BBC defends quality of HD broadcasts
The BBC has defended its high-definition TV service, saying picture quality has not been compromised, despite complaints from viewers to the contrary.
Some viewers have complained of fuzzy and grainy pictures after the Beeb replaced the original HD encoders with new ones in August 2009.
But the head of BBC HD, Danielle Nagler, says that despite a series of tests, no technical fault can be found.
"Not all HD programmes have the bright, crisp look which is synonymous with HD," she wrote on the BBC's internet blog. Camera and production techniques all affect the overall quality, she said.
The replacement HD encoders work at a bitrate of 9.7Mbps (megabits per second), while the original ones worked at a higher 16Mbps.
Earlier this year, the BBC admitted to teething troubles with the new encoders, telling whathifi.com that there was "a reproducible problem on certain types of material which does not go away if higher bitrates are used".
At the time the Corporation referred the matter to the coder manufacturer to investigate further. But now it says no problem can be found.
Let us know what you think. Have you seen a deterioration in BBC HD quality in recent months?
Read more about this issue on our Forums.
Follow whathifi.com on Twitter
Comments
With countless millions all forking out over a hundred quid for the licence fee why can't they afford the best possible HD encoders out there?!
I don't know how they can argue it hasn't. Jools Holland's show should be the benchmark and there's noticeable noise now in skin tones. Sadly it seems we'll have to get used to it as the number of HD channels being introduced is only going to rise.
can't they get the old coders out of the attic?!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Heard it all before, it is going the same route as Diablical Audio Broadcasting (DAB). The punters will never notice the drop in quality and sadly majority seldom do...
There has been some horrendously bad publicity in the press recently about the demise of BBC HD picture quality. Danielle Nagler has been making a lot of counter statements in a hopeless attempt to deflect the tidal wave of criticism. But sadly her attempts to defend BBC HD are without foundation, because we cannot all be wrong, those of us who have watched BBC HD standards drop so significantly!
definately got fuzzy of late and no its not my eye sight, so much for being a leader in its feild.
I have to say that the picture quality in BBC HD is not as good as you used to be some programmes on BBC hd are a joke when it comes to HD picture quatlity but others seem to be very good bright,clean and there is hardly any noise