I re-tuned this morning to pick up the new BBC HD channel. However, they are unable to show some local programmes so when they switch to the regional news, there's just a holding screen and silence for a couple of minutes. This is a bit pants. Does anyone know when this is going to be resolved?

I'm in the BBC South region

You would think that they could at least switch to a SD local feed.

This sucks - I thought it was going to be a true full-time simulcast of what is on BBC One (London), like ITV HD is. I've deleted BBC One on 101 to avoid picking up SD versions - looks like a retune is in order.

Yes it's crazy.

Foxsat Froze.

I set timers to record The Apprentice and Horizon SD last night. I then realised I could have recorded them in HD, so I tried to set a timer to record The Apprentice HD, on the EPG. My Foxsat Froze and I had to unplug it, delete the original timers and start again recording The Apprentice and Horizon HD. The Apprentice played back fine. I haven't watched Horizon yet.

Surely this isn't supposed to happen?

Yes, I would have thought they would have used BBC1 London for the basis of the service and given you their local news, weather and regional programs.

Or perhaps show some old Tom & Jerry cartoons in HD

Automan.

There's only one BBC One HD, whereas there's two ITV1 HD regions on Freesat (and four on Sky).

If you lived in the North, you'd get Granada ITV1 HD.

Another thought, while showing the cartoons they could have a "red button", or other colour button option to take you to your local BBC1.

Or just autoswitch to it.

Automan.

I wonder what they will do when the local news is being shown at 18:30 for 30 minutes.

Does anyone know?

Dan

It wouldn't be too bad if you could re-order the channels in the EPG so that your local BBC channel was next to the HD channel. But I don't that is possible, is it ?

They will show the static caption for 30 minutes, with a countdown timer display. They did this at 13:30 when the regional news was on. Also, the EPG at 18:30 says "This is BBC ONE HD".

Oh dear, they could at least carry on with the BBC News channel during this time.

Thanks.

Dan.

Is it just me or are all the regional BBC news programs tonight showing the BBC HD channel?

No local news I assume due to the NUJ strike, thus all channels showing a doc about the weather in the west country (Inc BBC1HD)

Thanks swills. I wasn`t aware of the strike. Maybe I ought to watch the news more often.:sleep:

Running the wallpaper or whatever during regional news opt outs doesn't seem a very good idea for keeping viewers on your channel. I haven't seen it, but surely they're not doing this during Breakfast are they? It would make it unwatchable.
On Sky News european broadcasts they show text pages of news headlines whilst the adverts are on in the UK. Maybe they could do the same.

The HD Test Card would be much more useful!

Now that is a good idea, and one they could implement easily I would think.

Anyone from the Beeb listening ?

another idea - maybe they could bring back UK Today - looking around the regions?

Hurray we've gained an extra HD channel on Freesat.
... and yet people say boo hoo we don't have our regional headline and news "this is crap"
Have you thought what you are asking for?

To do regional variations the BBC would have to have the bandwidth and money to uplink separate BBC HD channels for every region (just like BBC One SD).

It looks like what we are currently seeing is "phase 1" of BBC One HD, perhaps there will be some visible differences later. I found this out when Googling.
I wondered about how it was being done, for instance Merlin is said to be made in 720P, so didn't qualify for the original BBC HD channel, it was just down-scaled to SD for BBC1. Now that BBC1 HD exists I wondered if we get 720P upscaled to 1080i or down to SD and then up to 1080i

I didn't find my answer, but got some interesting information from Andy Quested's blog. He's one of the BBC's key people on matters HD. Google for bbc one hd quested
Or go straight to it here

There would appear to be two solutions:
a) We all pay higher licence fees
b) You lean forward and select SD BBC1 with your remote

Personally I think (b) as there is little value in watching the news in HD at present. Much of its content struggles to be defined as SD!
At some point the News will be in HD - but it isn't yet, so you might as well switch.

And as Andy says Red Bee are building the BBC one HD playout chain - so BBC one will be played out in HD and down converted for SD ( and then ARCed for Analogue. )

From 11 april 2011 Programme delivery is HD Only (except for thinsg like news which is waiting for W1 Phase2 and some sport... etc. )

It is worth noting that the BBC only got rid of analogue Regional TV studios 3 years ago - roughly 25 yeatrs after SDI was launched and some 9 years after Digital Emission started .. and that was in the days when the BBC had some money!!!

"they".. which they?

The idea of the local STB switching to the Ch101 for a period to "opt" from the single HD channel and switch to your regional SD is a good one, but there's a problem...

It would help if the digital terrestrial system DTT or Satellite D-Sat systems supported frame-accurate switching between video feeds and audio. Since the *system* doesn't support it how do you suppose it should be done by "them"?

That would be the BBC with the pixie-dust or the BBC with a revenue so much bigger than Sky's that it could replace everyone's STB or integrated TV?

The idea of having a button (red or other) pop-up in the minute before the news to prompt you is a jolly good one. Not only do you get the reminder to do it, you have the convenience of a single key press.
Having to type 101 is a bit of a pain, and that much worse when it seems like only 90% of your button presses get through to a Humax Foxsat!

Red button a good ideas - but s ITV found the crashing and banging that teh STB does ( and each one is different!) gives a not very good transitions.

I hope you note the use of U fades when ( now rarely) the Aspect ratio changes - this is because the STB cannot change the output in a consistent and predictable manner - and that is just the output - no need to go off to another Mux and changes resolution/ Scaling ...