My concern regarding this year's launch of Sky Q and 4K content on the platform is that Sky will step down the bitrates of the HD movies and sports feeds we get. I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it when we saw the picture quality of SD versions fall when we couldn't get the HD versions on Virgin Media, and I wouldn't put it passed Sky to do similar again.
Not that the HD we get from Sky on VM is anything to write home about - I compared two TiVo recordings I had of the movie Hugo, one recorded from Sky Movies, the other from 4HD, and I couldn't believe the difference, the 4HD one was massively superior whereas the Sky picture lacked sharpness and 'sparkle'.
7 comments:
4HD on freeview looks more sharper brighter better than on tivo anyways.
Some Freeview programmes are in 1080p: TiVo is only 1080i
Virgin should be more concerned with giving us 1080p at least, and then 4K. I can't speak for freeview since our aerial doesn't work and even if it did, we get a poor signal here. But personally I'd take 720p cable over 1080p over the air any day because of the consistency and reliability of the picture.
But yeah, a version of TiVo to go is still top of my list. It really is a joke that we don't have it considering how long it's been available in the US.
just some specs on the new q boxes
Your Sky Q Silver box comes UHD ready
Visual
• 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratio support
• Video resolution supported:
– 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p
– 2160p to be added in future update
Introducing Sky Q black standard box with Fluid ViewingTM
Visual
• 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratio support
• Video resolution supported:
– 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p
Sky would be extremely unwise to degrade the quality of HD channels which they still charge a premium for from their own customers. The only way the very pessimistic prediction of this blog might come true is if Sky decide to offer HD to everyone without additional charge. When Sky Q launches only early adopters, prepared to pay even more than they do currently, will be accessing the service. Sky+HD will still be around for a long time to come...
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