Old CBC HD (Official thread) 2005 to May 2006.

[QuantumRealityBytes]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The wierdest problem was with the Peter Cottontail animation segment. ALL pans of the scene, ANY direction, caused a stagger effect.

On the positive side, The Nature of Things show on the sea otter was incredible.

There will be teething pains. But, already CBC HD is Canada's premier HD network. I thought this was going to another Canadian HD joke. But, the CBC seems to be taking things seriously.

I noticed the stagger in the ballet segment as well. I tried single stepping through the Peter Conttontail animation and it wasn't just a 2:3 conversion like you'd expect with a 24 frame source. It was irregular, sometimes 4 frames then a duplicated frame sometimes 3, sometimes 5. weird. It made the whole animation almost unwatchale! You'd think they would have worked these problems out before the broadcast. The PQ on the animation was amazing though!

On the brighter side, I think They look like they have some awesome material in the can. The Geological series looks like it will be fantastic! And Hockey: a people's history is a brilliant idea! I'm looking forward to a Canadian network that actully gives a damn about HD. Kudos to CBC. Flames to CTV, Global and the CRTC.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The wierdest problem was with the Peter Cottontail animation segment. ALL pans of the scene, ANY direction, caused a stagger effect.

It was if a 24p picture was being incorrectly converted to 1080i@60.

I noticed the same thing with Braveheart.

[Nels Stewart]

Here is my note to the VP of programming at Bell Expressvu:

As you are no doubt aware, CBC-HD officially went live this past weekend. As a subscriber to Canada's self-professed "HD leader," I fully expected to be able to tune in on my Bell-Expressvu system. Afterall, BEV had picked up previous HD specials on CBC in the past, including a few hockey games and a couple of documentaries. And, your company hadn't wasted any time in adding Global HD the moment it became available, eventhough that station hasn't produced a single second of original HD content that I can't otherwise access elsewhere.

While some of the impetus to add CBC-HD may be diminished somewhat by the lack of Hockey Night in Canada, I nonetheless look forward to finally seeing original Canadian HD content on our national broadcaster. If Bell-Expressvu is to continue as an HD leader, and if I am to continue as a BEV subscriber, I expect to see CBC-HD added to your lineup as soon as possible.

You can find BEV contacts here. Not all of them have email addresses, but it's not hard to figure out their email protocol.

[Battscrew]

I just sent an email to the VP of programming as well.

[Frankbla88]

I'm once again very disappointed with BEV. I was really expecting to Watch VIRGINIE on the SRC HD channel tonight!(What can I say I like show!)
It seems that BEV wont let it happen

Normally I watch JOEY on NBC_HD Thursday at 8pm but last week I notice that it was playing on Global HD or CTV HD , which one I don’t remember but watching it a 7:30 was more convenient for me so I said Hey cool I will watch it on the other channel and then what A surprise! a HD channel playing a HD show not in HD!
I guess it looks great on paper for BEV to add 2 HD channel, it sure most cell more 2 year contract when they promote there line up!
C'mon BEV add CBC_HD you will have 1 more HD channel to brag about!

On a brighter note BEV has to add the channel soon, the have to do it if other providers are doing it.

I guess the real problem is that If I’m forced into a 2 years contract I should have the right to expect the BEST or at the very lest equal possibility then other providers.

[mhyland]

I've been managing the launch and programming for CBC HD. I haven't been able to peruse many of the posts before today, but having done so I'm impressed with your collective interest and knowledge.

I'm sorry Harry Potter didn't look good to many/most of you--we are certainly analyzing what's going on, and why it didn't show up in testing. HD masters are still relatively hard to get from the Hollywood studios, so we didn't, and are not likely to, have too much time to test any specific titles before they go to air. We were prepping Potter until very late on Thursday to ready it for broadcast, and early reports say everything looked fine leaving our master control. I was there on Saturday night for the first HD broadcast and everything looked fine... including the return signal we get OTA from the CN Tower. So we'll keep working on it.

As far as other providers, we certainly expect the satellite folks will carry us soon. I've heard they may have up to 90 days, but I'll certainly pass on any dates I hear about...

