Surprised about Virgin Media's HDTV offerings! Or lack of.

[pauldarkside]

As pointed out, Simpsons etc isn't HD... quite a lot of stuff on Skyone HD isn't ( needs a HD symbol on the information - else it's just been upscaled ) Simpsons looks worse when upscaled, IMO.

I suspect that's due to the content not being available in HD yet - that and the fact that Sky One HD's schedule mirrors Sky One (SD) so they can hardly put something else on.

[Gr44]

Yes you can - I do that quite a bit You can't record two channels and watch a third though but you can record two and either watch one of them whilst recording or watch something already on the drive.

You *can* but whenever I do it messes up the 5.1... probably okay if you don't use an external decoder. Isn't enough bandwidth, probably on the HDD to record two...!

When I say 'messes up' it just constantly starts and stops, I phoned Sky about it and they said there was no fix currently and that it is a common issue ( check AVforums )

[acrobat]

Where's an anti-trust lawyer when you need one

Exactly!

Just a quick note: The Simpsons/Futurama on Sky One HD is not HD.

The last I read regarding Virgin Media was that they were to offload (sell off) their TV operation - read more here. Quite where that places the future of Virgin Media's HD offerings I don't know.

I'll be sticking with Sky for the foreseeable future as there's a definate lack of alternatives where I live.

Wow thats crap about Sky 1 HD Not that I watch the Simpsons anymore anyway... but I'm sure there are at least a few good shows on that channel. Hopefully some of the good ones are in HD. Shame though cause Sky1 always struck me as being the closest thing we have to American TV, so it's just a shame it's not full on HD yet.

Speaking of HD channels, BBC HD has the masters live on Thursday-sunday, BBCHD isn't completely useless after all!

Ooooh really? Masters as is golf? My dad watches almost purely golf and footy so that wouldn't be so bad!

Wobbly bits in HD will be class

lol

You probably get that in the masters actually, unfortunately its man boobs and bellys only.

Looking at mine now:

See I would pay for that. It's not great, and it's still far behind the yanks, but that is better than nothing for sure. Half of it I wouldn't watch, but the other half is nice, and that's like 10 channels or so. I spose we will have to just stick with sky and upgrade to Sky HD.

[TiG]

Looking at mine now:

Channel 4HD
BBC HD
Sky One HD
Sky Arts HD
Luxe TV HD
Sky Premiere HD
Sky Screen 1HD
Sky Screen 2HD
Sky Sports HD1
Sky Sports HD2
Sky Sports HD3
Rush HD
Discovery HD
Nat Geo HD
History HD
SBO HD1
SBO HD2

And virtually all of those aren't broadcast 24/7.

TiG

[Salazaar]

even freeviews having a HD flavour next year iirc

Not next year. It isn't scheduled until after the digital switchover has been completed in 2012 and even then they still haven't finished arguing about how much bandwidth they're giving to what. HD may not get that big a look in!

Ofcom: no comeback for TV on analogue spectrum | The Register

[TAKTAK]

Not next year. It isn't scheduled until after the digital switchover has been completed in 2012 and even then they still haven't finished arguing about how much bandwidth they're giving to what. HD may not get that big a look in!

i originally though that but.

here

here

here <<mentions more HD channels for 2012

here

and good 'ol hexus here

obv, not available to everyone from 2009, but a few.

[Funkstar]

Not next year. It isn't scheduled until after the digital switchover has been completed in 2012 and even then they still haven't finished arguing about how much bandwidth they're giving to what. HD may not get that big a look in!

Ofcom: no comeback for TV on analogue spectrum | The Register

HEXUS.lifestyle - Headline :: Ofcom: High definition channels coming to Freeview from 2009 : Page - 1/1

Nope, TakTak was right

Damn, too slow. Nice come back there

[Funkstar]

There is alwasy FTA satellite along with the Freesat branding that is due to kick off in a couple of manths. Satellite kits will be available in John Lewis, Curries, Comet and Argos.

Finally some real competition to Sky, and no excuses about availablility, this uses the same physical satellites as Sky

freesat - the new free HD digital satellite TV service from the BBC & ITV

[Salazaar]

Nope, TakTak was right

Actually we both were, it says in all those reports that viewers will only get it once analogue broadcast cease in their area - which will only be complete in 2012. So it'll start in 2009 but won't be available to everyone until 2012.

[TAKTAK]

Actually we both were, it says in all those reports that viewers will only get it once analogue broadcast cease in their area - which will only be complete in 2012. So it'll start in 2009 but won't be available to everyone until 2012.

hence the end of my post.......

[Jay]

I want to drop VirginMedia as there HDTV is really poor, the HDbox is pretty crap, the menus are so slow it makes me cry...