Hockey Night In Canada In HD Discussion.

[RobB]

Originally Posted by vanrobson

I dont know what cameras CBC is using but compare to HDNET hockey broadcasts it looks like it is SD widescreen and not HD. HDNET is much more clear than the HNIC broadcast.

Noticed the same, the colours were quite dark and the PQ was somewhat grainy for lack of a better term. I found last month's Leaf broadcast on TSN to be more colourful and bright.

[vaillan57]

Originally Posted by RobB

Noticed the same, the colours were quite dark and the PQ was somewhat grainy for lack of a better term. I found last month's Leaf broadcast on TSN to be more colourful and bright.

I think that Toronto in white and Tempa in black did"nt help,too bad in it was not the opposite

[vanrobson]

Originally Posted by RobB

Noticed the same, the colours were quite dark and the PQ was somewhat grainy for lack of a better term. I found last month's Leaf broadcast on TSN to be more colourful and bright.

Grainy that is the word i'm looking for. Good comaprison with the Leafs game on TSN it look very much sharper than the CBC broadcast last night. The edge of the players on last night CBC game looks rough like step edge. Show up very noticable on my TV due to its high resolution.

[nfitz]

We seem to be reversing our roles here ...

... but they are such a crap team. Always have been. I don't really pay much attention to the sport, since the 1980's ... but I remember them finishing dead-last most years.

... and looking at the standings this year, they are in their traditional spot, fighting for last place http://www.forecaster.ca/cbc/hockey/standings.cgi while Montreal and Ottawa are fighting for first.

Heck, I live in Toronto, and if I did get an urge to watch hockey on TV (it happens about twice a decade), I don't think I'd want to see Toronto play!

Shame that the Montreal CBC station isn't on the timeshift for Rogers ...

Nick

[nfitz]

... hang on. I just looked at the CBC schedule for Montreal last night. It says that they aired Toronto-Tampa. Wasn't Montreal playing Buffalo at the same time? When did CBC-Montreal stop airing Canadiens games? It's been a while since I lived in Montreal, but I can't recall that happening in the past.

Or is the schedule wrong.

Nick

[2UTH DR]

Originally Posted by RobB

Noticed the same, the colours were quite dark and the PQ was somewhat grainy for lack of a better term. I found last month's Leaf broadcast on TSN to be more colourful and bright.

I also thought the CBCHD broadcast looked a little grainy or speckled. But overall, very good picture quality. I have StarChoice as the provider, BTW.

[rosenqui]

Originally Posted by nfitz

When did CBC-Montreal stop airing Canadiens games?

It would appear that the CBC has decided that fans of 5/6ths of our Canadian teams really don't matter, including the most storied franchise in the league and one of this year's most exciting teams - Montreal. I suspect they've decided to leave coverage of the Habs to french CBC, which is a kick in the groin for the huge base of Habs fans outside of Quebec. I'm a Senators fan, but I would much rather see some variety from our national broadcaster than the same old Leafs vs. Anybody every Saturday at 7PM.

What is really astounding is that Montreal gets HNIC coverage on only 3 occasions that don't involve the Leafs, and only once when another Canadian team isn't involved. Meanwhile, the Leafs are covered when they're facing the likes of Atlanta, Phoenix, New Jersey, etc.

HNIC is even doing a couple of non-Saturday broadcasts, including a Buffalo/Toronto game (in HD) on Thursday January 26th, when Montreal is playing in Ottawa the very same night! Shouldn't the all Canadian matchup take precedence?

This wouldn't piss off us non-Leaf fans quite so much if CBC didn't negotiate exclusive Saturday night coverage in Canada. When they turn their back on the other 5 teams (Ottawa's 4 home Saturday night games from February through the end of the season aren't covered at all!) it means the likes of TSN, Sportsnet, and A-Channel can't step in and broaden the coverage. Small wonder then that the Leafs have the biggest following in Canada.

The justification that the Leafs have the most fans and therefore deserve the most coverage becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when they're the team our "national" public broadcaster covers all the time. How are the other 5 teams supposed to build up a fan base outside of their home territory when CBC rarely shows their games nationally?

