Not fully satisfied with the quality of DTH HD broadcasts in India...

[bhanja_trinanjan]

Hello,

Have been watching Tata Sky HD on my BRAVIA KLV32V-550A a while...
But can't help but notice the slight block noise and smudging of details, all signs of low bit-rate, unfit of HD broadcasts. I feel that the current HD broadcast of IPL on Set Max could do with a bit-rate boost. So would Discovery HD world. Star Movies HD looks the most promising.
BTW, when are we going 1080P on DTH?

 

[dkaile]

I think you should too join the que... most of us are not satisfied with the hd broadcast here in India... no offence meant...

 

[Imrahn]

Give it time man....its just catching up.

 

[zervinb]

I doubt if we will ever get 1080p. HD broadcasts, even abroad are only upto 1080i.

But yes, I do agree, that the video quality could be boosted a little bit.

 

[hifijay]

Hello,

Have been watching Tata Sky HD on my BRAVIA KLV32V-550A a while...
But can't help but notice the slight block noise and smudging of details, all signs of low bit-rate, unfit of HD broadcasts. I feel that the current HD broadcast of IPL on Set Max could do with a bit-rate boost. So would Discovery HD world. Star Movies HD looks the most promising.
BTW, when are we going 1080P on DTH?

Bhanja,

How can you be sure these are the problems of the DTH service provider and not the broadcasting channel?

Can you also do a comparison and tell us how much a subscriber in India pays for HD broadcasts vis-a-vis anywhere else.

For example, the HD pack in Malaysia costs R40 which is around Rs.500. In India, you pay Rs.50. You get what you pay for. If you can all write to TataSky with a cheque for Rs.500 per month, I am sure TataSky will get a new transponder and give you without any block noise. I strongly suggest you mail them the cheque today and start the initiative. Thanks.

 

[prankey]

Bhanja,

How can you be sure these are the problems of the DTH service provider and not the broadcasting channel?

Can you also do a comparison and tell us how much a subscriber in India pays for HD broadcasts vis-a-vis anywhere else.

For example, the HD pack in Malaysia costs R40 which is around Rs.500. In India, you pay Rs.50. You get what you pay for. If you can all write to TataSky with a cheque for Rs.500 per month, I am sure TataSky will get a new transponder and give you without any block noise. I strongly suggest you mail them the cheque today and start the initiative. Thanks.

Jay,

Lets not compare abroad pricing in India. I am sure in Malaysia, they might be offering more channels at better quality. Also, Discovery HD World and Nat Geo HD looks far superior on Dish HD though they do not have DD5.1 sound on Nat Geo HD. Discovery HD seems have better audio in Stereo on Dish HD then the silly PSEUDO 5.1 on TS on most of the programmings. Infact, other than the Star HD channels, all other HD broadcasts on TS have been of poorer quality than Dish HD including WC. This difference is actually superior to what we see between a comparable HD Ready and Full HD TVs.

While I completely agree with you that TS is providing these channels at the cheapest of cost, I would not mind paying them Rs.200 to get these issues resolved and them RELAYING the channels directly from original transponders, unadulterated, without "Tatasky" logo. I believe some of these channels are downlinked, logo embossed and uplinked with lower bitrate and "Audio Engineered" which should have been avoided at best.

We just need the ORIGINAL BITSTREAMS of these HD channels broadcasted and we may completely stop cribbing about their quality.

Also, Star "Asli" HD channels show several of upscaled content when we are subscribed to their SD channels as well. Also, we are unaware whether a program is ASLI HD or FAKE through EPG and are clueless of what we will get. I have schedule recordings and delete them later after confirming them to be upscaled with 4:3 aspect ratio. This should not happen when they are doing campaign of "Asli" HD.

 

[hifijay]

Jay,

Lets not compare abroad pricing in India. I am sure in Malaysia, they might be offering more channels at better quality. Also, Discovery HD World and Nat Geo HD looks far superior on Dish HD though they do not have DD5.1 sound on Nat Geo HD. Discovery HD seems have better audio in Stereo on Dish HD then the silly PSEUDO 5.1 on TS on most of the programmings. Infact, other than the Star HD channels, all other HD broadcasts on TS have been of poorer quality than Dish HD including WC. This difference is actually superior to what we see between a comparable HD Ready and Full HD TVs.

While I completely agree with you that TS is providing these channels at the cheapest of cost, I would not mind paying them Rs.200 to get these issues resolved and them RELAYING the channels directly from original transponders, unadulterated, without "Tatasky" logo. I believe some of these channels are downlinked, logo embossed and uplinked with lower bitrate and "Audio Engineered" which should have been avoided at best.

We just need the ORIGINAL BITSTREAMS of these HD channels broadcasted and we may completely stop cribbing about their quality.

Also, Star "Asli" HD channels show several of upscaled content when we are subscribed to their SD channels as well. Also, we are unaware whether a program is ASLI HD or FAKE through EPG and are clueless of what we will get. I have schedule recordings and delete them later after confirming them to be upscaled with 4:3 aspect ratio. This should not happen when they are doing campaign of "Asli" HD.

1. Malaysian bouque of channels is more or less same like TataSky plus a sports channel.
In any case, the pricing in India is cheaper even on a proportionate basis under any method of analysis.

