OTA Broadcast question

[slydog75]

Ok, so most of the major networks are available in HD the Pittsburgh area. My question is, when you are recieving the Digital signal, are ALL of the shows shown in HD? I know many shows are not being made in HD, so the ones that aren't natively HD, are the upconverted? Or just broadcast digitally in SD?

[HomieG]

Ok, so most of the major networks are available in HD the Pittsburgh area. My question is, when you are recieving the Digital signal, are ALL of the shows shown in HD? I know many shows are not being made in HD, so the ones that aren't natively HD, are the upconverted? Or just broadcast digitally in SD?

Unfortunately there is still little HD content available on broadcast TV. What is there is mostly in prime time. Shows that are not in HD are broadcast in SD (not upconverted to HD) over the DTV (digital) channel, in most all cases. Your HDTV should resize to a 4:3 aspect ratio for an SD program (you'll see the "bars", sometime called pillar box, on the sides of the SD picture). And you'll find that most commercials are not in HD, if you care to watch them at all...

But the amount of content available in HD indeed is increasing.

[slydog75]

That's pretty much what I figured.. so really, what I'm setting up for is to recieve Digital Television OTA not neccesarily HD.

[kdonnel]

That's pretty much what I figured.. so really, what I'm setting up for is to recieve Digital Television OTA not neccesarily HD.

Correct.

There is no requirement for a broadcaster to ever broadcast HD. They are only going to be required to broadcast digitally.

[HomieG]

That's pretty much what I figured.. so really, what I'm setting up for is to recieve Digital Television OTA not neccesarily HD.

Well stated!

One thing we've found, and I've heard this from others...once you start receiving programs in HD, some of your viewing selections will be steered by them being in HD, and you'll start watching fewer SD shows. Like I said, at least we found that to be true.

[TyroneShoes]

Pretty true. All of the SD programs I had backed up on Tivo are languishing. I am too spoiled to even watch a commercial DVD anymore. It used to be that my criteria was no commercials and no editing, but I found myself watching "Forrest Gump" on ABC the other day. If it had been in SD and unedited on a premium channel, no way. My DVD recorder has been collecting dust for well over a year now.

[slydog75]

...I am too spoiled to even watch a commercial DVD anymore.

Hmm.. is the difference between a progressively scanned anamorphic DVD and true HD really THAT much different? I'm really missing out. I can't wait to get my HT finished.. Should be ready to rock in about 3 more weeks!