Hasn’t stopped networks from mentioning their FTA channel numbers before. I’d prefer they advertise both FTA and Foxtel numbers anyway.
…and add the different numbers for their affiliates (i.e. 80 for 9HD NBN, 50 for 9HD Sthn Cross) and unfortunately it gets real messy, otherwise a good idea.
Yeah but affiliates can usually customise their promos and OSG’s to avoid the need to list every single channel number variant. Also, only the metros simulcast on Foxtel under alternate channel numbers.
So Nine metro could promote “in HD on FTA 90 & Foxtel 100”, and Nine SCA could simply say “in HD on 50”
Idea for a 6th HD-Only Free-to-air Channel in Australia, Seven, Nine and Ten to join Forces and launch an Extra HD Coverage Channel in Local Markets with AFL coverage in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, Melbourne with NRL and Adelaide with Inclusive Big Bash Coverage from the Start.
At Christmas I saw local channels (including HD channels) on Foxtel in Northern NSW, but I don’t know how long that’s been going on.
I suspect the FTA channels don’t want to mention Foxtel, even to say their channel number on that pay TV service (look at all the ‘Live & Free’ plastered on their sport coverage).
Foxtel should just use the same LCNs as terrestrial free to air broadcasts do; they’re all <100 anyway and does Foxtel still have any channel numbers of their own that low?
Never going to happen, and not just because of the ACCC (not to mention the AFL) having a problem with the reduced competition of a conglomerate of ‘competitors’ putting up a single bid for free-to-air sports broadcast rights.
I’d rather them do that with 4K, like the 3D test channel used for the AFL & NRL grand finals (and Origin?) a few years back.
Yeah, I believe that there were three 3D Trials. One for the 2010 State Of Origin and FIFA World Cup, another later that same year for the AFL & NRL Grand Finals and the 3rd (and most likely last for many years to come) during the London Olympics in 2012.
As far as 4K is concerned, you’d think that we’d probably see some 4K trial broadcasts during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games?
I’ve been thinking about posting what I’m about to say as this discussion about how to promote the HD channels has gone on and your post provided a perfect launch-pad to do. To play devil’s advocate, are we overstating the importance of HD to the viewing experience of the ‘average’ viewer? Of course, people who are media enthusiasts like us and/or have expensive home theater setups will always opt to watch something in HD rather than in SD due to wanting to watch content in the best possible way. In addition, people who watch movies or sports regularly will prefer watching channels in HD because they showcase the advantages of HD. However, the ‘average’ viewer watching the 6pm news or a reality program probably wouldn’t care if they were watching it in SD rather than HD - just as long as they’re still watching their program.
By no means I’m arguing that the networks should abandon HD and just broadcast in SD. What I’m arguing is that unlike switching from black-and-white to colour TV & going from 4:3 to 16:9 where both of those dramatically changed and improved how people watch TV, the difference between watching a program in SD compared to HD isn’t that massive in most cases for the ‘average’ viewer like Bluejays’ parents to actively seek it out. As a result, it won’t be until the TV industry either makes the traditional LCNs like 7 & 9 show the HD feeds or provide another incentive that HD viewing takeup probably won’t be the standard practice that many of us want it to be.
… and make the SD picture blurrier again still and add those extra bitrates to HD to widen the gap in the PQ
If a 6th digital frequency was available for the networks to share, they’d be better off simulcasting 3 multi-channels in HD. I’d imagine a combined channel for ‘extra HD coverage’ would sit dead 5 days a week otherwise.
You are not wrong to think that. I think the general population don’t really care about HD. Especially those who don’t understand it. They have many access to HD content on the internet these days, so the HD channels are really are a gimmick as far as I am concerned. The way that TV is changing, HD is changing too in this country as well. With the return of several of the HD channels and one network unable to provide quality HD programs for it’s channel full time (okay maybe it’s two channels) I think the Australian TV networks have practically missed the boat with it entirely.
I mean not many people outside this forum would even bother watching Tennis in HD or cricket in HD because to them logically 7 or 9 SD is the logical place to guy.
To be honest the Networks have fucked up the HD channels in this country, it’s no bother to anyone that probably no one wants to bother with it.
I do tend to agree I think the government/and the networks have to try and get rid of mpeg2 STB and tvs and bring mpeg4 as a requirement. I’m sorry but it’s time to start forcing people’s hand. Did America not do something like this when they went digital only? The government can create program again to make it free for the elderly pensioners so they can receive the free mpeg4 upgrade and then thus could possiblyt ensure that most of the channels can be in HD… (7,7BOGAN, 7two, Nine, Go, Gem, Life, SBS 1, VICELAND etc etc).
My parents don’t care about it. It’s like to trying to explain a rule to a tourist. You are not allowed to touch that post because it’s sacred to SydneyTV. If you touch that post, you will be arrested. But they still dont’ get it. So I just gave up. They wanna watch their favourite shows in SD, they can do that quite ahead…no big loss to me.
My parents will watch the SD FTA channels on Foxtel. They have Foxtel via satellite. I just assumed they didn’t have access to HD FTA channels on Foxtel but in any case i never bothered explaining HD, and their second set which is FTA-only doesn’t support MPEG4 so HD is not an option for that anyway. As others have said often the priority is just seeing a picture, whether it is SD or HD is mostly just a debate among certain sports fans and media enthusiasts.
Aren’t they only available via cable? From memory the availability of FTA channels on Foxtel satellite is limited
Possibly. I never bothered to investigate because I just figured it wasn’t worth it
Yes, because Free To Air has to pay for the space on the satellite transponders.
As far as I’m aware…
*Foxtel cable customers get all the local free to air channels (including the newer ones and HD), excluding community stations and datacasts.
*Foxtel satellite customers only get Seven, Nine, Ten, 7mate (previously it was 7TWO but they changed it sometime last year, probably because of the AFL), 9Go! and Eleven in SD…as long as you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Everyone gets local versions of the ABC and SBS main channels while only AEDST timezone versions of the multichannels from said public broadcasters can be seen on Foxtel satellite.
Then there’s the MyStar and iQ3 satellite boxes which tune into your local FTA stations. So technically Foxtel Satellite customers do have access to all the FTA channels, but it depends where they are and which box they use.
There was originally an AEDT and AWST version of SBS, but they recently canned the AWST version for Food Network.
Those on FOXTEL satellite in “overlap” markets like the Central Coast and Gold Coast get the metro free to airs from Syd/Bris as well (possibly Geelong does with Melbourne as well).
and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games?