HEY! - ESPN picture quality

masona2 · 25-09-2010, 21:34

Hi,

I'm watching Roma Vs Inter on ESPN (just flicked, not particulily interested).

But the quality of the picture is OK/good.

Whats going on?

When I watch Prem football, the quailty's awful.

Blocky pictures and all that.

But this is OK.

Any answers anyone?

masona2 · 26-09-2010, 18:44

Hi Guys,

Just watched Bolton V Man Utd on ESPN. Back to the same crappy picture.

Then watched the two games on Sky sports. Excellent picture quality for a Freeview signal!

Anyone know why theres a difference in quality between different channels over Freeview?

Oh, and reading the Sky forums, ESPN broadcasts are crap on their service too. Including the ESPN HD channel!

Cheers in advance.

johnson293 · 26-09-2010, 19:18

I'm guessing (as haven't seen it) that ESPN over Freeview suffers from the same poor picture quality that Setanta did before it.

I think its just down to the Bandwidth (or whatever) available to that Freeview slot.

When I had BT Vision, I had the Bronze pack with Setanta (at the time) and the pic quality of that was also terrible for football.

As you say, very blocky if the camera panned/moved quickly to track a ball up field.

In contrast, I watched Sky Sports HD1 this afternoon, and that was superb... well, the picture was... the NUFC match was ****!!!

Dacco · 26-09-2010, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnson293

In contrast, I watched Sky Sports HD1 this afternoon, and that was superb... :

And it should be....you're paying a flippin fortune for the privilege.

johnson293 · 26-09-2010, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacco

And it should be....you're paying a flippin fortune for the privilege.

No, it was Free today.

Will be encrypted again tomorrow though (the Sport that is). I dont sub to Sky Sports or the HD pack, so today was a lovely bonus... match result apart, that is.

wwwebber · 27-09-2010, 18:39

Shouldn't the quality of this channel should improve after the digital switchover ?

victorslot · 28-09-2010, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwwebber

Shouldn't the quality of this channel should improve after the digital switchover ?

I don't think switchover will make any difference I believe it is due to the low quality transmission signal that ESPN have to use on their Channel MUX.

Dacco · 28-09-2010, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorslot

I don't think switchover will make any difference I believe it is due to the low quality transmission signal that ESPN have to use on their Channel MUX.

ESPN sits behind TUTV services on MUX A, don't think there is any more room on the MUX to up the Bit Rate. Not going to be resolved any time soon unfortunately(pre switch over anyway), may be they could swap it round with $ky3......don't matter about the picture quality on that channel.

MostynDS · 28-09-2010, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacco

ESPN sits behind TUTV services on MUX A, don't think there is any more room on the MUX to up the Bit Rate. Not going to be resolved any time soon unfortunately(pre switch over anyway), may be they could swap it round with $ky3......don't matter about the picture quality on that channel.

As an ex-BTV victim, I would suggest that ESPN's heart isnt really in terrestrial. I remember awaiting news after Setanta died and got the feeling that TUTV & BTV were squirming to achieve any deal that would appease thier subscribers and preserve contracts. We had onscreen messages, unrequired recorded phone calls, e-mails etc sent at us in order to keep us 'live' while they tried to do a deal.

I wouldn't have thought that ESPN would wish to persevere on Terrestrial much longer, obviously contracts will have been signed, but this has previously discussed elswhere on DS.

The only bandwidth available (at the time) was the ex-Setanta space which was (and is) hosted by TUTV and is therefor squeezed by their other, more pressing requirements.

masona2 · 28-09-2010, 20:19

On the Sky Forums,

Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap.

And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse!

MostynDS · 28-09-2010, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by masona2

On the Sky Forums,

Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap.

And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse!

Yes. It would seem that ESPN's desision to engage in the 'lowest common denominator' (BTV & TUTV) has led to poor quality for all.

I wouldn't have thought they'd tarnish their brand for much longer though...

masona2 · 28-09-2010, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by MostynDS

Yes. It would seem that ESPN's desision to engage in the 'lowest common denominator' (BTV & TUTV) has led to poor quality for all.

I wouldn't have thought they'd tarnish their brand for much longer though...

BTV, TUTV, Sky, TALK TALK and VM :yawn:

MostynDS · 28-09-2010, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by masona2

BTV, TUTV, Sky, TALK TALK and VM :yawn:

A nice little list of unrelated carriers, but of little relivance to our discussion here. Your point is?

johnson293 · 28-09-2010, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by masona2

On the Sky Forums,

Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap.

And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse!

ESPN HD looked fine a couple of weeks ago when the channel was free for a weekend. No pixelation or blurring on my TV.

masona2 · 28-09-2010, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnson293

ESPN HD looked fine a couple of weeks ago when the channel was free for a weekend. No pixelation or blurring on my TV.

Good. About time the picture quality started improving on some platforms.

Hopefully, Sky will be the first of many.

25-09-2010, 21:34	#1
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	HEY! - ESPN picture quality Hi, I'm watching Roma Vs Inter on ESPN (just flicked, not particulily interested). But the quality of the picture is OK/good. Whats going on? When I watch Prem football, the quailty's awful. Blocky pictures and all that. But this is OK. Any answers anyone?

