If Foxtel Think Their Pq Is Ok Why............

[oldrocker]

If Foxtel think their PQ is okay why do they transmit movies at a higher quality than all the other channels?

Showtime for example has quite an acceptable PQ. IMO it still isn't up the standard of the FTA channels but it is ok.

On the other hand the Fox Sports channels are just awful. All the football codes and cricket are really second rate. This will be emphasised when Ten does AFL in HD.

I want to know why the movies are transmitted at one quality and all the other channels are transmitted at a much inferior quality.

[CCF]

If Foxtel think their PQ is okay why do they transmit movies at a higher quality than all the other channels?

Showtime for example has quite an acceptable PQ. IMO it still isn't up the standard of the FTA channels but it is ok.

On the other hand the Fox Sports channels are just awful. All the football codes and cricket are really second rate. This will be emphasised when Ten does AFL in HD.

I want to know why the movies are transmitted at one quality and all the other channels are transmitted at a much inferior quality.

Could it have to do with the quality of film used?

I can't exactly answer this question but my guess would be that the movies have been purchased as remastered copies from the original, providing a higher quality while older shows like Sinfield, Mash, I Dream of Jeanie... etc will never be that standard because there is no money involved when remastering these classics.

[oldrocker]

If you wouldn't mind I would appreciate it if you would ask the question at work.

My feeling is the movies are a higher quality because they are being broadcast at a higher bit rate. I just wish they would broadcast live sport at the same rate because then I would be a happy camper.

I don't care about repeats. I just want a picture that matches the quality of the FTA channels.

[Hosko]

Could it have to do with the quality of film used?

I can't exactly answer this question but my guess would be that the movies have been purchased as remastered copies from the original, providing a higher quality while older shows like Sinfield, Mash, I Dream of Jeanie... etc will never be that standard because there is no money involved when remastering these classics.

There is no way in hell you work for Foxtel, or if you do its down in the melbourne call centre. Because if you did you would see that internally there is nothing wrong with the Fox Sports feeds. The only problem is after the headend.

[CCF]

There is no way in hell you work for Foxtel, or if you do its down in the melbourne call centre. Because if you did you would see that internally there is nothing wrong with the Fox Sports feeds. The only problem is after the headend.

Mate if you actually read what I said instead of being a hero, you'd see I compared the general entertainment to the movies, sports were never mentioned.

Call centre? Nice try, I'm not even in Melbourne but thanks for playing, you'll receive your fruit basket in the mail.

[AndrewW]

Could it have to do with the quality of film used?

I can't exactly answer this question but my guess would be that the movies have been purchased as remastered copies from the original, providing a higher quality while older shows like Sinfield, Mash, I Dream of Jeanie... etc will never be that standard because there is no money involved when remastering these classics.

Haha, and you work high up in foxtel ?

Have you ever actually watched any of these shows on FTA ?

If you had, you would have noticed that they have picture quality that is just as good as any movie that is broadcast (on the whole, there are exceptions).

What a crock.

Andrew.

edited to say: obviously if you compare the picture quality of a new release hollywood blockbuster filmed on HD cameras against say I dream of Jeanie, there will be a difference in PQ. But it does not explain why the PQ of a particular show is so much worse on foxtel than the same show on FTA.

and yes, I have been a foxtel subscriber, I canceled my subscription a while ago because I just did not consider the service to be value for money.

[Forest Lake]

If Foxtel think their PQ is okay why do they transmit movies at a higher quality than all the other channels?

Showtime for example has quite an acceptable PQ. IMO it still isn't up the standard of the FTA channels but it is ok.

On the other hand the Fox Sports channels are just awful. All the football codes and cricket are really second rate. This will be emphasised when Ten does AFL in HD.

I want to know why the movies are transmitted at one quality and all the other channels are transmitted at a much inferior quality.

I would be very interested to find out as well.I ordered Transpotter 2 on box office and the sound and picture quality were brilliant.Then Sunday just gone they showed it on Showtime and the picture and sound quality were very ordinary.

