Sky HD TV

Sky HD Reaches 90k Orders

2006-08-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Sky has quickly reached 90,000 users subscribed to HD. But only 36,000 have got the equipment installed.

Europe's First Internet HD TV Broadcast

2006-07-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

During the World Cup The Netherlands experienced Europe's first internet transmitted HDTV broadcast.

The firm Amino which makes IPTV set-top-boxes were the company selected by Lijbrandt Telecom BV to supply the boxes for the first ever HD IPTV service.

The STB's also offer internet access, TV and telephony services via a broadband connection.

Look's good for the future.

Pioneer 50 inch Plasma TV - PDP - 5000EX

2006-04-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

There's talk of Pioneer launching the World's first 50" 1080p plasma TV. The PDP - 5000EX is due to land on our shores in June.

This new plasma TV has the PUREBLACK Crystal layer which improves brightness and loweers power consumption.

We're awaiting further information and will post here when we have it.

If you're looking to buy the PDP - 5000EX we recommend you try Kelkoo to compare prices or No Queues.

Also try:
Comet

Pioneer proprietary technology that makes 1080p possible includes:

Deep Waffle Rib Structure makes each cell deeper to increase overall phosphor area for a brighter image. By casing each cell with horizontal ribs, Pioneer diminishes light leakage from neighbouring cells for sharper, more accurate images. A new T-shaped electrode prevents misfiring of individual cells despite the fact that each individual cell is half the size as previous generations, enabling Pioneer to maintain its sharp, bright accurate images when reproducing at a native 1080p resolution.

The PUREBLACK Crystal Layer sandwiched between the plasma glass and the individual light cells conducts energy more efficiently so each cell is charged and discharged at a faster rate, improving contrast and brightness while using less energy. Swift charge and discharge of individual pixels results in an extremely smooth transition from colour to black for blacker blacks and increased detail in dark scenes.

High Quality Up Conversion to 1080p minimizes interlacing motion artefacts of 1080i and increases the resolution of a 720p signal.

New PURE Drive 2 HD Signal Processing delivers low noise, high contrast and natural colour images. The High Precision Video Scaler receives and displays 1080p HD native resolution.
The Direct Colour Filter reduces ambient light reflection and heightens colour reproduction through the elimination of an extra layer of glass for sharper, crisper and more vivid images.
Enhanced ISF C 3 capability allows a certified calibrator to perform advanced colour calibration with never-before-achieved simplicity, accuracy and reliability. It includes a detailed gamma selection with eight steps.

Terminals on the display include Digital HDMI, DVI (HDCP), component and composite inputs.
Availability

The Pioneer PURE Vision Black PDP-5000EX will be available in June 2006.

Sky Unveils HDTV Service

2006-04-07T02:20:00.000-07:00

Sky subscribers will be able to watch the World Cup in HD this summer. But ... there's a catch. Sky hasn't concluded negotiations with ITV which will broadcast around half of the matches.

To be able to watch it you'll need one their boxes, well you wouldn't expect anything different. This box will cost Â£299 and you'll have to pay an extra £10 a month on top of your standard charges.

Within the box there'll be a hard drive which will allow you to record up to 30 hours of HDTV programs and will go on sale in a week or so with installationbeginningng in May.

ITV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are launching a very limited trial that will only reach 500 households in London. And don't expect HDTV on Freeview anytime soon - there are serious bandwidtconstraintsts.

The Future of Sky HD

2006-03-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

Digital Spy had a meeting with a Sky executive to discuss the future plans of Sky.

They said they've not totally decided on what format they'll be delivering the picture quality in. They commented that movies are better in in 1080i but sports are better in 720p. So they may end up doing some auto conversions.

There will be two 100% HD moveil channels (9 & 10). Sky One will be simulcast with some content will be up-converted SD with the true HD content being marked with a logo. Sky Sports HD that will be a mix of the other 4 sports channels.

Another angle on what Sky was saying was that they've got very high standards in terms of the quality of the broadcasts and the set-up of the units in people's homes. They say that their engineers are going to check everything and make sure the systems will get the best out of Sky's broadcasts.

Also mentioned was the probability that in a short while Sky will be offering upgrades so that people can have up to 4 Sky+ boxes in their homes!!

