HD Movie channels are they a scam?

hidefman30 · 10-08-2005, 07:03 AM

I was just wondering about these supposed HD movie channels, and are they truelly HD? For instance as far as I know something needs to be recorded in HD and then presnted in HD to be true HD when you view it. Like Discovery HD for instance. I have already seen how many of my local channels show SD most of the time, and then occaisionally show an HD show here and there. You can definitley tell the difference. Now when I watch a supposed movie HD channel the movies don't look HD like say Discovery HD or ESPN HD. They look either very average (perhaps like 480p) or sometimes a bit clearer like they may be verging on true HD. So how does that process work, making a movie that was made not filmed in HD, an HD movie? I feel that it cannot be true HD. I think that these movie channels partially fill the HD lineup and make it seem like there are more HD channels but are they really worth adding to your HD lineup? For instance is worth it for me to watch I Robot in HD if I can alreay watch it in perfect 480P on my dvd player via componet. Will watching it on HBO HD via a DVI cable give me an improved picture with HD?

Pakbackr · 10-08-2005, 08:39 AM

Technically, I cannot answer your question, but I have the HBO and Showtime HD channels and I have an opinion. To me, I see a big difference in the movies on SD and the HD ones. Its not as awesome as watching sports in true HD, but there is enough of a difference that I won't even record a movie off the SD channels anymore.

Eddie501 · 10-08-2005, 04:44 PM

I, Robot is on HBO now & I just switched between 480p and 720p and there is a pretty drastic difference. But there is a difference between something that has been recorded on HD video and something that is transferred from a film negative. I would think that since film has always pretty much had HD quality, it would simply be a matter of mastering it in HD. But it would still be true HD.

hidefman30 · 10-08-2005, 05:25 PM

Ok after more viewing, I just can't see the difference in say watching on movie on dvd vs. on a premium HD movie channel. Maybe I need to watch a few more days to be sure. So far though the only time I see HD and go "OOOOOH That's HD!" is when watching HD Sports, Discovery HD, or programming obviously recorded then presented in HD. The movie channels seem like they carry the HD title but the resolution does add up. It seems that these channels just make it look like they have more HD channels, but the realty is that a good Progressive Scan dvd player doing 480P produces near the same result as HBO HD etc.

Eddie501 · 10-08-2005, 06:08 PM

What kind of box do you have & how do you have it connected for HBO? I only ask because if you aren't able to tell a difference, something might be wrong with your setup. These channels wow me every time I flip through them & are far better than a DVD picture.

You ask about a DVI cable, what are you using now?

hidefman30 · 10-08-2005, 07:29 PM

I am using a 942 reciever. I have it setup for 16:9 1080i and OTA
I have the set connected via the supplied HDMI to DVI cable. HBO HD and SHOTIME HD just don't wow me like the straight HD channels.

Eddie501 · 10-08-2005, 08:01 PM

Well, that should work. Isn't the 942 a Dish DVR? I've got DirecTV and the HD premiums are stunning. Wonder if it's a provider problem? I'm assuming you're at least getting HBO in 16x9?

brianwat · 10-08-2005, 08:10 PM

Agree with you that the difference in PQ from a good DVD transfer and HBO or Showtime HD isn't as great as the difference between a sporting event shown in HD and SD. It's more subtle.
The reason could be that since Film is downconverted to HD (1080i) as well as to 480p. The downconversion to 480p retains some of the qualities of film.

dels28 · 10-09-2005, 10:02 AM

Every movie I watch on HBOHD, IROBOT, SPIDEY 2, ROME, all look a hell of a lot better than 480p DVD on my display. And there definitly is a difference between HD and 480i. In using a cablecard, my tv does all of the conversions and displays what the signal is coming in. If your HBOhd does not look better than DVD quality, I would call my cable provider today. Once again, based on what I see, there should be a significant difference when watching HBOhd, and a 480p movie or show.

