1080p

[HDTivo4prez]

Does anyone know if DTV has plans to broadcast any upcoming HD channels in 1080p? Do any receivers support it yet?

[JimSpence]

There are no plans for 1080p, because there are no sources for 1080p other than the two HD DVD variants.

[rminsk]

There is not a broadcast standard for 1080p, the standard only defines 1080i for broadcast.

[TyroneShoes]

Since it takes twice the bandwidth to transmit it with the same level of artifacting, it would be unlikely that anyone would ever deliver 1080p as true 1080p. DTV, as is every other vendor, is interested in ways to reduce bandwidth per stream rather than to double it.

But, if you have a 1080p set and 1080i delivery of 1080p source content that is also 24 fps, your TV can reconstitute it into 1080p that is identical to the original 1080p source content, so in a way 1080p is being delivered fairly often, even today. Unfortunately it doesn't work with 1080i/30 content, which is what most 1080i is broadcast as.

[Arcady]

DTV doesn't even send real 1080i. Why would they send 1080p?

Why don't we hope they send actual 720p? (Hint: Cuz they don't even provide that...)

[TyroneShoes]

Is that a fact?

So what is ESPNHD and ESPN2HD sent as?

[JimSpence]

DirecTV does send actual 1080i as TyroneShoes stated, which is the vertical resolution. The problem is that the horizontal resolution is reduced to 1280 or so from the specification of 1920.. And they compress the signal more.

[Bob_Newhart]

So, unless a person wants to watch DVD movies in HD, they won't be missing anything if they have a 1080i vs 1080p? I wait until the movies come out on one of the HD channels and then Tivo it.

[LoopinFool]

There is not a broadcast standard for 1080p, the standard only defines 1080i for broadcast.
Actually, that's not true. Even the current ATSC spec has support for many progressive frame rates. No, it doesn't include 1080p60, but that's only due to bandwidth limitations.

Also, whether or not there's a broadcast standard for it is completely irrelevent. DirecTV controls both the broadcasting and receiving equipment, so they can do whatever they want. There isn't really a broadcast standard for MPEG4-encoded material, but both Dish and DirecTV are using it.

In fact, they would actually save bandwidth if they implemented 1080p24 or 1080p23.976 for movie content. All the movie-only 1080i channels like HBO, SHO, HDNM are broadcasting redundant data in their 2:3 interlaced video conversions. The STB could even re-encode an interlaced signal for displays that don't support 24fps progressive.

- LoopinFool

[rminsk]

Actually, that's not true. Even the current ATSC spec has support for many progressive frame rates. No, it doesn't include 1080p60, but that's only due to bandwidth limitations.Then show me the 1080P broadcast standard. It does not matter if DirecTV can do 1080P or not. None of the program providers generate content for 1080P.

[bsnelson]

Then show me the 1080P broadcast standard. It does not matter if DirecTV can do 1080P or not. None of the program providers generate content for 1080P.http://www.paradiso-design.net/videostandards_en.html#atsc

ATSC has standards for 1080p in four frame rates, up to 30fps.

Brad

[TyroneShoes]

DirecTV does send actual 1080i as TyroneShoes stated, which is the vertical resolution. The problem is that the horizontal resolution is reduced to 1280 or so from the specification of 1920.. And they compress the signal more.
Uhhh...I don't think I said that.

But there are a number of "1080s", including the ATSC spec of 1920x1080 and the non-ATSC spec of 1280x1080 used by DTV, as well as 1440x1080 spec used by imagers or processing in certain capture systems. All legit, all "1080". But yes, there is potentially less H rez in those specs (assuming the lenses and cameras can resolve it...a big "if"), and there is more artifacting on motion than you typically see OTA. That's a whole 'nother can of worms, tho.

[TyroneShoes]

So, unless a person wants to watch DVD movies in HD, they won't be missing anything if they have a 1080i vs 1080p? I wait until the movies come out on one of the HD channels and then Tivo it.
It might take a bit more clarification of that question to really give you the answer, but reading between the lines, assuming DVD formats with HD resolution, yes, if they are 24p you can see them in non-destructively recreated 1080p on a 1080p display, even if your DVD player only has 1080i out and your 1080p set only accepts 1080i inputs. Obviously, non-HD DVD formats will be restricted to 480i/p.