They're also thinking about the ability to set up reminders/recording remotely - primarily by sms or even online.

I must admit, now I'm so glad I turned from NTL to Sky, the future's bright, the futures in the Sky.

Sky and Disney Get Closer

2006-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

Sky have announced a comprehensive agreement with Disney which covers HD content and broadband distribution via Sky By Broadband. There's also indications that they'll be offering video on demand.

Disney are obviously happy with the agreement. Anne Sweeney, Co Chair of the Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC TV Group, stated:

"This agreement, which marks our largest distribution deal outside the US, is great news for viewers, who will now be able to access an even broader array of Disney content, either through their TVs or via broadband on personal computers. The strategic utilization of new technologies to meet consumer needs is of paramount importance to the growth of the Disney Media Networks Group, and we look forward to this deal enhancing an already rich association with Sky, and our viewers in the UK and Ireland."

This is the sort of agreement we like, this sort of content, other than sports, I believe is highly desired by tv audiences. Disney has so many titles that families will never be short of finding something to entertain their children. Well done guys!

Panasonic World Plasma TV Leader

2006-02-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

With growth in plasma TV sales steaming ahead and the last quarter of this year expected to be double last its a great time to be a plasma tv manufacturer and a great time being a Panasonic executive.

The report by DisplaySearch found that the plasma tv market is dominated by six brands:

Panasonic: 26%
LGE: 15.4%
Samsung 14.4%
Philips 13.3%
Hitachi 7.3%

Whilst the others accounted for 23.5% of all sales. More interestingly for us UK citizens, Philips was the top company in Europe. In total 5.9m units were sold in the world last year. But more and more people are moving over to LCD screens in the 40" - 44" range dispite the prices of plasma screens dropping by 32% on average in 2005.

We all know what will open Sky HD

2006-02-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Well we don't really, but we're assuming its going to be the World Cup. This is just following on from the Dutch whose Sport1 HDTV channel will launch with the World Cup. They stated:

A Sport1 HDTV channel will launch early June, driven by the start of the World Championship on June 9, and will also show matches from the main European football competitions as well as a wide variety of international sports in the HDTV format.

We're getting closer everyday, and its time to get your HDTV so you're ready to watch the @Beautiful Game" in high definition, colourful, entertaining style.

Best HDTV Offers

2006-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Below we've tried to come up with the best HDTV Offers. Also you may want to try Comet!

Sky Competition - Win a 40" Sony HDTV

2006-02-22T03:37:00.000-08:00

The second prize in my opinion is the VIP trip to Hollywood to attend the red carpet arrivals for the 2007 Oscars - only kidding. The other prize is a 40" Sony HDTV.

To enter the competion visit here.

It's getting close ...

2006-02-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

British Sky Broadcasting have specified which company will provide the speakers to capture the sound for live premiership matches on Sky Sports HD and according to InfoComm its SoundField.

That's it? That's all you're tell me? Well come on how interesting could it be?

At last, more information from Sky

2006-02-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sky have at last updated their website dedicated to their new Sky HD service. There's a shed load of information now including HD Video Clips, Wallpapers, Screensavers, News and a Glossary.

They point to the three things that you need to see Sky HD: A Sky HD box, a Sky HD Subscription and a HD Ready TV set.

Laser Rear Projection TV

2006-02-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

I'm not entirely sure about Mitsbushi's latest offering, this huge thing is a rear projection TV powered by laser rather than mercury lamps. The company does say however that the picture quality is greater than plasma or LCD TVs.

We'll have to take a look for outselves when its out in the market.

Sharp 65 inch PN 655 LCD HDTV

2006-02-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

How big? Pure madness!! If you're a home-theatre or HDTV buff then surely this is the fella for you!

It's designed for the business-user, but 65 inches of pure bliss is enough to make any reasonable electronics fan get their flexible friend out (as long as their wallet is as big as the TV!)

People are calling it the "World's largest 1080p LCD HDTV" and rightly so!

The Observer: HD TV Revolution

2006-02-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

The Observer has called HD TV the "biggest TV revolution since the switch from black and white to colour 40 years ago" and the rush for HD Ready TVs is already underway.

