August 03, 2009

Listings for new HD channels

A source for listings for the new HD channels I've found appears to be uk-tv-guide.com, but you have to click on the programmes to confirm if they're actually in HD or not and it does show some programmes as being in HD when they're not (eg The Wire on FX HD) so I'm not hugely impressed. Here are the pages for today:

Channel 4 HD
FX HD
MTVN HD
National Georgraphic HD

No ESPN HD yet but that's not broadcasting until 8pm tonight.

Does anyone know of a more accurate set of listings?

14 comments:

Layers said...

Would be great if my XL subscription acutally let me watch the HD channels. have you heard of any other XL subscribers currently unable to view the new channels. They are perma-grey for me - v frustrating!

Unknown said...

Are the new HD channels supposed to have such a difference in the audio level when you change between the channels? Because I can't work out why one is quieter than the other. Any suggestions?
Regards, Julian

Unknown said...

Your channels should work automatically if you have XL, because I'm watching ESPN right now MAN UTD and TOTT'HAM. It is a repeat but it looks good. When the new season starts i'm goinng to be glued to the tv like the super glue.

BikeNutt said...

MAN U v Spurs looks upscaled SD to me.

BikeNutt said...

@ Layers

You need to report this to VM as it's unlikely to resolve itself - Try the newsgroup (news.virginmedia.com) if you can't bring yourself to talk to CS.

Unknown said...

Man U vs Spuds does look like upscaled SD to me, but I just flicked from the SD chan to HD and there is a BIG difference.

Now we're up to 6 HD channels! and we can still expect more such as History and Living.

Richardr said...

Man Utd v Spurs was a Setanta game I believe, so not originally in HD in the UK. I doubt though whether anything will be HD until the live English and Scottish games start, even if they are former Sky live games.

Tim Keay said...

Yeah, I watched the Man City vs Liverpool repeat, and it definitely looked upscaled SD to me. Close-up shots of players faces looked good, but distant shots (general running around pitch) looked nowhere near as crisp as my mate's Sky HD set-up.

I was watching it before work this morning, having recorded it last night - does that compress it at all? i.e. does a recorded HD program suffer an element of quality loss compared to the live broadcast?

Layers said...

thanks Bikenut, CS have informed me that they have 'performed the checks & have sent a set of signals to strengthen your TV reception.' which sounds like a load of BS, but if it doesnt work i'll try the newsgroup.

Unknown said...

The baseball they are showing on ESPNHD is definitely upscaled SD. You can tell because the screen logo says ESPN not ESPNHD. This is a bit annoying as the original game would have been recorded in HD. So they have probably downscaled then upscaled again! I don't know what the issue is with showing proper HD. It may be a rights issue as MLB.COM stream HD content to this country. Whatever though it is still a *huge* improvement over the 4x3 blur-o-vision offering that was/is on NASN/ESPN America. :-)

Tim Keay said...

"blur-o-vision"

You want to be careful - I'm sure that's a registered trademark of the ITV football coverage...

:o)

Unknown said...

I previously heard tht ESPN America would shut down and that the new ESPN channel would replace it. however on the VM website, it ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Classic and ESPN America as being part of the XL TV package. Does this mean that the ESPN America channel isn't shutting down?

OLU said...

Funny tho BBC HD look's more HD then FX HD and all other new channels Vigin media bring out

Anonymous said...

Try Digiguide, online or download application.

I've used it for years but with V+ it's even more important to me!

www.DigiGuide.com

It automatically advises me of new channels which are available.