CBC-HD Official Thread (No Hockey)

[57]

I also went to the CBC website for the regular schedule. Although it eventually came up it took minutes for one page (I went on to other sites while it was loading) As nfitz says, it didn't even bring up today's schedule when requested, had to go to "next day". Something definitely amiss here.

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/sched...&endTime=24:00

Edit, just tried again a few minutes later and it seems to be working OK - weird.

[VBC1]

It is the regular schedule I was too talking about.
http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/schedule/index.jsp
It works ok usually 2 out of 7 days, always shows Ottawa schedule, even after I enter my postal code, goes back to Ottawa after I go to next day, it's been like that for months now. Right now it's taking for me 10 min for every single page to open, and eventually is shows yesterday's schedule.
I did end up phoning CBC about it and they told me they are well aware of those problems and have been trying to fix this (that was a few weeks ago).
The HD .pdf schedule hasn't been updated since 6 weeks ago and I'm not aware of any new one. Why can't they just copy the scheduling system from french cbc web site?

[sugarman]

Can't bring it up on CBC's guide right now but Wed,7:30.
Marketplace examines various high speed internet claims, exploring why some companies sell speeds they can't handle and talking to frustrated subscribers.
Usually repeated Sunday noon but there is a Raptors NBA game scheduled.
Man, my internet connection is so slow now.

[VBC1]

Thanks! That's good news for me, I can't wait for NBA sunday.
I have been trying to find out when the next NBA game is on, but the cbc.ca schedule just doesn't work - now it's been a week that I can't access it.

Also, did you guys notice this strange thing in 'Dragon's Den' header (not sure how you call that thing in english, when a show starts) - the registration-plates on those cars saying 'Dragon 5' are moving all around - are not fixed there but were graphically added after the shooting.

[wptbay]

I just watched this interesting show on CBCHD via Expressvu. Good program in 5.1 audio. Unfortunately the descriptive video ran through out which was very annoying.

[VBC1]

On Sunday, there were 2 movies in HD, and PQ was just the best.
It was to my surprise, as I spent days trying to find out if there would be any movies in HD on CBC soon, the cbc.ca schedule was unavailable for last week and I even phoned cbc last week asking about Vancouver HD schedule, but they couldn't access it either nor tell me any scheduling info.
This has become quite frustrating, I absolutely have no way of finding out CBUT HD schedule.
Also, it was interesting to me that on Sunday they showed "The Incredibles" on CBC HD, which makes me wonder why they would miss the chance of potentially tripling the viewership with simulcasting considering this movie aired 2 times on NBC during last week, but not on Sunday.

[nfitz]

Aren't CBC ever going to fix their schedule on their website? It's been weeks since I've been able to see what was coming up. e.g.:

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/sched...ate=2007/12/14

[57]

I haven't been able to see it properly either. One workaround I've found when going to the schedule is to hit the stop button on the browser after about 15-30 seconds (I do this in the background while I'm on DHC) The page then comes up and you can do the same again in about 30 seconds...

[bcrt2000]

I've had CBC HD via OTA for 3 or 4 days now, and I find that while the Rick Mercer report and the National are in full HD, and Mercer and Mansbridge really pop out of your screen, the PQ of some of the other stuff leaves something to be desired. I find that there are white outlines around objects on some of the cameras used on the News at Six. I also noticed the white outline problem on some cameras on the Leafs/Pens game that I watched at a friend's place a few weeks back.

The Hour looked like it was HD to me the night that Jean Chretien was on, but last night (the one with the UNICEF guy) it definitely was upscaled.

On the other hand SRC HD always seems to have crystal clear picture quality (although yesterday was the first time I watched it). I also see a lot of HD commercials on SRC, I'm not sure if I've seen any HD commercials on CBC.

[Francois Caron]

I've purchased my Samsung ATSC receiver just so I can watch "Tout le monde en parle". The picture quality in that show is downright scary! You can see individual strands of hair! Throw in a variety of French Canadian TV shows in the mix (including the news) and you can honestly say that Canada has at least one OTA HDTV station that actually BEHAVES like an OTA HDTV station!

[VBC1]

Few days ago was the first time in a whole month that (after daily trying) the cbc.ca schedule was working ok. I took the opportunity to check the schedule for as far as I could, to see if there is anything HD coming up.
So, here's what I found until the end of the year:

Sunday, 16/12/2007 at 20.00 h - Polar Express
(on cbc schedule was not indicated as HD, but when clicked into description, it does say 'HD')

Tuesday, 25/12/2007 at 20.00 h - Pirates of the Caribbean (I)
(nowhere indicated as HD, but I remember that it was in HD last time it was on cbc)

[VBC1]

Although I have never seen SRC HD, I tend to judge it based on it's analogue channel, and I am very impressed by it. They seem to have a very progressive and motivated approach to HD. They seem to adjust the whole programming format based on HD, make nice sports graphics that seem to good look in HD (I guess), whereas English CBC uses those sports graphics that really don't stand out in HD, look like NBC sports copy.
English CBC has never to date aired any widescreen or HD promo clips or commercials (except local Vancouver news promo clips in widescreen - I think Vancouver CBC studios have no HD capability). I remember once recently phoning CBC with questions about if a show was going to be in HD, customer service could not find out and transfered me to the programming department. There, they checked and confirmed to me that it would not be in HD. Then I asked if it will be in widescreen at least. Then they answered to me that - 'something being in widescreen has nothing to do with CBC', to which I said that is not true. Then this person told me that she knows it, as she has an HDTV set at home herself, and that the only way a show is in widescreen is if you stretch the picture on your HDTV.
I could not believe what I was hearing coming from somebody in CBC programming department.

If French CBC in HD ever becomes available in Vancouver, I will start learning French immediately. I wish there was some people-awards for the most progressive self-motivated approach to HD implementation in North America, that we could nominate SRC for.

[Blackburst]

1) What is the current status on CBMT-HD & CBFT-HD concerning transmitting from Mount-Royal in Montreal. I still get no CBC & SRC channel in Montreal in Digital.

2) Are both stations planning to increase transmitter output

2) Once the DT transition is complete, will they remain on their current UHF channel positions (Ch 19 & Ch 20)

3) Are there any plans by the CBC & SRC to use their sub-channels to provide other CBC & SRC programs on their n.2 channels.

[Marc]

1. The transmitters will not be moving in the near future.
2. The existing DT transmitters are already at full power. Adding power will not fix the shadow issue.
3. I believe so.
4. Not likely.

[VBC1]

Yesterday, I saw what I thought was the first widescreen promo clip on CBC. Then I realized it was inserted by the Vancouver affiliate. It was a promo clip for CBC radio Vancouver.

Also, there's a new schedule for winter on CBC posted:
http://www.cbc.ca/television/Winter_sked.pdf
It saids 'Shows available in HD', but I can't believe it refers to the whole schedule as it looks, can't believe even 'Just for laughs' is in HD. Anyways, a step in right direction, primetime is slowly becoming mainly (all) HD.