Not only have Sky made HD TV programes but the BBC have too with Bleak House and Planet Earth being shot in the high definition format.

Satellite Reciever for Free to Air HD TV Channels

2006-02-20T16:18:00.000-08:00

Humax has revealed a new product that will allow people to watch free-to-air HD TV channels. Currently there's just Euro 1080 that offer those channels but with the heat being turned up in HD TV land I'm sure that'll change very soon.
But here's one of my pet hate's. I go to the Humax website to find out more, and there's no information, the Press Release section is hideously out of date! grr!

From what I can gather it'll sell for around £300 and will decrupt MPEG 4/2 HD and standard transmissions, will support software updates etc, but you won't be get the new Sky HD channels.

P2POD - Online HDTV Broadcasting

2006-02-21T03:04:00.000-08:00

The P2POD is a nifty little gadget. Its capable of broadcasting over 1 thousand digital TV channels avaliable on the internet directly to your TV at HDTV quality.

Its also a delight to use, its simple and easy to set up the channels and if you're a internet radio buff it could also stream over 6,000 internet radio channels in stereo.

If you're the sort of person that would want to keep broadcasts, you can store them on the device too and then transfer them to a PMP via USB 2.o.

We don't see this as a competitor to Sky HD, this is for buffs whilst other people will use Sky HD to snuggle up on the couch on a Saturday night or watch the footy.

Discovery TV added to HD TV Lineup

2006-02-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

We've heard news that Discovery will launch a 24-hour HD TV channel alongside the other channels that you can see when you flick through Sky.

And Sky are pretty chuffed by it all: "Sky HD will offer the best picture quality available and the addition of Discovery HD to the portfolio will enable viewers to be transported into the amazing environments featured on the channel, "said Brian Sullivan, director of customer products and services at Sky.

Sky HD Launch - April Fool's Joke

2006-02-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

Sky have rejected claims that they'll launch their HD broadcasting service on 1st April. Another website called the Sky Customer Service line and an operator said that Sky HD would be ready on April 1st. Now we've either got a customer service operator with a sense of humour (a unique thing in my experience) or theres nothing to laugh about.

Our own view is that it'll be ready for the World Cup - just gut instinct, don't go writing any stories about it.

More details come to light.

2006-02-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

Here's what you can expect from the range of channels that will support HD TV?

Sky One - 24, Rescue Me, Bones, Over There and Stargate.

Artsworld HD - The Marriage of Figaro, Othello, The Who Live at the Isle of Wight, Jimi Hendrix Live at the Isle of Wight Festivaland Anthony Minghella Directs Madam Butterfly

Sky Sports HD - All of this seasons Barclays Permiership and Guiness Rugby Permiership has been recorded in HD. Also this years live Test and One day internationals in England will be recorded in HD.

Sky Movies HD - There will be two HD movies channels as well as HD movies avaliable on Sky Box Office.

What's the deal?

2006-02-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

This is a HDTV FAQ provided by Sky to help inform people about the HD TV service that they're about to launch.

When is Sky HDTV being launched?

· Sky is on track to launch a High Definition Television (HDTV) service in 2006.

· Sky's HDTV channel line-up will include a combination of sports, movies, entertainment and documentary programming. They're release full details when they can.

· They'll also tell everyone the costs at a later date.

Why get Sky HD TV?

· HDTV offers a step change in picture quality, delivering a home viewing experience similar to that offered in cinemas.

· Viewers will see greater depth and tone of colours and textures. The improved clarity of HDTV broadcasts will bring an even greater sense of excitement and drama to a wide range of programme genres.

· HDTV can provide more than four times more data on a display screen than a Standard Definition broadcast. This is because of the increased picture resolution that HD broadcasts deliver and HD display devices will be able to receive.
· Pictures are delivered in widescreen format.

What kind of TV Set will I need?

· They advise that any kind of screen or TV set could be compatible with Sky's HD STB but, to get the most out of the Sky's HDTV facility you should get a 26" or larger "HD Ready" plasma, LCD or DLP TV.

How much will I have to pay?
· As above - they'll let us know.

What does "HD Ready" mean?
· "HD Ready" is just a labelling scheme that is being introduced by the TV manufacturer'. The "HD Ready" logo will appear on an increasing number of TV displays in shops over the coming months. Any TV set that carries the "HD Ready" label will work with Sky's HDTV service.

