 Here we are a year plus later and nothing has changed. Last edited by 57; 2013-02-26 at 11:46 PM. Reason: Link to our forum discussions on the topic utilized.

2011-01-21, 11:57 PM	#61
gabagoo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Richmond Hill Posts: 129	I have found that when a movie is blacked out in HD, the exact same movie is playing on the regular non hd tcm channel. Makes no sense

2013-02-26, 07:32 PM	#66
rogue17 Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 556	Holy Crap!! I didn't know any of this. I just got TCM a couple of days ago with TMN.And noticed the blackout today. Thanks 57, for the explanation and putting it in the right section.

2013-02-26, 11:12 PM	#68
ExDilbert Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 43° N, 81° W Posts: 972	The TCM HD blackouts have been brutal the last couple of days. With the launch of more Canadian HD channels, like Hollywood Suite, I can see it getting worse instead of better.

2013-02-27, 06:31 AM	#69
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,310	I believe the rights problems are mostly with the RKO library. Hollywood Suite programming has nothing to do with it. TCM buys the rights for Canada but they may not be exclusive. It's possible some movies on Hollywood Suite may be the same ones airing on TCM.

2013-02-27, 07:43 AM	#70
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,047	Last week I watched an old movie, from 1941, on TCM. It was blacked out in HD. But since that movie was originally in 4:3, it didn't lose much on the SD channel. __________________ The following program contains immature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.

2013-02-27, 09:31 AM	#71
ExDilbert Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 43° N, 81° W Posts: 972	I see a lot of wide screen movies blacked out as well. As you say, it doesn't make a lot of difference with 4:3 B&W films. On something like Ben Hur and more recent movies, it makes a lot of difference. On those, we are getting about 1/8th the resolution of HD.

2013-02-27, 11:49 AM	#72
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,302	If you see my photos in the link in post 67 of this thread, you'll see that although there is a minor difference in resolution due to TCM doing the upconversion instead of your TV or STB, the difference is not huge - certainly not a factor of 8:1. Of course if they were airing the true HD masters you would see additional difference, also shown in my photos which show SD upconverted by my TV, SD upconverted by TCM, HD Master from PBS. If you wish to discuss that topic instead of the blackout topic, please use that thread, not this one. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2013-02-27, 04:52 PM	#74
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,047	^^^^ Actually, assuming 1080, SD is 4/9 the resolution and letterboxing is another 3/4, so the actual resolution is 12/36 or 1/3 the resolution of HD or 360 lines, instead of 1080. __________________ The following program contains immature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.

2013-02-27, 05:34 PM	#75
ExDilbert Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 43° N, 81° W Posts: 972	You are forgetting about the horizontal resolution. Use both figures when comparing 1920x1080i to 720x480i. That is approximately as much again. Applying your figure of 1/3 to both dimensions, it comes out to 1/3*1/3 or 1/9. Count the zoom and you will find that my 1/8 figure is an understatement, not an overstatement. Using a 25% zoom figure, 1/12 would be more accurate.

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