Should broadcasters indicate on screen what broadcasts are in 5.1 Dolby Digital?

AnthonyUK

I think HD broadcasters and non-HD broadcasters should then viewers already prepared can either sit with excitement and all ears pricked up or they can switch their AV equipment to the appropriate audio mode if not quite so fully equipped for it and enjoy.

There should be a DD Digital 2.0 logo on screen for two channel stereo output,

a DD Digital Surround 2.0 logo for Dolby Surround 2.0 shows like American import series and non 5.1 series and older films (many older programmes and non 5.1 programming are often Dolby Surround 2.0 encoded particularly American import series like X-Files/Dirty Dancing the tv series/Friday The 13th tv series on horror channel via satellite/Highlander etc as are many older films that aren't 5.1 ie Dolby Stereo or 70mm six channel stereo or 70mm six channel non-Dolby surround sound films like old films for example Gigi is 70mm six channel stereo for example),

And a DD Digital 5.1 logo onscreen for true 5.1 recorded series, live outside broadcasts and films.

wongataa

Broadcasters shouldn't have any logos on screen in my opinion. They are annoying and unecessary. When changing channel or pressing the info button my TV shows what sound format is being used.

S0litaire

that's what the "info" button on your remote is for these days, getting additional show info like synposys and broadcast details.

I HATE on screen logos also hate the 1/4 screen adds they are starting to use (This practice started in America where after each break they used the bottom 1/4 of the screen to advertise the next show for 30-60 seconds or so!!)

Nilrem

As has been mentioned, there is no need for it onscreen (and a lot of people hate the current onscreen graphics enough as it is), and something you can usually find out by checking the program information, be it via the EPG, the printed listings (usually from memory), or something like digiguide or TVguide.

Not to mention if you've got a surround sound system setup already, and are using it then it'll usually display which sound format is in use.

googler

I hate onscreen graphics.

I also hate the practice of half-screening over end credits, and detest the presence of continuity announcers talking over end credits merely to tell us what's coming up next, when any individual with more than two brain cells to rub together can easily figure this out .....

Cycrow

most AV amps can detect the audio signal and switch accordingly

mine has no trouble switching to dolby digital if thats being used

Nilrem

Cycrow wrote: »

most AV amps can detect the audio signal and switch accordingly

mine has no trouble switching to dolby digital if thats being used

Aye, my ageing (and cheap at the time) Sony surround sound system just needs me to set the correct input, and then switches to whatever speaker setup/mode is required for whatever the signal reaching it is (and sometimes shows up errors in DVD encoding*).
I assumed any/all surround sound systems that took in a digital input of whatever kind would work the same.



*I've seen a few discs where the sound goes from 5.1 to stereo at chapter points, or one episode is in stereo and others in mono - usually resulting in a recall;)

almillar

Nice to know sometimes though when something's being broadcast in 5.1 - still doesn't happen very often. I guess the broadcasters don't want to waste the bandwidth when people are watching on awesome HD thin flatscreens with awful thin tinny speakers.
Anyway, not sure about Freeview but on Sky and Freesat when something's broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1, it has a DD in the info banner, you know, along with HD, S, R and all that stuff.

AnthonyUK

I meant on screen in the channel's ident before the programme begins;not all the way throughout!