ITV1 on Sky

It is unfortunate that there is going to be 7 channels compressed onto this stream, but to be honest, I doubt many people will notice significant differences in picture quality between the Carlton and Granada channels. We all know what the C4 transponder is like, well it shouldn't be quite as bad as that, thankfully!

Thanks noggin for that useful insight I didn't realise the effective bandwidth was so low!!! No wonder Sky Digital is nowhere near DVD quality -- 18333Mb/s divided by 7=just over 2.5Mb/s bandwidth per channel!!! Compared with DVD's 10Mb/s you can see why it's such a load of garbage I have to say I thought the bandwidth was effectively double that....

I really do wish that Sky would stick to putting 3-4 channels per transponder (less channels, but higher quality).

That is certainly true, I hate the Leeds broadcast centre, they should either revert to each channel having its own pres or bung the whole lot into a single ITV building. Anything would be better than the cr*p we have to endure at the moment.I think the US should redirect one of it's cruise missiles to YTV but that's another thread altogether!!

Yes - the video data rate is significantly lower than DVD. However it is not possible to divide the data rate by the number of video channels and say that that is the bit rate of each channel. Most digital satellite broadcasters (and some digital terrestrial) use a technique called StatMux (Statistical Multiplexing)

This analyses all the video sources on the transponder and shares the data round between the channels , assuming that some will be displaying less demanding content than others. This does improve things significantly over fixed data rate channels - but is not as good as giving every channel 6-8Mbs...

Yeah I was aware of that, but I didn't think it made all that much difference (maybe 10-15% on average?)

Yes I think the US, should do that:D

Tyne Tees were brilliant ten years ago, but ever since they merged with Yorkshire, they've never been the same!

Can someone who knows please explain what the number before the region name means and how more than one channel broadcasts on one frequency - am I missing something?

My knowledge of Sky Digital is in its infancy at the moment, so someone will correct me if I am hideously wrong.

I believe the numbers you are talking about (2:1 etc) will be the names of the broadcasts when they are testing. If you store Carlton/LWT, when you watch it, it will be called 1:1 at the top of the search and scan banner.

As for the frequencies, I think I am right in saying up to seven channels can be squeezed into one transponder (??). You are unlikely to find just one channel using a single transponder. ITV broadcasts have been spread across three transponders. However, the greater number of channels, the worst the quality of picture.

I think I'm right, at least I am until somebody corrects me!

(Edited by DAS at 9:48 pm on Oct. 30, 2001)

Or 11 channels and an interactive feed if you are Channel 4...

Just checked the last two transponders (at 6pm) - NTL William Road Testcards and EPG Banner Data now appearing

I've just tuned into Yorkshire - the EPG listings say 'Calendar'

GREAT!! I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS WHEN IT LAUNCHES!!!!!!!!!

Not all are showing the test card, but I've picked Channel at random:

http://www.tvhome.f2s.com/ikonboard/upload/itv_wr.jpg

Let's hope we see what the EPG is showing from tomorrow!

Cheers, Asa