Curious to hear how you find The Newsroom tonight at 20:30ET

--mark

[Battscrew]

Welcome Mark,

It is very nice to see someone from the networks taking an interest.

[Jake]

Just curious Mark what equipment you used for viewing in master control, OTA? A lot of the guys here have 50" and above projection TVs. Artifacts are easier to spot on a screen that size. Also, I suspect the rate shaping (is that what they call it?) that the various cable companies are using must have an impact on the result no?

My carrier (Videotron) is know to put 3 HD channels on one QAM. Fortunately they have CBC and SRC on one QAM.

[Battscrew]

Just received this reply from Bell:

It is always disappointing to hear when one of our customer's is not
satisfied with the services that Bell ExpressVu provides. Bell
ExpressVu believes that customers are the ultimate directors of our
future and our highest priority is customer satisfaction. Please note
that a decision to add more channels to our current channel line-up is
based on the following criteria:

- Availability of the channel in Canada
- Cost of providing the channel
- Viewer interest
- Providing satisfaction to a maximum amount of viewers
- Programming duplication
- Space the feed occupies on our satellite transponders

You will be pleased to know that your channel suggestion has been
forwarded to the Marketing Department for further review and
consideration. We encourage all viewers and potential subscribers to
forward any feedback regarding our service and channel selection
directly to us. Your comments assist us with fulfilling your customer
service and programming needs.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by mhyland

Curious to hear how you find The Newsroom tonight at 20:30ET

Welcome! The Newsroom was fine tonght, but then again it was last night. I have only noticed the strobing effect on movies - I didn't see Harry Potter but I noticed it on Braveheart on Saturday.

[mhyland]

Jake,

the monitors *are* relatively small, like what you'd see in a typical TV control room on the wall in front of the director so maybe that is part of the issue....

[jvillain]

- Programming duplication

That must be the number one priority.

Thanks for taking an interest Mark. I hope you will keep dropping in.

[robcreaser]

Originally Posted by mhyland

I've been managing the launch and programming for CBC HD. I haven't been able to peruse many of the posts before today, but having done so I'm impressed with your collective interest and knowledge.

I'm sorry Harry Potter didn't look good to many/most of you--we are certainly analyzing what's going on, and why it didn't show up in testing. HD masters are still relatively hard to get from the Hollywood studios, so we didn't, and are not likely to, have too much time to test any specific titles before they go to air. We were prepping Potter until very late on Thursday to ready it for broadcast, and early reports say everything looked fine leaving our master control. I was there on Saturday night for the first HD broadcast and everything looked fine... including the return signal we get OTA from the CN Tower. So we'll keep working on it.

As far as other providers, we certainly expect the satellite folks will carry us soon. I've heard they may have up to 90 days, but I'll certainly pass on any dates I hear about...

Curious to hear how you find The Newsroom tonight at 20:30ET

--mark

Newsroom was fine for me also tonight OTA on a CRT. Is it shot on film or video? Last week I noticed the strobbing effect right at the opening of This is Wonderland when the Title and credits are first shown. Will watch again this week. On the crt there was never actually flashes it just looks like a jerky pan. If the pan is slow then there was no problem but if it was rapid it was like the data stream was not keeping up. Also why the extreem zoom on the 14:9 UK material? Why not just fill the screen top to bottom and have small black bars on the side like Citytvhd does all the time until you acquire 16:9 masters? The title of Coronation Street which ran that way this evening are at the bottom of the screen are almost totally chopped off. That should be easy to see at network control.

[57]

I thought The Newsroom was fine (video-wise).

The sound was still "stereo" despite the signal being DD5.1

There were two sound "clicks" (almost like static) when they went to commercial and came back. No other stations do this.

Rogers doesn't "Rate Shape" HD channels. I believe rate shaping is only applicable to SD digital at this time since there can be 10 channels to "shape". With only 2 (or 3) channels, I believe the bitrate is constant (although lower when 3 channels are on each frequency instead of the "normal" two).

[Elite 09]

Here is part of an email I received from Gary Smith from Expressvu.

"In March, Expressvu will launch CBC and SRC HDTV. Expressvu have 25 chanels HDTV now."

I have seen the same quote on another forum. So it seems sometime in March Expressvu customers will see CBC HD and SRC HD.