BBC iPlayer - HD or SD?

iiyama17 · 24-08-2013, 02:04

Does anyone know what criteria the BBC uses in deciiding whether to make iPlayer programmes available in HD or just SD?

Since most things on BBC One or BBC Two are now broadcast in HD, why are these programmes not necessarily available on iPlayer in that format? For instance tonight's Mrs Brown's Boys was only available in SD? I've seen this many times with other programmes, even days after they were first broadcast. So it can't be an insufficient encoding time issue. I just don't understand the logic.

Seymour Cat · 24-08-2013, 11:25

Is far as I can tell, the first broadcast of a program usually has an HD version on iPlayer. All repeats are only SD on iPlayer so given that Mrs Brown's Boys was a repeat it's only in SD.

iiyama17 · 24-08-2013, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seymour Cat

Is far as I can tell, the first broadcast of a program usually has an HD version on iPlayer. All repeats are only SD on iPlayer so given that Mrs Brown's Boys was a repeat it's only in SD.

I don't think it's that - or at least, not totally so as an edition of this year's Strictly Come Dancing was only in SD. And that wasn't a repeat. Apart from that, if something has been shown before, presumably they would still have the encoded HD iPlayer version archived?

Peter the Great · 24-08-2013, 19:13

I was very disapointed that The Field Of Blood was only available in SD when it appeared on iplayer. In fact it wasn't just in SD it was in well below the SD quality you normally get on iplayer.

kingdave · 26-08-2013, 17:34

I wrote to them one asking why a programme want available in HD and their answer was that they only have 40hrs of availability each week so they prioritise their highest rated shows for HD.

This was before BBC 1 HD was launched mind so it might have changed since.

24-08-2013, 02:04	#1
iiyama17 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Cheshire Posts: 625	BBC iPlayer - HD or SD? Does anyone know what criteria the BBC uses in deciiding whether to make iPlayer programmes available in HD or just SD? Since most things on BBC One or BBC Two are now broadcast in HD, why are these programmes not necessarily available on iPlayer in that format? For instance tonight's Mrs Brown's Boys was only available in SD? I've seen this many times with other programmes, even days after they were first broadcast. So it can't be an insufficient encoding time issue. I just don't understand the logic.

24-08-2013, 11:25	#2
Seymour Cat Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,105	Is far as I can tell, the first broadcast of a program usually has an HD version on iPlayer. All repeats are only SD on iPlayer so given that Mrs Brown's Boys was a repeat it's only in SD.

24-08-2013, 11:42	#3
iiyama17 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Cheshire Posts: 625	Quote: Originally Posted by Seymour Cat Is far as I can tell, the first broadcast of a program usually has an HD version on iPlayer. All repeats are only SD on iPlayer so given that Mrs Brown's Boys was a repeat it's only in SD. I don't think it's that - or at least, not totally so as an edition of this year's Strictly Come Dancing was only in SD. And that wasn't a repeat. Apart from that, if something has been shown before, presumably they would still have the encoded HD iPlayer version archived?

24-08-2013, 19:13	#4
Peter the Great Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,079	I was very disapointed that The Field Of Blood was only available in SD when it appeared on iplayer. In fact it wasn't just in SD it was in well below the SD quality you normally get on iplayer.

26-08-2013, 17:34	#5
kingdave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,314	I wrote to them one asking why a programme want available in HD and their answer was that they only have 40hrs of availability each week so they prioritise their highest rated shows for HD. This was before BBC 1 HD was launched mind so it might have changed since.

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BBC iPlayer - HD or SD?