HD channels issue

TyreLever

I've suspected it ever since HD was introduced that HD channels would simply be normal definition and the standard channels would just be shittified quality. Conclusive proof came today when watching Top Gear on Dave. It was like watching something on youtube. No idea what the HD version was like because I do not have that channel, no doubt you have to pay "extra" for he "standard" version. I'm a fan of Top Gear and no episode was ever that poor when first broadcast.

Clearly this is unacceptable practice, but how do I go about reporting it?

Edit: Stuff is often shot in HD natively anyway, why is there a need to pay extra for what is just basic now? We do not pay extra to watch things in color for example, altho they could make everything in black and white and charge us more for channels which play in color.

stragglebod

In what was is it unacceptable? What guarantee did the retailer who sold your TV give about the picture quality on Dave?

TyreLever

stragglebod wrote: »

In what was is it unacceptable? What guarantee did the retailer who sold your TV give about the picture quality on Dave?

I believe its unacceptable because we are being ripped off. We are being charged for something thats deliberately being lowered in quality. Nothing to do with the actual tech (Sky box, TV set etc).

BorisThomson

TyreLever wrote: »

I've suspected it ever since HD was introduced that HD channels would simply be normal definition and the standard channels would just be shittified quality. Conclusive proof came today when watching Top Gear on Dave. It was like watching something on youtube. No idea what the HD version was like because I do not have that channel, no doubt you have to pay "extra" for he "standard" version. I'm a fan of Top Gear and no episode was ever that poor when first broadcast.

Clearly this is unacceptable practice, but how do I go about reporting it?

Edit: Stuff is often shot in HD natively anyway, why is there a need to pay extra for what is just basic now? We do not pay extra to watch things in color for example, altho they could make everything in black and white and charge us more for channels which play in color.

Your conclusive proof is about as inconclusive as can be.

What do you want to report, Top Gear being shittified? If so, we already know that, it's not news to anyone!

BorisThomson

TyreLever wrote: »

I believe its unacceptable because we are being ripped off. We are being charged for something thats deliberately being lowered in quality. Nothing to do with the actual tech (Sky box, TV set etc).

You don't have to pay extra if you don't want HD.

SnowTiger

TyreLever wrote: »

Clearly this is unacceptable practice, but how do I go about reporting it?

You mentioned Sky in a later post, so I guess you're watching via BSkyB.

If that's the case, it's contractual matter between you and BSkyB.

AndyMc.....

Isn!!!8217;t Dave free?

stragglebod

TyreLever wrote: »

I believe its unacceptable because we are being ripped off. We are being charged for something thats deliberately being lowered in quality. Nothing to do with the actual tech (Sky box, TV set etc).

You've posted this in the Consumer Rights forum. Do you have a consumer rights question?

SnowTiger

AndyMc..... wrote: »

Isn!!!8217;t Dave free?

Ah, Dave is FTV now. In that case, I doubt there's anyone to report the quality of the picture to other that UKTV.

Carrot007

TyreLever wrote: »

I've suspected it ever since HD was introduced that HD channels would simply be normal definition and the standard channels would just be shittified quality.

This came about in the move to digital where SD and HD mean nothing. (beyond some minimum resolution expectation for HD which is certainly not what I would call HD).

It's all about the bandwidth givento the channel.

If we all had "HD" capable box's then the SD channels could make better use of the bandwidth. Though there would be no reason too as they could just downscale the HD channel. Go on try it compare a SD channel to scart out of a HD channel on your old sky box.

Digital does not mean better. This is why digital radio sucks and most channels are mono. (again we need to ditch the old recivers and use modern(er) formats).

maninthestreet

I'm watching Dave (SD) on Freeview now,and it looks fine to me.