Mass Media & Technology

ITV Hub: Trapped in an infinite loop of ads !

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MA
Markymark
Stuart posted:
If you watch ITV Hub through Sky there are no ads. I think you get any programme sponsorship at the start, but you can fast-forward through that.


Have had Sky Q since the weekend. Just a 30 second ad at the front (no big deal) and then the whole programme uninterrupted (apart from the break bumpers back-back), and in HD(ish) quality. It's going to be my default method of watching all non live ITV programming from now on !
NG
noggin Founding member
Markymark posted:
Stuart posted:
If you watch ITV Hub through Sky there are no ads. I think you get any programme sponsorship at the start, but you can fast-forward through that.


Have had Sky Q since the weekend. Just a 30 second ad at the front (no big deal) and then the whole programme uninterrupted (apart from the break bumpers back-back), and in HD(ish) quality. It's going to be my default method of watching all non live ITV programming from now on !


Yes - Sky's version of ITV Hub via their progressive download system also lets you spool through the ads (unlike the streaming version)

Sky's download system is based on 8Mbs h.264 1080i25 for HD shows (and will carry AC3 5.1 for Sky shows - though other broadcasters may only deliver 5.1 shows with 2.0 audio to Sky for Sky to distribute via their CDN). The Sky SD format is also h.264 and often outperforms linear DVB-S/T IMO...

Another bonus is that Sky Q UHD subscribers will often be able to watch Sky shows linearly broadcast in HD, in UHD if they download them. (A large chunk of US shows on Sky channels are available in UHD via this route). Now Sky also provide some in HLG HDR - it's a great platform.

109 days later

MI
Michael
I was watching the 6N game on Virgin TV Go through my media PC and it looked soft, mushy and blotchy.

So I switched to ITV Hub on the Roku and it's only marginally better.

Are ITV just providing a crappy stream for us internet-TV folk?
NG
noggin Founding member
Watching on my PC via the ITV Hub website - looking at the ITV channel live stream - it's 25 not 50fps and pretty poor quality. Probably 720p25 at quite a low bitrate?
LL
London Lite Founding member
noggin posted:
Watching on my PC via the ITV Hub website - looking at the ITV channel live stream - it's 25 not 50fps and pretty poor quality. Probably 720p25 at quite a low bitrate?


ITV Hub live streams are 544x576/25fps or 720x576/25fps depending on speed. However the bitrate is under 2MB.
MI
Michael
Speed is fine.

Comes to something that 720 HD looks bad nowadays.
NG
noggin Founding member
Michael posted:
Speed is fine.

Comes to something that 720 HD looks bad nowadays.


Even 4K at 25p will look juddery - you really need 50p (i.e. 50fps) for decent sport. And a decent bitrate to cope with the motion...

I think iPlayer 720p50 is >5Mbs. However ITV are likely to be paying 'per bit' so it's in their interest to keep the bit rate as low as possible to maximise their profit.
MI
Michael
At least Wales have only one game on ITV this year.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Michael posted:
Speed is fine.

Comes to something that 720 HD looks bad nowadays.


720x576 is SD. 720p HD is 1280x720.

8 days later

CL
Clouseau
Explanation please as to why my state of the art tv, via the latest BT Hub frequently buffers programmes on ITV Hub then suggests to either resume or start again? There is no problem with Netflix, iplayer and even STV Hub.
TE
Technologist
It all depends on which and where the CDN is to serve you.....
One can be assured that Netflix has got this down to a fine art..
And the bbc augments the commercial CDNs (Limelight Akamai etc)
With its own called Bidi.

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