<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 12:53 AM, Yeechang Lee <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ylee@pobox.com">ylee@pobox.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div class="Ih2E3d">Robert Johnston <<a href="mailto:anaerin@gmail.com">anaerin@gmail.com</a>> says:<br>> 2008/9/9 Yeechang Lee <<a href="mailto:ylee@pobox.com">ylee@pobox.com</a>>:<br>> > Fact: There is insufficient bandwidth within the Freeview system<br>
> > for HD.<br>><br></div>
<div class="Ih2E3d">> Not meaning to pick nits here, but you're wrong on that regard.<br><br></div>I am well aware of the tiny over-the-air HD trial that was run in the<br>London area<br>(<URL:<a href="http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/276184#276184" target="_blank">http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/276184#276184</a>>). From<br>
the article you cite:<br><br> Not surprisingly 98% of the 450 people who took part think that<br> the over-the-air HD service should be available now. Those people<br> can whistle all they want because the bandwidth just isn't<br>
available.</blockquote>
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<div>As someone who relocated from the UK to the US two months ago - I'd add just one point to the UK (ROW) vs. US 'debate'</div>
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<div>The quality of SD DVB-S and DVB-T transmissions is light-years ahead of the SD NTSC signal on cable (I don't know about satellite). And - this is from multiple datapoints at people's houses/hotels/etc.</div>
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<div>European SD DVB transmissions (from properly mastered programmes like BBC dramas) are very similar to DVD quality. The gap between SD and HD is not that great - so the demand hasn't been there.</div>
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<div>SD NTSC transmissions in the US are horrible - so it doesn't surprise me that adoption has been faster here - you needed it! Most Americans presented with European 'quality' TV with screen sizes <42 inches would probably stick with SD.</div>
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<div>It's not to disagree with your comments about availability of programming, but rather explain the different adoption curves.</div></div></div>