RSawdey · 10-09-2005, 06:58 PM

What is the make & model of your display, hidefman? What tech & size? What viewing distance?

teranova · 10-10-2005, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidefman30

Ok after more viewing, I just can't see the difference in say watching on movie on dvd vs. on a premium HD movie channel. Maybe I need to watch a few more days to be sure. So far though the only time I see HD and go "OOOOOH That's HD!" is when watching HD Sports, Discovery HD, or programming obviously recorded then presented in HD. The movie channels seem like they carry the HD title but the resolution does add up. It seems that these channels just make it look like they have more HD channels, but the realty is that a good Progressive Scan dvd player doing 480P produces near the same result as HBO HD etc.

Most films shown on the movie channels have been telecined (digitized) from 35mm or Super 35mm film and transferred to HD digital tape. They retain the soft forcus, depth of field, and film-like texture of the original film source.
On the other hand, sports and live events broadcast in Hi-Def have the crisp, razor sharp image that people often refer to as the "wow factor" i.e. the viewer is blown away by the sharpness and vibrant colors of the display.
I personally like movies that were originally shot on film because of the soft forcus and fine detail that film can capture i.e. up to 4k resolution.

BigCN401 · 10-10-2005, 02:12 AM

From my POV, HBOHD and ShowtimeHD only looks good depends when the movie was made/release. If you're watching a 1980's movie it might not look good but a 2000's movie would look better.

Also, there's HD movie channel because you're able to watch it in widescreen instead of full screen. No, letterbox doesn't count because if you "zoom in to fill up the screen" the picture will look awful sometimes.

That's my 2 cents.

TakeFlight · 10-10-2005, 12:02 PM

This is a good comparison of DVD and HD picture quality...

http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/

Movies tend to be "softer" than live sporting events but that doesn't mean movies in HD don't look way better compared to SD or DVD.

teranova · 10-10-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeFlight

This is a good comparison of DVD and HD picture quality...

http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/

Movies tend to be "softer" than live sporting events but that doesn't mean movies in HD don't look way better compared to SD or DVD.

Boy, that is pretty dramatic i.e. the difference in resolution between DVD and HD! The DVD shots are quite blurry and lack fine detail. Thanks for taking the trouble to show the difference!

TakeFlight · 10-10-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teranova

Boy, that is pretty dramatic i.e. the difference in resolution between DVD and HD! The DVD shots are quite blurry and lack fine detail. Thanks for taking the trouble to show the difference!

Well, to be fair, somebody else is responsible for that website.

I'm just passing the info along. I too was impressed by the comparison the first time I saw it.

10-08-2005, 07:03 AM	#1
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 733	HD Movie channels are they a scam? I was just wondering about these supposed HD movie channels, and are they truelly HD? For instance as far as I know something needs to be recorded in HD and then presnted in HD to be true HD when you view it. Like Discovery HD for instance. I have already seen how many of my local channels show SD most of the time, and then occaisionally show an HD show here and there. You can definitley tell the difference. Now when I watch a supposed movie HD channel the movies don't look HD like say Discovery HD or ESPN HD. They look either very average (perhaps like 480p) or sometimes a bit clearer like they may be verging on true HD. So how does that process work, making a movie that was made not filmed in HD, an HD movie? I feel that it cannot be true HD. I think that these movie channels partially fill the HD lineup and make it seem like there are more HD channels but are they really worth adding to your HD lineup? For instance is worth it for me to watch I Robot in HD if I can alreay watch it in perfect 480P on my dvd player via componet. Will watching it on HBO HD via a DVI cable give me an improved picture with HD?

