Disappointing PQ on SHO-HD

[podder320]

I have SHO-HD and I have watched a few episodes of The Tudors. I am disappointed in the bit rate allocated to this channel, and what the MPEG copmression algorithm is doing with those bits.

In many scenes, I've seen a "heartbeat" of gradual PQ degradation (the background gets washed out) and then a "blip" when it all gets cleaned up. This cycle repeats over 1-2 seconds. I know MPEG is like that, with a high-quality I frame and then a bunch of P and B frames where the PQ degrades until the next I frame. But does it have to be so noticeable?
I don't have the tools to tell what the data rate actually is, or whether other HD channels are different, or whether it's the SHO-HD feed or E* bit-budgeting that's the culprit. But it really takes me out of the movie to see the artifacts like this.

One thing I've learned: don't mention this to others. If they don't see it, they'll be happier staying that way. They won't thank you for pointing it out.

[whatchel1]

I'm not sure that the problem is SHO-HD I think it is Tudors it self. I have seen other things on Sho that look great but Tudors is less clean. I don't know but wonder if some of it was the way it was shot to that is causing the MPEG problems. It seems to be shot very dark w/ little shadow detail.

[Mike D-CO5]

It is the channel itself. I have been in contact with Dishquality folks for quite some time. Showtime itself needs to correct this and they are supposed to do so by this summer. I just received an email from them confirming this. I first contacted them about the problems over a year and a half ago. Here is an excerpt from the email they sent me on the 24 th :


"To update you: Showtime has decided to try the more permanent fix this summer instead of this spring as we origionally informed you. WE tried a few fixes that obviously did not work. "


dishquality@echostar.com

[moooog]

I complained a month or two ago about SHO-HD broadcasting HD movies in 4x3 format. I was told that the movies were originally broadcast in 4x3, but I know that is not the case. Since then they have also broadcast "The Usual Suspects" and "In the Line Of Fire" in 4x3 at what looks to be enhanced resolution, but not HD, and these movies were definitely widescreen theatrical releases. Is no one else noticing this? Is it due to pressure from certain studios? Is it due to space considerations? I'd definitely rather see 720x480 widescreen vs 4x3 on these broadcasts regardless,

[motts]

I complained a month or two ago about SHO-HD broadcasting HD movies in 4x3 format. I was told that the movies were originally broadcast in 4x3, but I know that is not the case. Since then they have also broadcast "The Usual Suspects" and "In the Line Of Fire" in 4x3 at what looks to be enhanced resolution, but not HD, and these movies were definitely widescreen theatrical releases. Is no one else noticing this? Is it due to pressure from certain studios? Is it due to space considerations? I'd definitely rather see 720x480 widescreen vs 4x3 on these broadcasts regardless,

I noticed that too. And that originally boradcasted in 4:3 is BS. I saw In the Line of Fire in widescreen on HDNET Movies a few months back. I find that very annoying, since we know that what they are broadcasting is not the best they can do. I have noticed Showtime do this sporadically, and I see no reason for it to occur.