Would it be possible to have one main 1080p MPEG4 channel and the rest 720p MPEG4?
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Here’s a quick and simple way to think about it without having to calculate bitrates etc. (Creative allocation of bitrates will give different results, but this works for the standard range of bitrates that our broadcasters are using).
Imagine there are 6 “slots” available.
MPEG-2 SD and MPEG-4 HD 1080i both require 1 slot.
MPEG-2 HD 1080i requires 2 slots.
MPEG-4 SD requires 0.5 slots.
Some broadcasters using slightly higher bitrates, which results in only 5 or 5.5 “slots” for this method.
Shopping channels can also be squeezing in smaller spaces since they typically run lower bitrates, but if you treat them the same in your calculation, it allows for slightly higher bitrates on the other channels.
Example 1: 9 Metro
LCN 9: 9SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 90: 9HD MPEG-4: 1 slot
LCN 92: 9GEM SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 93: 9GO SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 94: 9Life SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 95: Extra SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
Total: 6 slots
Example 2: SCA-9
LCN 5: 9SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 50: 9HD MPEG-4: 1 slot
LCN 52: 9GEM SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 53: 9GO SD MPEG-2: 1 slot
LCN 54: 9Life SD MPEG-4: 0.5 slot
LCN 55: Extra SD MPEG-4: 0.5 slot
LCN 56: Aspire SD MPEG-4: 0.5 slot
Total: 5.5 slots
It’s not that scientific, and won’t always be accurate, but it’s a near-enough calculation for discussing potential future combinations.
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Isn’t SCA 9Life (and all third multichannels in regional areas) in MPEG-4?
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Yes. My mistake, I forgot to change that when I copied it from above.
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SCA Nine is the only Aussie network that has juggled their bandwidth effectively for the most channels at decent quality. Prime should take note when it comes to launching their HD channel because I’m sure they’d want to keep both ishop tv and Racing.
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Don’t they have 9HD in MPEG 4 and everything else in MPEG 2?
Yes, with 2 MPEG-4 datacast channels on top.
Nine, on the other hand, can’t do 2 datacast channels (Extra and Extra 2) because they decided to keep 9Life as MPEG-2 for maximum viewership.
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@webguy explained it pefectly, but yeah,
- SCA has 9HD, 9Life, Aspire and SBN in MPEG-4
- Nine only has 9HD
and Extrain MPEG-4
SCA also maximise their bandwidth in Darwin with SBN, TVSN and Racing all in MPEG-4. Darwin could potentially be the station with the most channels if SCTV HD ever gets off the ground…
7 SCTV
70 SCTV HD
72 7TWO
73 7mate
74 SBN
75 TVSN
76 7flix
78 Racing
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With no 7 HD in regional Qld I hope that the new Plus 7 replacement service will be in HD.
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While we’re talking bandwidth and quality, is it just me or is Ch 76 (66 regional) [7flix] fairly poor, seems a bit hazy?
7HD Melbourne seems to be upscaled tonight.
Edit: I don’t know if it was my server or if it was BCM.
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7flix doesn’t exist in Southern Cross broadcast areas.
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I am aware of this. My list for Darwin was hypothetical.
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It’s absolutely mind-boggling to think that Prime7 has launched a HD-simulcast of the main channel while GWN7 and the Seven-owned 7QLD (both of which are the highest rating stations in their markets, no less) still haven’t.
What’s holding them back?
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Don’t forget SC Darwin, SC SA, SC Central North & South, 7 Griffith and 7 ESA, all of which should offer HD/7flix/the full 7 product, as they’d be doing well with Seven’s high rating programs too.
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It is strange, that the industry leader for the past 11 years, has different channel availability in various markets.
WIN and also SCA9 seems more polished / uniform in the HD regard.
This one baffles me the most.
Regional affiliates can get their act together and simulcasts in HD, yet the network themselves can’t even be bothered, it’s bullshit
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Regional Qld doesn’t like change lol .
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Yes, it would create mass community dysfunction in Ayr, near Townsville.
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