[MattWinter]

Have you noticed that rugby from New Zealand has far better pq than Australian sport - I think it's how it's shot, not how they broadcast it.

And obviously they can't broadcast all channels with the same quality as showtime, because they don't have the bandwidth.

[cyril]

In a recent trip back to the west island I was appalled at the pic quality of the sports channels on Foxtel. SkyNZ seems to run significantly higher bit rates on their sports channels. Watched the sevens from Westpac stadium (Wellington) the other day, the pics on Sky Sport1 were pretty good. The pics on TV1 (was on FTA as well as Sky but with adds and news breaks on TV1) via the Optus D1 FreeView service were DVD quality, not a lot between them.

Cyril

[Forest Lake]

May SuperSmashBrother this may refresh you memory.You stated

"As you may or may not know, I work for Foxtel. I'm not telling you where, but that should be enough"

Surely as a employee of Foxtel you would at least seem to know something about the picture quality.

or maybe i should call Foxtel and ask them myself.

[Hosko]

Mate if you actually read what I said instead of being a hero, you'd see I compared the general entertainment to the movies, sports were never mentioned.

Actually you commented in response to "If Foxtel think their PQ is okay why do they transmit movies at a higher quality than all the other channels?.....Showtime for example has quite an acceptable PQ"

You said

Could it have to do with the quality of film used?

that just shows a total misunderstanding about how digital tv works. Ok so you don't work in the call centre, so you must be security or a cleaner if in fact you work for Foxtel.

[SDL]

They definately use higher bitrates on Showtime and FBO than on the other channels. It isn't about source of the program. Comparing a 1960's I Dream of Jeanie to a recent movie isn't anything to go by, but compare any recent material and the difference is plain to see.

SuperSmashBrother I am not getting into the whole do you or don't you work for Foxtel, frankly I don't care one way or the other. However, if you do and your intentions were as you said to listen and understand the issues from this forum then that is indeed a good thing. However, if you don't know how digital transmission is improved through higher bitrates, then how are you going to explain the issues mentioned here in the boardroom?

[CCF]

SuperSmashBrother I am not getting into the whole do you or don't you work for Foxtel, frankly I don't care one way or the other. However, if you do and your intentions were as you said to listen and understand the issues from this forum then that is indeed a good thing. However, if you don't know how digital transmission is improved through higher bitrates, then how are you going to explain the issues mentioned here in the boardroom?

I'm pretty disenchanted with this forum, so I'll be aiming not to speak much any more.

I do understand what you guys are talking about, however; my treatment in here has been less then average, so I'm not being that helpful. I'm not here on Foxtel's behalf, but rather my own... a Foxtel employee, whilst not sitting at the top, reasonably positioned enough for people to listen and get heard. Anyway, that's besides the point.

I do understand the digital transmission. I don't work on the technical side of things, I don't own a massive plasma or LCD so you'll stump me on different subjects. I assumed DTV Foxtel was infact about Foxtel Digital, so that's why I'm posting... about Foxtel. Not to outsmart anyone, or prove anyone wrong. For me to learn a few things on the side and as well offer some help to people if I have it in my power.

Now you'll need to excuse me, I'm sure there are plenty of people here looking to pick this post apart with a fine tooth comb, so I won't make it too long for them.

[jokiin]

I don't own a massive plasma or LCD so you'll stump me on different subjects.

I would agree that Foxtel picture quality is below what should be offered for the price, some channels are quite low quality, this is much less apparent on average TV's though, I have the IQ and two regular digital boxes on three TV's, a CRT, a rear projection CRT and a Plasma.

The Plasma is the one that makes it most apparent about the low quality of the broadcast, the extra detail available with the Plasma is good at revealing the flaws, I would guess that most of the complaints about picture quality would be coming from owners of newer TV's, the old CRT's are pretty forgiving when it comes to less than ideal signal sources, the owners of these older TV's being used to analogue are perhaps less likely to think there is much of a problem, I guess as the user base with newer TV's increases that might change though.

