HDTV

Yes HDTV, the big word at the moment.

As it is just beginning to appear on the scene in the UK, when do we think we'll be seeing it on the likes of regional TV stations, if ever? I mean for films, expensive dramas and such like i can see the advantage of HDTV, but for local TV and even national television news, i really cannot see why it is needed. So how long do you think it'll be before we are seeing it on our local news broadcasts and programs?

I think it'll follow all the other improvements, like colour, Ben.

Yes, it'll be common in (a few) years to come, but it'll start gradually and spread over time.

The faintly amusing fact is that, as one of the first platforms will be Sky/Astra, the islands WON'T be last to get it this time.

The BBC have announced that they aim for all production to be HD by 2010. I don't think this will include regional news production though - as some regions have only just moved to 16:9 standard definition, and won't be due for an HD upgrade for a while after 2010.

HD production for drama and sport is likely to become commonplace quite quickly I would imagine. I would also expect the BBC to be ahead of ITV in this, as there is not currently a huge commercial imperative to go HD for them, but the BBC have different reasons. (For one thing, the BBC co-produce more documentary and drama with other broadcasters)

It'll be interesting to see how the Sky HD launch goes. Canal + in Scandinavia are launching their first HD channel on Sept 1st - so things are hotting up. Pro7 in Germany already simulcast their SD channel in HD, and show HD films this way.

It'll also be interesting to see how quickly BBC One goes HD, and how much of the output is in HD.

It'll also be interesting to see how much it'll now cost the BBC to get their transmission contractors to upgrade the BBC ONE chain in the Broadcast Centre to HD.

Yes - what a great move selling off BBCT and BBCB was... On the other hand presumably the Beeb can sort a contract where the contractors absorb any budget overspends this way... (Though whether they will or not...)

Oooh, aaar; wot bist this zixtin bee nine then, Nogs old friend?

Dun think we've 'eard about dat stuff down 'ere in Bristle.

I think HDTV should only be used for drama, sport, not just any willy nilly programme, look at widescreen it's used for news when it's not necessary.

Some haven't even managed that yet

On the subject of 16:9 upgrades, isn't it about time for BBC South to get new equipment? I believe their last upgrade happened when they moved to Havelock house in 1991!

I somehow get the feeling that they'll upgrade more than just one channel's chain. In fact, if they do the whole lot, then that would surely attract other clients, and make the upgrade more cost-effective..

I thought I'd heard that the EBU hadn't yet decided on a format for HDTV (there are two different varieties of it, with different resolutions and frame rates, but rather similar data rates), which is why you'll not find any TX kit yet.

It all depends who's paying. The BBC will have to pay an increased figure for transmission of BBC ONE in HD, and for any other channels they wish to upgrade. They will not, however, underwrite the cost of upgrading multiple transmission chains for the benefit of other broadcasters. Likewise the new owners of BBCB will not upgrade the BBC channels for nothing.

When BBC ONE goes HD, they will be able to use this as a selling point to other clients, but you can bet that any clients taken on for HD transmission will be paying for the required upgrade work as part of their negotiated contacts.

Ironically, had the distributed architecture/device pooling of Colossus worked as planned it might have been a lot cheaper, but as it is, the BBC channels' facilities are now 'ring-fenced' so no other client would benefit!