Since complaints to the CBC from viewers will probably make little or no impression, perhaps we should complain to the league and push them to avoid granting exclusive Saturday night rights to HNIC in future contracts? I'm sure TSN and Sportsnet would love a slice of the Saturday night hockey audience from fans of the other 5 teams.

[nfitz]

But didn't they used to show Montreal on CBC-Montreal, and Toronto on the rest of the network ... even only a few years ago?

Nick

[darrylr]

I think it has something to do with the RDS deal. RDS has rights to every single Canadiens (regular season at least) game and I don't think CBC can show a Canadiens game unless they are playing another Canadian team. Can anyone disprove or verify this?

-Darryl

[Dajad]

Originally Posted by johnnysmoke

I guess I'll be the first to express my disappointment in the decision HNIC has made to downconvert a 4:3 cutout and all of the compromises associated with this. There's this wide panorama ideally suited for the hockey rink and the cameras are panning so quickly to keep the action in that small square in the center of the screen it's almost nauseating. My preference would be a letterbox downconvert.

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!!! What a dissappointment it was. Nice and clear, but pan and scan made me feel I was watching nothing much more special then a regular broadcast.

Originally Posted by vanrobson

I dont know what cameras CBC is using but compare to HDNET hockey broadcasts it looks like it is SD widescreen and not HD. HDNET is much more clear than the HNIC broadcast.

Yes, I'm wondering ... it did seem very 480p widescreenish to me. No clearer than a DVD. Though my Rogers SFA8300HD indicated it was being spit out in 1080i, but is sure didn't look as crisp (not even close) to the HD 1080i Nascar I'm watching as I'm typing this. IT was night and day difference.

All, in all, after watching the U.S. Open last September in HD, the Masters in HD, March Madness in HD last year (got my TV just after the superbowl) and any number of other sporting events in HD, this has to be the biggest disappoinement I've had with my new Dell 4200 set.

...Dale

[keelor#1]

I thought it looked quite good on my Sony via Rogers in Ottawa, and the sound problems seemed to be resolved as the game went on....even though I live in Ottawa, and would have loved to have seen the sens game.

Can't really compare from memory if it was better or worse than the TSN HD broadcasts -- I find NFL (even CFL) looks better than hockey. As well as NASCAR and baseball -- something to do with more powerful, or natural lighting?

[functor]

Originally Posted by nfitz

... but they are such a crap team. Always have been. I don't really pay much attention to the sport, since the 1980's ... but I remember them finishing dead-last most years.

Nick

Odd that someone who doesn't follow the sport can quantify a quarter of a century of the teams history into a couple words.

[painter]

Three NHL games on TSN HD (Wed,Thurs & Fri) so you can make a good comparison with the game Saturday on CBC HD.

[Lenster]

I was excited about the prospect of watching HNIC in HD. They even turned it out in DD5.1, after a few minor glitches. I liked it. But as I read this thread, expecting discussions on technical issues, I was struck by the amount of complaining about the content and pre-existing CBC policies.

Yes, CBC should cover more then the Leafs in their first game on Saturday nights. Yes, the PQ could have been a bit better. Yes, they had a few glitches with the sound. But you know what? It's a start, and any new coverage in HD is fine by me. I'm sure they'll get the bugs out, and who knows, maybe a second HD production trailer.

I don't really care if the Habs are better than the Leafs or vice-versa. Maybe someone should start a separate thread on this - it'll be a popular one for sure!

[mfabien]

Originally Posted by darrylr

I think it has something to do with the RDS deal. RDS has rights to every single Canadiens (regular season at least) game and I don't think CBC can show a Canadiens game unless they are playing another Canadian team. Can anyone disprove or verify this?

-Darryl

Yes RDS has had the rights to cover Canadiens since the last few years.

Since RDS is not a free network, the SRC has been allowed to relay Montreal Games on Saturday nights for transmission outside Quebec. In addition, I believe ExpressVu captures SRCHD in Toronto and Montrealers with BEV can see the SRCHD coverage (SD upconverted to 1080i).