DIRECTV commits to Ultra-HDTV

[dfergie]

US satellite pay-TV operator DirecTV has re-emphasised its commitment to 'next generation' Ultra-HDTV transmissions. The broadcaster reportedly says it expects to start Ultra-HDTV in about four years.

Source: http://advanced-television.com/2012/10/01/37560/

 

[jcrandall]

Hopefully it's not like their HDTV launch, ten channels or less for several years.

 

[KE4EST]

I hope the Ultra TV sets are cheaper in 4 years...which I'm sure they will be.

 

[Tampa8]

Dish will also be doing this. Soon.

 

[navychop]

Well, considering the dearth of content today, it's a "best bet" that there will be much in 4 years. But a marketing ploy today can be of value in not too long a time. Plenty of time to plan sats & slots to support the claim. Besides, isn't there a successor to MPEG-4 on the way?

Competitive pressure is good.

 

[JohnL]

Didn't Mr. White commit to migrating every Channel carried on DirecTV to being at least HD by 2016. Really I don't understand why they don't start earlier than that. It wouldn't make any difference to SD only households as all DirecTV has to do is switch SD boxes to HD and just have the HD boxes set to output in 480 or 480p.

John

 

[Jimbo]

Great, of course none of our current TV's will support it, will the Current TV's standard still be supported in the new sets, my guess is yes, but ya never know.

For those of us who have spend HUGE amounts of money on thier current HD TV's, are in NO HURRY to have to go out and purchase NEW sets, even in 4 -6 years.

See Signature.

 

[Jimbo]

Didn't Mr. White commit to migrating every Channel carried on DirecTV to being at least HD by 2016. Really I don't understand why they don't start earlier than that. It wouldn't make any difference to SD only households as all DirecTV has to do is switch SD boxes to HD and just have the HD boxes set to output in 480 or 480p.

John

Do you how long and how much it would cost to remove every SD recvr in service today out and replace it with HD ?

Just think, then we will all need ANOTHER new recvr to deal with the new Next Gen of HD ...

 

[JohnL]

Do you how long and how much it would cost to remove every SD recvr in service today out and replace it with HD ?

Just think, then we will all need ANOTHER new recvr to deal with the new Next Gen of HD ...

Yes, but most of the SD equipment can only use older modulation schemes that are not as efficient in the use of bandwidth (QSPK). Add in that those boxes also can't work with MPEG-4, switching out all SD equipment will give DirecTV vastly more usable bandwidth. Besides all OTA signals are now all digital and have been for a almost 2 years. Most homes have at least one HD set, and the percentage of all HD homes is going up month by month. The cost of HD sets is it lowest point ever.

There is nothing to stop DirecTV from coming out with a very low cost for them HD box for sd customers that could be provided for free. This might be worth it for DirecTV as this would allow them to switch every channel to MPEG4 and (8PSK Modulation) as well as being able to stop providing both SD and HD versions for almost every channel. The Bandwidth efficiency increase could be more than worth it for DirecTV cost wise.

The way I look at the early adopters for Ultra HD (4dtv), I see any bleeding edge subscribers likely being able and or willing to fund their own upgrade. This has almost always been the case as bleeding edge customers are willing to pay a heavy premium to get new technology as soon as possible. Over time as more new 4d TV's are purchased the costs come down to entice more into the market, as the 4dtv market gets bigger costs go down so providers are more willing to help fund the upgrade for subscribers.

John

 

[qcjoe]

Great, of course none of our current TV's will support it, will the Current TV's standard still be supported in the new sets, my guess is yes, but ya never know.

For those of us who have spend HUGE amounts of money on thier current HD TV's, are in NO HURRY to have to go out and purchase NEW sets, even in 4 -6 years.

See Signature.

I just replaced my old tv for a 55 inch LG. If I have to replace it soon my old lady will kill me lol.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I just buy a display every 1 or 2 years. After the habit becomes norm, the wife just doesnt even pay attention any more

HT is really one of my big hobbies, other than beer and live music . So, some people fish, some hunt, some like new shiny AV gadgets.

 

[Blackloz]

Same here. I just bought the latest one in June and I'm already looking for a slightly bigger one now and will move the other upstairs & that one to another room.

 

[harshness]

Really I don't understand why they don't start earlier than that.

One all-important word: bandwidth. There are dozens of channels that DIRECTV doesn't carry in HD but does carry in SD and they simply don't have the bandwidth to add them as full resolution, much less HD.

 

[JerseyMatt]

Do you how long and how much it would cost to remove every SD recvr in service today out and replace it with HD ?

Just think, then we will all need ANOTHER new recvr to deal with the new Next Gen of HD ...

It would cost a lot less and take a lot less time if they would just set fire to all the SD equipment they have in the warehouse and stop installing it. Then offer existing SD only customers a free equipment upgrade with new contract. This should be done with a sunset deadline.. Once this is done, the MPEG2 streams can be shut off, instantly creating more bandwidth. They can fit three MPEG4 streams into the bandwidth that two MPEG2 streams occupy.

 

[JohnL]

It would cost a lot less and take a lot less time if they would just set fire to all the SD equipment they have in the warehouse and stop installing it. Then offer existing SD only customers a free equipment upgrade with new contract. This should be done with a sunset deadline.. Once this is done, the MPEG2 streams can be shut off, instantly creating more bandwidth. They can fit three MPEG4 streams into the bandwidth that two MPEG2 streams occupy.

