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Broadcast Resolution Standard for HD

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Audio Snob

(A)

I'm a Hi Def know-nothing. So, I'm in the Best Buy to get some computer accessories and on the way I stop to stare at the Hi Def big screen TVs. A salesman, trying to be helpful I guess, starts telling me about 1080p and how much better it is. I didn't pay much attention because in the near term I'm not in the market for one of the big screens.
But then I see a comercial on my standard home TV with a blonde in cutoffs and a tight t-shirt suggesting that I should be looking at her in 1080i.
Here's my curiosity question: Is the broacast/cable standard for Hi Def fixed at 1080i, or will this blonde soon be trying to suggest that I should be watching her in 1080p? I don't watch DVD's so the benifits of 1080p, if they are restricted to DVD, will most likely be lost on me. On the other hand I do watch broadcast/cable TV.

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to p or not to p - Joe Murphy Jr 21:06:07 11/12/06 (13)
Current television (SD) is about 480 interlaced lines. If you are able to view High Definition broadcasts on a High Definition display, you will either see 720 progressive lines (1280x720) or 1080 interlaced lines (1920x1080). Progressive is usually better for fast moving material (like sports) and interlaced material better shows the detail in subjects like houses and gardens (think HGTV). These examples don't hold true for every HD venue, but tend to be the norm more often than not.
As an aside, channels showing 1080i normally skimp in the horizontal resolution department. Instead of 1920, you normally get something in the neighborhood of 1400 lines (ie; 1920x1080 drops to 1400x1080). And, of course, what you end up seeing depends on the native resolution of the display you are watching. Sending a 1080i signal to a 720p display results in a conversion of the 1080i signal to 720p and vice versa. Some displays do this correctly and some don't (which results in a loss of resolution, picture quality, etc).
Broadcast will not get into 1080p anytime soon. However, you may see cable and satellite in the next 5 years push toward 1080p material. It's easier for these venues than OTA (Over The Air aka free HD) because they can offer STBs (Set Top Boxes) that have advanced chips to decode codecs more efficient than MPEG2. It's basically a bandwidth issue for everyone. A more advanced codec (VC-1 or H264 aka MPEG4 AP) requires less bandwidth for the same material, which puts 1080p in reach of cable and satellite. OTA will be supporting MPEG2 for quite a while, due to all of the built-in MPEG2 HD tuners in today's HD televisions.
Movie channels that send HD signals usually are giving you 1080p. However, they are sent in the 1080i format -- the film signal is converted from 1080p24 to 1080i60 (24 frames per second to 60 fields [half frames] per second). A progressive display can put the interlaced signal back together to show it progressively and the result is a 1080p60 signal.
Back to your blonde question: she will be pushing 1080p, it just won't happen for quite a while. However, that only pertains to broadcast/OTA High Definition. Cable/Satellite will be reaching for 1080p in a few years and 1080p is available from Blu-ray and 2nd Gen HD DVD players right now.
- Re: to p or not to p - rico 07:58:06 11/13/06 (11)
  Can one tell which one he is watching? Does each network have a standard they broadcast all the time or do these 720p and 1080i programs vary within a network? Thanks.
  - consistent - Joe Murphy Jr 19:47:05 11/13/06 (0)
    I believe the stations that broadcast HD material are consistent with the format that they use (ie; they don't offer different resolutions for their HD material).
  - Re: to p or not to p - Jack G 09:38:57 11/13/06 (9)
    I beleive Fox and ABC do 720p, and CBS and NBC does 1080i.
    Jack
    - PBS does 1080i (nt) - Jack G 09:40:10 11/13/06 (8)
      .
      - Wish we had PBS HD here! - chacodude 19:40:34 11/16/06 (7)
        
        In Reply to: PBS does 1080i (nt) posted by Jack G on November 13, 2006 at 09:40:10:
        
        Stuck still with a crappy version of long outdated here in my
        area. HD Net however, is a really nice picture from all of the
        HD stations we have offered broadcasting out up to 1080i via
        Knology.
        Andrew
        
        Do you get any OTA stations? - Jack G 05:24:54 11/17/06 (6)
        
        In Reply to: Wish we had PBS HD here! posted by chacodude on November 16, 2006 at 19:40:34:
        
        I have found the picture from OTA HD is a little better than the same channels via cable.
        Jack
        
        Re: Do you get any OTA stations? - chacodude 13:33:58 11/17/06 (5)
        
        In Reply to: Do you get any OTA stations? posted by Jack G on November 17, 2006 at 05:24:54:
        
        I have not even tried this yet. Will do so just to check for PBS.
        The UNiversity station here for radio has gone to HD FM! With that
        in mind I would expect there may be hope for the PBS OTA here.
        Thanks for the tip, can't believe I had not though about it being
        so conditioned to cable! As you can tell we do not watch a LOT
        of TV, but like the quality when we do.
        Andrew
        
        Re: Do you get any OTA stations? - Jack G 06:05:45 11/18/06 (4)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Do you get any OTA stations? posted by chacodude on November 17, 2006 at 13:33:58:
        
        I don't really watch that much TV either, mostly movies. If you don't already own a decent upscaling DVD player (or one of the high def. flavors) get one. The difference is not subtle.
        Jack
        
        Oppo Digital - chacodude 20:15:01 11/21/06 (3)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Do you get any OTA stations? posted by Jack G on November 18, 2006 at 06:05:45:
        
        I'm using the Oppo OPDV971H with nice results. Open to other ideas for reference?!
        Andrew
        
        Re: Oppo Digital - Jack G 05:46:04 11/22/06 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Oppo Digital posted by chacodude on November 21, 2006 at 20:15:01:
        
        I have the Oppo too. I'm using it as a back-up DVD player, and to play my imports. I'm using a Tosh HD=A1 as my main DVD player. Its noticably better than the Oppo at upscaling DVDs, plus it plays HD DVDs.:-) The Oppo is a great budget player.
        Jack
        
        question on the A1 - chacodude 20:49:39 11/23/06 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Oppo Digital posted by Jack G on November 22, 2006 at 05:46:04:
        
        How do you like the audio output? While the Oppo puts out a decent
        picture the audio section leaves a lot to be desired (I built up my
        own tube amps so I'm kinda picky on that). Ended up robbing a dac from
        my other rig and running coaxial out to it. The A1 has become quite affordable...nice option.
        Andrew
        
        Its considerably better. - Jack G 05:42:51 11/24/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: question on the A1 posted by chacodude on November 23, 2006 at 20:49:39:
        
        Sonically, the Oppo isn't isn't that hot. It tends to be somewhat lean and cool sounding. The A1 is warmer, smoother and fuller sounding.
        Jack
- Thanks for the helpful response. (nt) - Audio Snob 07:50:40 11/13/06 (0)
  nt

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