[opendtv] Re: Blue Ray has competition

>From: "Dale Kelly" <res0xtey@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
>To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
>Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 10:57:34 -0700 
>
>The RF bandwidth allocated to a TV channel in PAL countries is 
>generally 7 to 8 Mhz rather than the 6 Mhz allocated in North America. This 
>additional RF bandwidth is a very significant contributor to the visual 
>superiority but again, has no direct relationship to the 625 PAL systems 
>design.

Very true. If you want to see a great example of the importance of bandwidth, 
and the relative unimportance of the chroma modulation method, take a look at a 
PAL-N (Argentina) TV. 625-line PAL in a 6 MHz channel at 50 Hz field rate. It 
offers no more real resolution than NTSC, and has the added "bonus" of the 50 
Hz flicker -- the worst of both worlds.

>The PAL feature itself is indeed a clever design change which eliminated the 
>need for a HUE/Tint control and which was an important feature in earlier 
>color TV set design. In more recent years advancements in receiver design 
>have rendered this feature to be of  lesser value.

I would go a step further and say that this feature is of ZERO value in modern 
TV sets.

Responding to Barry Wilkins' earlier comments:

>> Furthermore, as far as picture quality is concerned, there is a marked
>> difference in quality of entertainment material received from the US
>> versus that from the UK. A typical example would be the comedy "friends"
>> which is replaying here. The colour is very poor, the definition is poor
>> and it is only watchable because it is such a remarkably good comedy.

If that is true, it has nothing to do with NTSC vs. PAL. The show you mention 
was shot on film. If overseas distribution is in a poor-quality format, there's 
something else going on.

As for region codes on DVDs, that was simply Hollywood trying to extend it's 
box office release schedules to the DVD aftermarket. Perhaps the effects of P2P 
file sharing have taught them a lesson and hopefully they don't repeat this 
region nonsense with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

The best way to combat unauthorized movie downloads is to make the DVD 
available as quickly as possible after the box office run. Both the box office 
run and the DVD release should be time-coincident in all global markets. For 
many (most?) movie downloaders, I believe the motivation is not "watch it for 
free" it's "watch it now, then buy the DVD when it comes out -- someday in the 
distant future."

-- Frank 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: