The Digital Tv Thread

Okay, here is the situation for Digital TV in Australia.

Australia is using a slightly modified version of the DVB-T standard.

Most new programs (international and Australian-content) are in widescreen. This includes most sport (not the olympics).

Interactivity is just starting up (based on DVB MHP specifications).

HD is slowly starting up but isn't highly viewed due to the cost of a proper HD screen (AU$10 000) and HD set top boxes (AU$600-over $1000).

The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corperation) and SBS have one radio service on their channels.

For the Olympics, Seven (and their affilate Prime) is going to be having an extra-channel showing stats and also are going to have an extra-channel to have the opening and closing ceremonies in widescreen.

The HD types used are:

1080i for ABC, Nine, Ten, NBN and Win.

576p for SBS and Seven.

SD is 576i (720x576 pixels transmitted picture (on computers, the widescreen image is stretched to 1024x576 pixels (well higher or lower depending on the resolution used on the computer etc.))).

So what is Digital TV like in your country?

#196116

includes everything but cheaper...

oh yeah... i live in the USA

#196413

Originally posted by -=Sgt. Config=-@Jul 31 2004, 11:51 AM

includes everything but cheaper...

oh yeah... i live in the USA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well SD set top boxes are AU$150 at the cheapest. Widescreen TV's are starting to get below the AU$1000 mark. Shame cheaper plasmas & LCD's (Except for Apples new LCD's) (AU$4999) don't have the correct resolution for proper HD.

Also, one station in Australia (Win Televison, a network affalite of Nine) has the poorest picture quality on promo's because they have never upgraded their 20 year old 1" tape decks to Digital Betacam tapes and Hard Disk program storage. They also have one annoying watermark.

#196465