Upcoming Native Abc Hd - Australian Produced Hd

[tonygib]

I myself don't like the watermaking, but I can see the reasoning behind them. I don't think they really think it will stop copyright breaches.

Yes, in other words its 'branding', unfortunately the ABC is never quick to admit that, instead they peddle out most of the other reasons given above, including P2P broadcasting, tho never local market resales, etc.

Can't see what point you're making here. Your first sentence implies that I'm wrong in suggesting that another broadcaster may "steal" content, but then, in the second sentence, you say "..all seen that happen before". (?)

I'd guess that networks in some 3rd world countries, eg, wouldn't hesitate to 'steal' whatever they could get away with, and not having to deal with a watermark would make it that much easier for them.

No, I was just trying to point out the fact, that this is always one of the reasons TV stations and others give for the reason of a watermark and how ironic it is that they are basically saying that no TV station can trust anyone else in their industry not to 'steal' each others content and never give credit and then turn around and accuse the average person of copyright breach when you record something (even if its just to keep for yourself and yes I have been told that was another reason for the watermark, to make ppl less likely to keep off-air broadcasts on VHS or whatever).

O' and as it turns out, I'm not talking about networks in 3rd world countries, it happens right here.

The networks can't do much (anything?) about p2p, but I specifically mentioned "...illegal recording for resale ..." and I don't doubt that they'd be quick to prosecute if unauthorised boxed sets of any of their shows, complete with watermark, started popping up for sale on ebay & at weekend markets.

I can't see how a watermark would make any difference, reguardless of the source, the seller would be just as arrested, unless you then think that the ABC or whoever would then turn around and say "O' that show we broadcast was being sold illegally, since we know they got it from us, we better not broadcast it now."

I find that very unlikely and besides, most of the stuff one would have downloaded or sourced from overseas DVD releases long before a local broadcast, apart from original stuff, like this new HD stuff. But then if this does show up at some 'market' by the end of the month, then having a watermark won't matter, since the only place it could have come from is the ABC broadcast.

Still, doesn't matter, watermarks and all that is a never ending circle and since I've largly stopped watching FTA, it really doens't matter. I get to see what I want as soon as possible, for anything good or that I want to keep, I just wait for a DVD release.*

* Apart from the Doctor Who series re-broadcast from a couple of years ago, in that case I just removed the watermark from my recordings.

[Neon Kitten]

I thought the most likely and obvious reason for vandalising TV programs in this way would be in order to 'brand' the program so that any subsequent broadcast by another channel, and any replays of recordings of it, would all advertise the original broadcaster.

Well that's funny, because the original UK broadcast of Planet Earth by the broadcaster that made it - the BBC - was watermark-free, at least on SD.

The ABC produces so little content themselves that "branding" is a pointless exercise.

Also it would discourage unauthorised rebroadcast and illegal recording for resale, and perhaps facilitate prosecution for such copyright breaches.

ABC programs that people might even vaguely want to pirate and resell are almost always available pre-encoded on DVD.

As for "rebroadcast" - what are you smoking?

It wouldn't bother me so much if they could just do it a bit less intrusively. Doesn't help either, that the vast majority of WS productions are still geared for the 4:3 viewing majority, so their pesky icons aren't placed at the margin of the screen (where they'd be invisible in 4:3) but right in the picture!

Well, one ABC program, The West Wing, is made for 16;9 widescreen and MUST be seen in that format - which is why Nine broadcast this and other shows like ER and Third Watch in 16:9 letterbox mode on analogue. Zoom in on those shows and you'll get characters vanishing off the sides of the screen.

All jokes aside the real reason (that I know) is with all the follow on re-broadcast on pay etc, the 'punter' can work out who he really is watching. Yes you and me can work that out, but in travelling back and forth across Aust by road and Motel, it is hard to work out what you are watching at different stops.

Pay TV has channel names available as part of the digital stream as well.

And anyway, they could always just brand the feed that goes to pay if they're THAT worried about it.

[kootaberra]

And anyway, they could always just brand the feed that goes to pay if they're THAT worried about it.

Pay TV re-feeding dosn't work that way. The original broadcaster does not control the output to the pay TV, except that the pay TV feed must be aquired from a transmitted output from the originator. Some govment ruling to avoid sending different 'promos/adds' to the pay TV platform.

[Neon Kitten]

Pay TV re-feeding dosn't work that way. The original broadcaster does not control the output to the pay TV, except that the pay TV feed must be aquired from a transmitted output from the originator.

So basically it's guaranteed to be of lower quality than FTA right off the bat.

My point stands; even pay TV users can easily find out the channel they're watching by picking up their remote.

Anyway, nobody seems too put out by the lack of watermark on Showtime...

[Darthdury]

OK I give up...had a look at the Westwing last night and all I could see was the watermark..The ABC logo I could live with but the rather large "HD" I thought may have been a little over the top and not only did I know I was watching the ABC, but yes, I also knew I was watching the High Definition version as well.

I have been converted to a watermark watcher now!!

[tonygib]

Yes the watermark did standout a bit on The West Wing, I think partly do to the fact that it seemed to be the better end of West Wing HD last night.

But onto the topic at hand, just before The West Wing started, I did catch the promo for these new docu's (may even have it on the recording) and it looked interesting, tho I have a feeling that Santa isn't going to like it, but then whats new about that

[DrP]

The new 'documentaries' certainly look like a pseudo-re-enactment from the promos.