JerseyMatt,

Bingo that is exactly what I was trying to get at. Just get rid of all SD hardware and every single MPEG2 data streams. DirecTV would have plenty of bandwidth to carry every single channel on their service in HD with plenty of bandwidth to spare to offer new services, More 3D programing (yawn) and or 4DTV (Ultra HD).

One of the biggest benefits would be stellar SD picture quality for SD customers and for HD subscribers on SD only channels. Lets face it most of the SD only channels on DirecTV look horrific on my large screen HD TV, grainy, washed out colors, blurry etc. I've seen high quality 480i or 480p on my TV and it looks great compared to DirecTV's SD PQ.

John

 

[ZandarKoad]

People are so utterly clueless out there. Ultra HD? Really? How about you go out and buy a $20 calibration disc and learn what true image fidelity means. What an utter waste... It's so incredibly common to find a cable or satellite customer who has all HD equipment, is paying for the service, and is using composite or coaxial cables from the receiver to the TV. The world doesn't need ultra HD, it needs a lesson in picture quality. Even the "high end" customers don't know jack crap about obtaining a good picture, or even how to define one, and for the most part they don't care.

I do love the idea of doing a massive swap/upgrade to finally kill all mpeg2 broadcasting. I don't know why they haven't done it yet, but there are plenty of bean counters working on that...

 

[Jimbo]

Yes, but most of the SD equipment can only use older modulation schemes that are not as efficient in the use of bandwidth (QSPK). Add in that those boxes also can't work with MPEG-4, switching out all SD equipment will give DirecTV vastly more usable bandwidth. Besides all OTA signals are now all digital and have been for a almost 2 years. Most homes have at least one HD set, and the percentage of all HD homes is going up month by month. The cost of HD sets is it lowest point ever.

There is nothing to stop DirecTV from coming out with a very low cost for them HD box for sd customers that could be provided for free. This might be worth it for DirecTV as this would allow them to switch every channel to MPEG4 and (8PSK Modulation) as well as being able to stop providing both SD and HD versions for almost every channel. The Bandwidth efficiency increase could be more than worth it for DirecTV cost wise.

The way I look at the early adopters for Ultra HD (4dtv), I see any bleeding edge subscribers likely being able and or willing to fund their own upgrade. This has almost always been the case as bleeding edge customers are willing to pay a heavy premium to get new technology as soon as possible. Over time as more new 4d TV's are purchased the costs come down to entice more into the market, as the 4dtv market gets bigger costs go down so providers are more willing to help fund the upgrade for subscribers.

John

While I agree with what your saying here, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[Jimbo]

I just buy a display every 1 or 2 years. After the habit becomes norm, the wife just doesnt even pay attention any more

HT is really one of my big hobbies, other than beer and live music . So, some people fish, some hunt, some like new shiny AV gadgets.

Same here. I just bought the latest one in June and I'm already looking for a slightly bigger one now and will move the other upstairs & that one to another room.

See, I can't get in that run anymore .... the cost of my sets are MUCH more than they are now.

 

[Jimbo]

It would cost a lot less and take a lot less time if they would just set fire to all the SD equipment they have in the warehouse and stop installing it. Then offer existing SD only customers a free equipment upgrade with new contract. This should be done with a sunset deadline.. Once this is done, the MPEG2 streams can be shut off, instantly creating more bandwidth. They can fit three MPEG4 streams into the bandwidth that two MPEG2 streams occupy.

JerseyMatt,

Bingo that is exactly what I was trying to get at. Just get rid of all SD hardware and every single MPEG2 data streams. DirecTV would have plenty of bandwidth to carry every single channel on their service in HD with plenty of bandwidth to spare to offer new services, More 3D programing (yawn) and or 4DTV (Ultra HD).

One of the biggest benefits would be stellar SD picture quality for SD customers and for HD subscribers on SD only channels. Lets face it most of the SD only channels on DirecTV look horrific on my large screen HD TV, grainy, washed out colors, blurry etc. I've seen high quality 480i or 480p on my TV and it looks great compared to DirecTV's SD PQ.

John

I like Jerseys idea, quit installing SD stuff. period...

you'd have thought that would have been already being done.

John,
Thats NOT what you said, Jerseys talking about not installing it anymore, thats a start.
Your talking about going to each home and removing equipment and replacing it .... which should be done, but I doubt well see that any time soon.

 

[Jimbo]

People are so utterly clueless out there. Ultra HD? Really? How about you go out and buy a $20 calibration disc and learn what true image fidelity means. What an utter waste... It's so incredibly common to find a cable or satellite customer who has all HD equipment, is paying for the service, and is using composite or coaxial cables from the receiver to the TV. The world doesn't need ultra HD, it needs a lesson in picture quality. Even the "high end" customers don't know jack crap about obtaining a good picture, or even how to define one, and for the most part they don't care.

I do love the idea of doing a massive swap/upgrade to finally kill all mpeg2 broadcasting. I don't know why they haven't done it yet, but there are plenty of bean counters working on that...

Where you I put the $ 20 disc you referred to, you can't put a disc in my HDTV ... What happens if I use a cheap DVR/Blu Ray unit, does that effect the picture quality that your trying to improve ?

What happens when I put this disc in my High End player and I don't come up with a MUCH better looking picture when it's done ?

Just saying ... I've never had the chance to use a disc to calibrate, but the TV looks damn good already.

(see Signature)