Will I need a new reciever?
· Yes

· It'll be similar to the SKY+ box

What format will they use?
· Sky 's HDTV broadcasting system and HDTV receiver will support two HDTV formats:

- 720 / P / 50 (Progressively Scanned picture)

- 1080 / I / 25 (Interlaced picture)

· Sky believes the progressively scanned picture format is better suited for the delivery and viewing of HD content on large screen, flat panel displays (mostly plasma or LCD) that are increasingly available in electrical and specialist retailers. However, Sky does accept that for some types of programming, the higher screen resolution offered by the 1080 Interlaced format may be preferable.

· Broadcasters planning on launching HD services on the digital satellite platform will be able to choose whether to broadcast content in 720 / P / 50 or 1080 / I / 25.

· Sky's HD service will also utilise the advanced compression technology MPEG4. MPEG4 is a more efficient means of compressing the data in a TV picture.

What does all this jargon mean?
· BIT RATE: Bit rate is measured as "bits per second" (bps) and refers to the rate at which data is transmitted.

· DLP: Digital Light Processor. A display device that reflects light on a pixel-by-pixel basis to create a projected image.

· DVI: Digital Video Interface. Provides high-bandwidth digital connection between a video source and a display device. It is a type of cable connector.

· HDMI: High Definition Multimedia Interface. A high-bandwidth digital connection for both video and audio data. HDMI ensures the best video signal is sent from the source (HDTV signal) to the display (LCD, Plasma, DVL). It does this by sending uncompressed video and multi-channel audio data to the display through one single cable.

· HDCP: High bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a copyright protection system that is incorporated into HD displays and receivers. It prevents unauthorised duplication and distribution of copyrighted content.

· INTERLACE SCANNING: Interlaced scanning refers to the process of re-assembling a picture from a series of electrical (video) signals. With Interlace Scanning a display shows every odd line at one scan of the screen and then all the even lines in a second scan of the screen.

· LCD TV: Liquid Crystal Displays are one form of flat-panel TVs. They are made up of two transparent panels with a liquid crystal solution sandwiched between the two. Electric currents are passed through the liquid - this causes the crystals to line up so that light cannot pass through them. Each of the crystals acts as a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking out the light. The pattern of transparent and dark crystals forms the image.

· MPEG4: MPEG4 is a more efficient means of compressing the data that is sent to a TV.

· PIXELS: Pixels is the abbreviation for "picture element". Pixels are the smallest bits of data in a video image. The smaller the size of the pixels in an image, the greater the resolution.

· PLASMA DISPLAY: Plasma display is created by thousands of tiny tubes filled by ionized gas in a plasma state.

· PROGRESSVE SCANNING: Progressive scanning is based on the principle that all the horizontal scan lines are 'painted' on the screen at one time. 720 or 1080 horizontal lines are scanned progressively or in succession in a vertical frame. This is repeated 50 times a second. Some displays, for example LCD and plasmas use the progressive scanning method, while CRTs may use progressive (e.g. in computer monitors) or interlaced scanning method.

· 720P: 720P means the resolution of the TV picture is 720 horizontal lines. P refers to Progressive Scanning

· 1080i: 1080i means the resolution of the picture is 1080 lines. i refers to Interlaced scanning.

Product Information

2006-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

The initial boxes will be manufactured by Thompson and will have similar functionality as the present Sky+ boxes which have a PVR (Personal Video Recorder).

Sky aims to be the leader in HD TV as they'll be launching their HD product well in advance of any other broadcaster.

So if you're thinking of buying a new plasma make sure it has an HDMI connector and is HD compatible.

Latest News

2006-02-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

T3 announced on 3rd August 2005 that they expected Sky to launch a HD service in 2006. The image to the right looks like a pretty neat system. Personally I like the look of the Sky+ unit and maybe even this one. But at the end of the day its mainly about functionality.

What Can I Watch?

2006-02-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Sky will be launching on, at the very least: Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky One, Artsworld, Sky Box Office. However, there is no use getting Sky HD compatibility if you don't have a HD TV. Review our selection of recommened High Definition shops.