The BBC’s Head of HD, Danielle Nagler, appeared on BBC1’s Points of View this afternoon to address viewers concerns about the recent changes in quality on the BBC’s HD channel.
Ms Nagler confirmed that there has been a 40% reduction in the bitrate used on the BBC HD channel, as a result of new BBC HD encoders that were introduced at the start of August 2009 to reduce bandwidth.
Viewers complaints featured in the show talk about a major reduction in picture quality, making it little better than standard definition.
In response to criticism, Ms Nagler responded that there is “No evidence that reducing the bitrate has an impact on picture quality or that there’s an absolute relationship between bitrate and picture quality” – implying that the complainers are just imagining the deterioration of HD picture quality shown by the BBC.
There’s also discussion of the Beeb’s commitment to offer 75% of the content on BBC HD in HD, delays in transmission of HD shows, and display of DOGs (the digital on-screen graphic logo).
From looking at comments on today’s Points of View, many seem pretty unimpressed with Ms Nagler’s defense of the changes to the HD encoding, with accusations of “denial and spin” being posted in threads on the BBC’s Internet Blog.
If you missed the show, look for Points of View from Sunday 8th November on the BBC iPlayer. Direct link to show
If you’re one of the BBC HD viewers that appear to be imagining the quality drop after this 40% reduction, we’d welcome your comments…
How interesting … Will have to see some side by sides before we make up our mind on this!
I must be one of those who are 'imagining' the reduction in picture quality.
The present BBC HD is indeed hardly any better than SD. I watched Garrows Law yesterday and found only a barely discernable improvement over SD. Then I watched the first ten minutes of Ray Mears (in HD ),which I had pereviously watched earlier on BBC2 SD. It didn't seem to me to be any better if anything slightly worse.
The BBC have shot themselves in the foot here. The HD service used to be excellent with unbeatable picture quality, not any more. No incentive for anyone to go to HD if this is what you get.
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Kev – LG asked for some side by sides.
Here you go. Post 37.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/11/bbc_hd_interview_with_danielle.html