2. Now you want "original bitstream". Earlier you were saying the quality is not good. How do you know "original bitstream" is better? How do you know TataSky is the culprit in this? How do you know TataSky is not getting the original bitstream and embedding their logo without any loss of pq.

3. Nowhere in the world, a HD channel provides 100% HD quality content because older contents can exist. Hence, You should talk about what is the current practice and requirement. Your expectation is incorrect.

4. I am sure you have written to Tatasky about your willingness to pay Rs.200 instead of Rs.50. Please confirm.

 

[balabala]

NO,for a change,am very much SATISFIED with my FULLHD transmission from sundirect.
The PQ is awesome with even SD channels,so how can I even heap praises about the HD channels.My tv LGLE 5300 is also excellent and they are made for each other!!,the monthly subscription scharge is only Rs.200.

 

[bhanja_trinanjan]

Well, I am ready to give them Rs. 500 pm, but they would return it saying that they do not have adequate transponders to give me higher quality.

I for one, was quite happy with the ICC World Cup broadcast on Star Cricket HD, it was quite watchable from a distance.

However, even that 'acceptable' World Cup broadcast wasn't entirely pretty when viewed close up.

I am still waiting for the day when DTH HDTV will look good when watched sitting right in front of the TV.

The sad thing is that TATA Sky is taking us for granted and thinking that we are fools who don't understand and appreciate what good quality is.

 

[balabala]

I watch the TV-42 Inches one,sitting right in front of the TV and the viewing is excellent.I think you should give SUN DTH HD a try.There is no perseptible difference in full hd and sd channels pq quality.

 

[hifijay]

I watch the TV-42 Inches one,sitting right in front of the TV and the viewing is excellent.I think you should give SUN DTH HD a try.There is no perseptible difference in full hd and sd channels pq quality.

What!!! No difference in SD and HD qualities.

I think you should change your name to "blablah".

 

[yrk1969]

The sad thing is that TATA Sky is taking us for granted and thinking that we are fools who don't understand and appreciate what good quality is.

Tata Sky seems to be the only one giving so many real HD channels. I am happy with them to begin with. Surely the quality will improve once they have more bandwidth.

 

[balabala]

Hifivijay,it's not blablah,it's true.
Certain SD channels(not all)like kalaignar,CNNIBN,JAYATV,etc have such a good PQ,that they are as good as HD CHANNELS like Movies now,Tamil hd songs etc.You should see to beleive it.

 

[prankey]

1. Malaysian bouque of channels is more or less same like TataSky plus a sports channel.
In any case, the pricing in India is cheaper even on a proportionate basis under any method of analysis.

2. Now you want "original bitstream". Earlier you were saying the quality is not good. How do you know "original bitstream" is better? How do you know TataSky is the culprit in this? How do you know TataSky is not getting the original bitstream and embedding their logo without any loss of pq.

3. Nowhere in the world, a HD channel provides 100% HD quality content because older contents can exist. Hence, You should talk about what is the current practice and requirement. Your expectation is incorrect.

4. I am sure you have written to Tatasky about your willingness to pay Rs.200 instead of Rs.50. Please confirm.

Jay, you seems to have done PhD and are the Guru in DTH platform the way you have questioned me. Still, me being a layman, let me answer your questions to the best of my technical understanding:

1. Thanks for the info. Again, I hope you are aware of the average per capita income of Malaysia

2. I can't understand what you meant by "Now you want "original bitstream"". Hope you are aware that Tatasky or any DTH operator can not do their "magic" to improve the quality. I do have compared with Dish HD at my home and despite being a layman infront of you, can conclude that the PQ and Sound quality is consistently superior on both SD and HD channels with an exception to those HD channels with true 5.1 like all the Star HD and Nat Geo HD channels

3. If you observe, most of the HD channels abroad do not have their SD version like in India. As indicated earlier, SD content should be restricted to SD channels only. Did you see any SD programs on Nat Geo HD or Discovery HD World? What makes you feel that my expectation of "Asli" HD from "Asli" HD channels is incorrect?

4. I first need to decide whether I want to pay for them and keep the connection or return it as the complaints made right through the time I took the connection are unresolved. I did express my desire to pay even higher amount to Rs.200 to Tatasky CEO and COO while they work with me to resolve these quality and settings issues.

Wish I could take help through your wisdom in resolving quality and audio settings related issues I have highlighted in various threads here. Hope you would have time to go through them.

 

[bhanja_trinanjan]

Tata Sky seems to be the only one giving so many real HD channels. I am happy with them to begin with. Surely the quality will improve once they have more bandwidth.

And when the bandwidth doubles, they will add another 50 HD channels ...

 

[prankey]

Mods - Please move this thread to DTH sub-forum.

 

[reignofchaos]

The only one HD channel that has good quality is the one I don't watch - Star Gold. Some of the movies on it are super sharp, have excellent color and black levels. The rest of the channels are just not up there.

 

[Deepchand]

Let us all give HD some time to catch up. Please recall, an year back we hardly had any.

We all also know that the display unit is equally important when it comes to video. I use an LG 42" plasma and use all the sources like TS HD (not +) DVD and Blue-ray and I must say I am "quite content" with the PQ TS HD provides with most of the HD channels, and as far as the audio, my Sony DVD player outputs a decent enough AQ in the Pro Logic settings.

Yes, there is scope for improvement and which can happen or speeded up if we keep sending our feedback to these companies.

Cheers!