Exact same thing I said A while ago 
We canāt stay on MPEG2 forever. One of the networks should take the plunge and run all their channels in MPEG4 HD 
After the initial boost in viewers following the switch though didnāt it just settle back to around the figures it had before - the boost was seen to be from the added promo that coincided with the change, not the change itself.
I think if they did it after the grand finals that gives viewers a good 3 months notice. If 7 are really hesitent they could just trial it in one market, but really do think the benefits of having two HD channels far outweighs the negatives of them being in MPEG4.
Given that Seven has lost its nerve and reverted 7flix to MPEG2 I canāt see any network going full MPEG4 for a very long time.
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Why were the HD channels from mid 2000ās switched off to begin with?
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Probably because of the 1xHD and 2xSD channel limit prior to the switch off of analogue TV as well as the SD primary channel requirement which was only changed last year!
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I wonder if Sydney will get the AFL final in HD next week (on main channel)?
And one assumes the Grand Final?
Same goes for QLD & WA.
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So they could use the bandwidth to set up a 3rd channel.
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From my quick perusing of this thread, Seven had to keep 7mate in HD for Sydney, Brisbane and Perth because of the AFL. Then the breakaway programming stuff between 7(HD) and 7mate(HD) will confuse viewers because of the HD thing. So the AFL, along with the different timings and schedules between the major cities, is the reason why only Melbourne and Adelaide get 7HD.
I think thereās a hazy future in regards to getting 7HD in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth after the AFL this year. Seven has a lot of time to think about changing its broadcasting infrastructure in a way that all markets will permanently get 7HD.
Somehow, I wouldnāt be terribly surprised if Seven are waiting to be able to broadcast all their channels in HD (and in all markets, including regional QLD which still has 7mate in MPEG2-HD if Iām not mistaken) before allowing Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast and Perth to be allowed to see the main channel of āAustraliaās #1 Networkā in HD on a permanent/regular basis. At that rate, weāll probably see the ABC (re)launch a HD simulcast of their main channel nationwide before Sevenās main channel in HD for all markets.
In the meantime though, I still think itās an absolute joke how Sydney gets 7mateHD. Sure, thereās AFL coverage and NFL in HD but what to we get in lieu of Sevenās premium main channel content in HD? Quality programs like Outback Truckers, Bogans and daytime repeats of shows like T.J. Hooker from the 1980s which obviously arenāt even in widescreen let alone HD. Give me a breakā¦
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Though I have enjoyed watching the āBack To The Futureā movies on 7mate HD lately, but yeah, thatās about it!
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According to the Ebroadcast TV Guide, Sydney will get the Swans v Giants final on Seven, 7mate and 7HD.
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That is oddā¦
I can understand 7 putting the Swans vs Giants on the main channel and 7HD (70), given its an afternoon game and there is no NRL final on, but on 7mate SD (73) as well?
I would have expected to see a movie or something else on 7mate SD 73 whilst the football was on.
Same in perth,so the footy on 3 channels thatās weird
I think itās because in Sydney and Perth, 7HD is a simulcast of 7mate.
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Three channels showing the same game is a bit excessive.
Obviously, ā7HDā will still be a simulcast of 7mate during the Swans vs Giants match. Theyāre probably doing it so viewers can see both matches in HD.
Somehow, Iām willing to predict that thereāll be a Seven/7mate/HD simulcast for the AFL Grand Final in Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast and Perth too.
Absolutely agree. Seven would be mad to not leave 70 as an HD simulcast until the AFL season in 2017. Even madder not to make it a permanent thing after the AFL Grand Final!
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