10-09-2005, 10:02 AM	#9
dels28 Hoosier Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 687	Every movie I watch on HBOHD, IROBOT, SPIDEY 2, ROME, all look a hell of a lot better than 480p DVD on my display. And there definitly is a difference between HD and 480i. In using a cablecard, my tv does all of the conversions and displays what the signal is coming in. If your HBOhd does not look better than DVD quality, I would call my cable provider today. Once again, based on what I see, there should be a significant difference when watching HBOhd, and a 480p movie or show. __________________ Sony WEGA KDL-52XBR4 Daddy's Room Onkyo TX-SR705 Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet 100-Watt 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Klipsch 12" 650W Powered Subwoofer Logitech Harmony 880 HR 20-600& HR 21-200, Direct TV PS3 60GB, PS3 80GB HD-A30 HD-A2 Nintiendo Wii Sony WEGA KDF-55WF655 retired to family living room Ready Nas Pro Duo 1.5 TB Media Server

10-08-2005, 08:39 AM	#2
Pakbackr High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 215	Technically, I cannot answer your question, but I have the HBO and Showtime HD channels and I have an opinion. To me, I see a big difference in the movies on SD and the HD ones. Its not as awesome as watching sports in true HD, but there is enough of a difference that I won't even record a movie off the SD channels anymore.

10-08-2005, 04:44 PM	#3
Eddie501 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 131	I, Robot is on HBO now & I just switched between 480p and 720p and there is a pretty drastic difference. But there is a difference between something that has been recorded on HD video and something that is transferred from a film negative. I would think that since film has always pretty much had HD quality, it would simply be a matter of mastering it in HD. But it would still be true HD.

10-08-2005, 05:25 PM	#4
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 733	Ok after more viewing, I just can't see the difference in say watching on movie on dvd vs. on a premium HD movie channel. Maybe I need to watch a few more days to be sure. So far though the only time I see HD and go "OOOOOH That's HD!" is when watching HD Sports, Discovery HD, or programming obviously recorded then presented in HD. The movie channels seem like they carry the HD title but the resolution does add up. It seems that these channels just make it look like they have more HD channels, but the realty is that a good Progressive Scan dvd player doing 480P produces near the same result as HBO HD etc.

10-08-2005, 06:08 PM	#5
Eddie501 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 131	What kind of box do you have & how do you have it connected for HBO? I only ask because if you aren't able to tell a difference, something might be wrong with your setup. These channels wow me every time I flip through them & are far better than a DVD picture. You ask about a DVI cable, what are you using now?

10-08-2005, 07:29 PM	#6
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 733	I am using a 942 reciever. I have it setup for 16:9 1080i and OTA I have the set connected via the supplied HDMI to DVI cable. HBO HD and SHOTIME HD just don't wow me like the straight HD channels.

10-08-2005, 08:01 PM	#7
Eddie501 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 131	Well, that should work. Isn't the 942 a Dish DVR? I've got DirecTV and the HD premiums are stunning. Wonder if it's a provider problem? I'm assuming you're at least getting HBO in 16x9?

10-08-2005, 08:10 PM	#8
brianwat HD lover Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: long island Posts: 152	Agree with you that the difference in PQ from a good DVD transfer and HBO or Showtime HD isn't as great as the difference between a sporting event shown in HD and SD. It's more subtle. The reason could be that since Film is downconverted to HD (1080i) as well as to 480p. The downconversion to 480p retains some of the qualities of film.

10-09-2005, 06:58 PM	#10
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	What is the make & model of your display, hidefman? What tech & size? What viewing distance?

10-10-2005, 02:12 AM	#12
BigCN401 OTA HD FTW! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 126	From my POV, HBOHD and ShowtimeHD only looks good depends when the movie was made/release. If you're watching a 1980's movie it might not look good but a 2000's movie would look better. Also, there's HD movie channel because you're able to watch it in widescreen instead of full screen. No, letterbox doesn't count because if you "zoom in to fill up the screen" the picture will look awful sometimes. That's my 2 cents.

10-10-2005, 12:02 PM	#13
TakeFlight A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11	This is a good comparison of DVD and HD picture quality... http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/ Movies tend to be "softer" than live sporting events but that doesn't mean movies in HD don't look way better compared to SD or DVD.