I'd like the picture quality to be better however if it came down to a choice between picture quality and programming I would think programming is a bigger priority right now, the amount and frequency of repeats is shocking, Foxtel desperatley needs to spend some money on getting some new programming and keep updating it rather than replaying the same stuff over and over or moving it to a different channel and calling it new, some of us are Platinum subscribers and have all the channels anyway

[oscar_01]

upgraded to IQ the other day. the technician said foxtel are going to HD in about 12 months' time. Said it will be the proper 1080 HD with just a few channels at first. he doesn't think they'll charge customers extra for it (hmm). he said the IQ box will not need to be replaced - simply a matter of a software upgrade as the hardware is all capable of doing HD. will probably need a new cable though - will feed from IQ USB port to the tv HDMI input.

all lot of this doesn't really make sense to me, and it might be old news to you lot, but i do know that it is about bloody time because foxsports PQ is extremely average. if it wasn't for the A-league and Socceroos i would have chucked in by now.

Now that ch10 are doing AFL in HD (not that i watch it), fox really have to upgrade to compete or they will look like the poor cousin broadcaster...

[jokiin]

he said the IQ box will not need to be replaced - simply a matter of a software upgrade as the hardware is all capable of doing HD. will probably need a new cable though - will feed from IQ USB port to the tv HDMI input.

all lot of this doesn't really make sense to me

This won't make sense to anybody, they may be going HD but they won't be doing it via USB, sounds like your installer needs training, the chance of them not charging for it is is slim, at least not at first.

[Nullack1503559755]

The HDMI licence specifically excludes not using HDMI connectors in interconnect. And unlicensed gear is a law suit waiting to happen its all patent pool protected stuff. The comment is rubbish in my view.

Poxtel cant honestly accept their PQ is good. Any half decent broadcast engineer is going to:

1. Within a nanosecond subjectively see on reference grade monitors that are properly calibrated how poor it is

2. Through objective metrics like PSNR clearly show mathematically how poor it is.

Im sure Poxtel are into some damage control from this forum and are trying to discredit / downplay the feedback.

The basic fact is, that while poxtel continues to use outdated compression methods and bandwidth limited broadcast mechanisms to get DVD quality images you need to use DVD quality bitrates because both areas use the same video compression codec, which is mpeg2. DVD bitrates average around 6MBPS, which is heaps more than what poxtel uses.

[SDL]

The installers are not Foxtel employees (or at least all the ones I am aware of aren't), I'm not sure they would know any more than you and I at this stage as to what Foxtel charge to plan, what box they will use, and how it will be cabled for HD.

[jokiin]

Im sure Poxtel are into some damage control from this forum and are trying to discredit / downplay the feedback.

As much as I agree with the basic sentiment here they are hardly likely to be any kind of damage control, what percentage of their million plus user base do you think has been here finding out the 'truth about Foxtel' have a look at the Foxtel threads and how many views each has had, no damage control needed with these kinds of numbers, one employee taking it upon themselves to make an argument does not make damage control, reaction like that portrayed as official comment or response can end in termination from large corporates such as Foxtel, I would think he is taking a risk by replying assuming he is legitimate.

[balki]

As much as I agree with the basic sentiment here they are hardly likely to be any kind of damage control, what percentage of their million plus user base do you think has been here finding out the 'truth about Foxtel' have a look at the Foxtel threads and how many views each has had, no damage control needed with these kinds of numbers, one employee taking it upon themselves to make an argument does not make damage control, reaction like that portrayed as official comment or response can end in termination from large corporates such as Foxtel, I would think he is taking a risk by replying assuming he is legitimate.

But we have a board member on this forum, don't we SuperSmashBrother?

[CCF]

But we have a board member on this forum, don't we SuperSmashBrother?

yah sure jerk off

[AndrewW]

yah sure jerk off

Obviously you work in Customer Relations

[CCF]

Obviously you work in Customer Relations

Nah I work in the complains department

[jokiin]

Nah I work in the complains department

Same thing, just depends which end of the phone you're on

[CCF]

Same thing, just depends which end of the phone you're on

Seriously though, I'm a Retail Sales Manager