Whatever happened to real documentaries?

[anthonysimilion]

The new 'documentaries' certainly look like a pseudo-re-enactment from the promos.

Whatever happened to real documentaries?

Those promos would probably be for the 'Constructing Australia' series - but 'The Big Blue' would probably be different.

[ckent]

Why is there so much discussion about the watermarks? If the show is good enough I don't even notice it, and if it's not good enough I don't sit there and stare at the watermark, I change the channel.

Meh. Getting rid of it improves any show by 10%. An easy win when all they have to do is press one button.

Besides which, it's a little rude to presume we're not enjoying a show and considering it as a moving piece of art.

It's also a little rude to presume that what one person doesn't find distracting, would also be no distraction to anyone else.

Why not simply make the picture look as realistic as possible? There's no actual drawback. Nobody has come up with any reason.

CK.

[SimonB1503560073]

Those promos would probably be for the 'Constructing Australia' series - but 'The Big Blue' would probably be different.

Just saw a promo for "The Big Blue" tonight. The last few seconds had "Available in HD" in the top right hand corner. Looks very "Planet Earth" like to me. Will be watching

Simon....

[Jet1503559506]

Don't forget "The Bridge" this weekend on ABC - I wonder however how the archival footage will look?

Maybe they used an S&W 'Archangel' on the old newsreel footage.

Cheers,

Jet :ph34r:

[pleiades]

I have been converted to a watermark watcher now!!

I'd certainly be impressed if my local cinema emblazoned its logo on every film it showed.

[sulimo]

The new 'documentaries' certainly look like a pseudo-re-enactment from the promos.

Whatever happened to real documentaries?

Exactly how much footage would they have for a Harbour bridge one though? Beyond the newsreel footage of the opening is there likely to be anything else? I suppose the rest of the hour could be filled with interviews with historians.

[Neon Kitten]

Exactly how much footage would they have for a Harbour bridge one though? Beyond the newsreel footage of the opening is there likely to be anything else?

Footage of the construction of the thing, perhaps?

I suppose the rest of the hour could be filled with interviews with historians.

Or perhaps re-enactments.

[anthonysimilion]

Or perhaps re-enactments.

Bingo!

[DrP]

Exactly how much footage would they have for a Harbour bridge one though? Beyond the newsreel footage of the opening is there likely to be anything else? I suppose the rest of the hour could be filled with interviews with historians.

Refreshingly, it wasn't a half-arsed lame re-enactment along the lines of some of the so-called documentaries of late.

[SimonB1503560073]

Yes, I actually enjoy'd it. It's sad how much Australian history I don't know

[ckent]

Exactly how much footage would they have for a Harbour bridge one though? Beyond the newsreel footage of the opening is there likely to be anything else? I suppose the rest of the hour could be filled with interviews with historians.

Well your question was already answered by others — but I want to point out how lovely and sharp those photos were! They didn't always use moving film; just by zooming/panning on a crisp photo, the HD quality really shot up.

I have to say, ABC HD really proved its worth tonight, and so did the local HD production industry — and I guess so did the potential for "old" footage with HD quality from the archives! Together with the big news about Seven tonight, it's been the day a lot of wishes from the '90s came true.

CK.

[SimonB1503560073]

Totally agree, ckent, I noticed the panning shots of the photographs too. Very nicely done.

[thiskl]

Totally agree, ckent, I noticed the panning shots of the photographs too. Very nicely done.

It's known as the "Ken Burns" effect, after an American documentary film maker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Burns

BTW: I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that Santa hasn't given his opinion of the presentation. :-)

[ckent]

I didn't mention the "Ken Burns" name because I didn't want to sound like I had spent three months working at an Apple Store selling iMovie years ago when it had that feature

CK.

[anthonysimilion]

Tonight:

8:30pm Thursday 22nd March 2007

Constructing Australia: Pipe Dreams, ABC/Film Australia co-production

This is a story of personal tragedy, political rivalries, corruption and trial by media that nearly tore Australia apart at the moment of its birth.

In the late 1800s, two men shared a vision for opening up Western Australia by pumping a river of water through pipes across the desert. Isolated goldfields were ripe with precious metal, but the people were dying of thirst.

The state's first Premier and leading explorer, Sir John Forrest, had a vision to take water to the goldfields. In Charles Yelverton O'Connor, he found the man he needed to turn his dreams into reality.

More information: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200703...2007T193000.htm

[Neon Kitten]

8:30pm Thursday 22nd March 2007

Constructing Australia: Pipe Dreams

Did anyone else see this and wonder what was up with the picture quality? Compared to last week's this one looked generally softer, and kind of "blurry" on pans and fast moving objects.

Also, no ABC HD watermark makes me think someone forgot to hit the correct button...

[anthonysimilion]

Did anyone else see this and wonder what was up with the picture quality? Compared to last week's this one looked generally softer, and kind of "blurry" on pans and fast moving objects.

From what I could tell, it was an upconvert. I assumed it would be HD, since the previous episode was. Sorry about this.

I thought it was an interesting show, though.

Sorry about that.

[Neon Kitten]

The end credits made special mention of Fujinon for supplying "HD Lenses", but unlike last week, there was no credit for HD post production. Interesting.