26-09-2010, 18:44	#2
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	Hi Guys, Just watched Bolton V Man Utd on ESPN. Back to the same crappy picture. Then watched the two games on Sky sports. Excellent picture quality for a Freeview signal! Anyone know why theres a difference in quality between different channels over Freeview? Oh, and reading the Sky forums, ESPN broadcasts are crap on their service too. Including the ESPN HD channel! Cheers in advance.

26-09-2010, 19:18	#3
johnson293 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 1,243	I'm guessing (as haven't seen it) that ESPN over Freeview suffers from the same poor picture quality that Setanta did before it. I think its just down to the Bandwidth (or whatever) available to that Freeview slot. When I had BT Vision, I had the Bronze pack with Setanta (at the time) and the pic quality of that was also terrible for football. As you say, very blocky if the camera panned/moved quickly to track a ball up field. In contrast, I watched Sky Sports HD1 this afternoon, and that was superb... well, the picture was... the NUFC match was ****!!!

26-09-2010, 20:07	#4
Dacco Inactive Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 47°9′ S, 126°43′ W Posts: 2,948	Quote: Originally Posted by johnson293 In contrast, I watched Sky Sports HD1 this afternoon, and that was superb... : And it should be....you're paying a flippin fortune for the privilege.

26-09-2010, 21:34	#5
johnson293 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 1,243	Quote: Originally Posted by Dacco And it should be....you're paying a flippin fortune for the privilege. No, it was Free today. Will be encrypted again tomorrow though (the Sport that is). I dont sub to Sky Sports or the HD pack, so today was a lovely bonus... match result apart, that is.

27-09-2010, 18:39	#6
wwwebber Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Nottingham Posts: 3,536	Shouldn't the quality of this channel should improve after the digital switchover ?

28-09-2010, 11:13	#7
victorslot Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 533	Quote: Originally Posted by wwwebber Shouldn't the quality of this channel should improve after the digital switchover ? I don't think switchover will make any difference I believe it is due to the low quality transmission signal that ESPN have to use on their Channel MUX.

28-09-2010, 12:59	#8
Dacco Inactive Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 47°9′ S, 126°43′ W Posts: 2,948	Quote: Originally Posted by victorslot I don't think switchover will make any difference I believe it is due to the low quality transmission signal that ESPN have to use on their Channel MUX. ESPN sits behind TUTV services on MUX A, don't think there is any more room on the MUX to up the Bit Rate. Not going to be resolved any time soon unfortunately(pre switch over anyway), may be they could swap it round with $ky3......don't matter about the picture quality on that channel.

28-09-2010, 18:51	#9
MostynDS Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 773	Quote: Originally Posted by Dacco ESPN sits behind TUTV services on MUX A, don't think there is any more room on the MUX to up the Bit Rate. Not going to be resolved any time soon unfortunately(pre switch over anyway), may be they could swap it round with $ky3......don't matter about the picture quality on that channel. As an ex-BTV victim, I would suggest that ESPN's heart isnt really in terrestrial. I remember awaiting news after Setanta died and got the feeling that TUTV & BTV were squirming to achieve any deal that would appease thier subscribers and preserve contracts. We had onscreen messages, unrequired recorded phone calls, e-mails etc sent at us in order to keep us 'live' while they tried to do a deal. I wouldn't have thought that ESPN would wish to persevere on Terrestrial much longer, obviously contracts will have been signed, but this has previously discussed elswhere on DS. The only bandwidth available (at the time) was the ex-Setanta space which was (and is) hosted by TUTV and is therefor squeezed by their other, more pressing requirements.

28-09-2010, 20:19	#10
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	On the Sky Forums, Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap. And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse!

28-09-2010, 20:30	#11
MostynDS Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 773	Quote: Originally Posted by masona2 On the Sky Forums, Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap. And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse! Yes. It would seem that ESPN's desision to engage in the 'lowest common denominator' (BTV & TUTV) has led to poor quality for all. I wouldn't have thought they'd tarnish their brand for much longer though...

28-09-2010, 20:37	#12
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	Quote: Originally Posted by MostynDS Yes. It would seem that ESPN's desision to engage in the 'lowest common denominator' (BTV & TUTV) has led to poor quality for all. I wouldn't have thought they'd tarnish their brand for much longer though... BTV, TUTV, Sky, TALK TALK and VM :yawn:

28-09-2010, 21:50	#13
MostynDS Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 773	Quote: Originally Posted by masona2 BTV, TUTV, Sky, TALK TALK and VM :yawn: A nice little list of unrelated carriers, but of little relivance to our discussion here. Your point is?

28-09-2010, 23:35	#14
johnson293 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 1,243	Quote: Originally Posted by masona2 On the Sky Forums, Even ESPN HD subscribers complain that the quality's crap. And the SD version is the same as it is on terrestrial transmission, some Sky sub'ers have even debated its worse! ESPN HD looked fine a couple of weeks ago when the channel was free for a weekend. No pixelation or blurring on my TV.

28-09-2010, 23:40	#15
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	Quote: Originally Posted by johnson293 ESPN HD looked fine a couple of weeks ago when the channel was free for a weekend. No pixelation or blurring on my TV. Good. About time the picture quality started improving on some platforms. Hopefully, Sky will be the first of many.

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HEY! - ESPN picture quality