Not so fast there, satellites. That’s apparently, and predictably, what Blu-ray is telling Dish Network and DirecTV (and a French cable operator Numericable) about referencing the disc format when it comes to their new 1080p movie services.
Dish Network unveiled its TurboHD service that includes video-on-demand options for 1080p movies back in late July, right after DirecTV announced it would have 1080p movies later this year too.
Consulting firm Strategy Analytics did a report about how the satellite providers were raising the bar, and included Blu-ray’s response, since Dish and DirecTV, predictably too, mentioned the Blu-ray format when talking 1080p HD resolution. In “Full HD: Blu-ray Camp Claims Broadcasters ‘Mislead’ Consumers,” (you’ll have to shell out $899 for the full 5-page report) author David Mercer summarizes (and also blogs):
“The fact that they have referenced Blu-ray in their publicity has put the cat among the proverbial pigeons because the Blu-ray standard was always intended to be untouchable as a video quality industry benchmark. The Blu-ray Disc Association is fighting back with claims that satellite companies cannot technically match the Blu-ray experience and that it will do whatever it can to ensure that consumers are not being misled.”
Mercer added in the blog that the Blu-ray Disc Association gave him a statement, which included responses to the satellites’ publicity as, “These comparisons are irresponsible and are misleading to consumers. Upconversion and satellite broadcast cannot provide a true Blu-ray high definition experience, as neither is technically capable of producing the quality delivered by Blu-ray players and Blu-ray discs. To that end, the Blu-ray Disc Association is exploring these claims further and will take appropriate action, as necessary, to prevent consumers seeking the ultimate in high-definition home entertainment from being misled.”
Them’s fightin’ words indeed. Mercer goes on to say that Blu-ray and its benchmark Full HD 1080p quality should have nothing to fear—it’s not in the same competition ballpark as satellites, cable companies and FiOS. Having seen high-definition discs (Blu-ray and HD DVD) in mere 1080i compared to 1080i cable broadcasts, I’d have to agree with Mercer, and I’m guessing the divide in picture and sound quality between 1080p Blu-ray and 1080p satellite service is probably just as noticeable.
For those of you who do have Dish or DirecTV, please let us know how what you think of their 1080p movie quality.
Via: Engadget HD
RE: Wika
“Fail?”
What is this, the Ain’t it Coll News forums?
“Please learn marketing math and the meaninglessness of percentages in statistics…”
Going by this, why would you then trust ANY story that delt with how good or poor the state of Blu-ray sales was?
I’ll let your comment history answer that for me.
BD sales up 300%.
If a store sold only 1 BD title a week, and now sells 3 a week, that is a 300% increase in sales!
Please learn marketing math and the meaninglessness of percentages in statistics…
FAIL!
This conversation may already be over but based off of the discussion about what qualifies as HD there seems to be confusion. 720p, 1080i and 1080p are all HD resolutions. TrueHD is an audio format that Dolby uses on Blu-ray discs.
Scott, that’s an odd post.
1080i is simply using two interlaced fields to create a 1920 x 1080 frame. I’m not sure where you get that 1280 x 1080 is “1080i”. Also, “TrueHD” is simply marketing speak to sell 1080p native HW. High resolution sets are already being created and shown at shows like CEDIA. 1080p is simply the highest standard in wide use today.
Regardless, the quality from fixed media (Blu-Ray, HD DVD) is vastly higher than any streaming service in place today, even if they are delivering 1920 x 1080 resolution, as the difference in compression must be enormous.
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In a perfect world, every picture would be 1080p and have true 7.1 surround sound. and the equipment would be dirt cheap and anyone could afford it.. However…
This not a/v narinia yet…
While the folks at Blue Ray may have points about Satellite HD not being true 1080p . Theres a more practical way to look at it. SO What???
You can spend all day measuring numbers and quoting reports and standards, but that doesn’t change the fact that at the end of the day. Not matter which you have 720, or anything higher then that is HD, And it looks way better then anything you’ve every seen on broadcast in the LAST 75 years.
I would love to have Hd and Dishes HD package and have most of the my channels in HD. However as the price of a HD tv is still well out of my reach, I continue to have HD dreams...LOL,
The point being,,,: When I finely do get HD I won’t really care if its True Blu-ray 1080p of just Dammed Close, It ‘ll still be a world better then what I have now.
AS for Dishes advertising about the Blu-ray 1080p Who cares?
There are more important thing to worry about like DRM and Net Neutrality.
Kenneth Lawson
LAWSONREPORT.INFO