Probably about as accurate as the “exclusive” they claimed to have in December:
This is what was said at the time the new AFL deal was signed last year:
“Network chairman Kerry Stokes said HD would be introduced “certainly” from the start of 2017, with a slight possibility it may start next season.”
Source: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-18/fans-fiveminute-guide-to-broadcast-deal
As I mentioned last week in this thread, it probably has a lot to do with the Olympics coverage.
That decision doesn’t surprise me one little bit
That is disappointing. No HD on Australia’s no 1 channel.
Hopefully before the Olympics. 7 is planning something big.
I can imagine there being a huge uproar from the viewers if they don’t change their main channel to HD by the Rio olympics. Hopefully, this will mean that Channel 7 are forced to switch it if it does get to that stage.
Of course, I think that would be nothing short of an absolute embarrassment (not just nationally, but also internationally) if Seven’s main channel wasn’t switched to HD by the Rio Olympics. You could just imagine the screams of outrage on social media right now if key events at the Olympics were only shown in SD while 7mate runs third tier events of limited interest in HD.
Although in any case, I still maintain the opinion that Seven will eventually have no choice but to broadcast their main channel in HD. Surely Seven wouldn’t be silly enough to just sit back and let viewers get really used to watching Nine and Ten’s sporting telecasts and other premium content in HD for any extended (say…more than about 12 months) period of time?
In conclusion: While I can sort of understand Seven’s reasoning for not rushing into HD, I really think that Seven will eventually have to join SBS and Nine and Ten and possibly the ABC by having their main channel in HD at some point. Of course, I’d certainly be interested to hear the opinions of others on this topic!
7 will upgrade to HD before the Olympics. I can see events like the Australia F1 GP and Bathurst in HD but not the AFL in HD. 7 will eventually switch its main channel to HD
Yes, it’s a bit weird to think that Australia’s sporting capital, Melbourne is going to see precious little AFL or NRL in HD on Free To Air this year (up until Rio at least) but up the Hume, the cafe latte sipping set in Sydney will have the opposite, of being able to watch nearly all of the AFL and NRL in HD.
At least it’s good then that Melbournians are much more prepared to get out and see their teams play live at the game.
I don’t buy that article. This is the same blog that EXCLUSIVELY told us 7HD would launch in March. This whole article has one quote form 7 - “no current plans” - that is standard corporate line to give no info when in fact you have plans. Other than those 3 words and quote - it seems this entire article is not based in fact. Why would 7 give info about competitive multi channel plans to a blog.
Somebody better go to http://www.change.org and start a Petition to get Seven HD up and running on channel 70 again, Only This Time in MPEG-4.
I very much doubt that seven will get 7 HD up and running before the Olympics. History will tell us that seven never really was happy to adopt to newer technology when its first released.
I admitted I half expected seven to reach the decision not to issue 7 HD for the time being.
Of course sporting fans will be very upset at the decision but maybe those in regional areas might not be as upset, maybe disappointed but not as upset as the sporting fans in bigger cities.
Yet they are still the only network to stream all their channels from all their markets online. They were the first network to test and implement MPEG-4 technology. Please tell us how they’re “never happy to adopt new tech?”
Well, given that none of those technologies are actually new. The UK has been using MPEG-4 alongside DVB-T2 technology since 2009, with other European countries adopting this around the same time.
The technology to stream has been around for a while, too, albeit under-utilised and, at least in Australia, never adopted on the same scale, so kudos to Seven there.
Years ago, seven was the last commercial network to make the program’s all widescreen. Can anybody recall that?
And now they will be the last to turn the main channel to HD.
Waiting…waiting…waiting.
Australia’s #1 network is not in MPEG-4 1080i HD just like the other networks. Even the ABC is upgrading to MPEG-4 1080i HD before the Election.
Southern Cross says they have “no current plans” for Ten HD … and they don’t. So if 7 says the same how is that meaning the opposite ?
It’s not all bad. Don’t forget Seven does have main channel in HD via online. That has to count for something
But the sound quality is rubbish.
Is it HD for regional areas online?