What are the advantages of a digital STB??

[waynej]

Xref: freenews.iinet.net.au aus.tv.digital:24633

other than better quality pictures and sound, does owning an stb have any of
the promised additions such as multi-angle or extra channels?? or are there
any eventual plans to?

[Mark B]

waynej wrote:
> other than better quality pictures and sound, does owning an stb have any of
> the promised additions such as multi-angle or extra channels?? or are there
> any eventual plans to?

Forget about extra channels or multi-view. They don't look like being offered.

However, you have not mentioned the biggest advantage - widescreen. It is hard to
watch 4x3 once you are used to 16x9. Plenty of shows (e.g. all us, uk, aus dramas)
and most movies are in widescreen.

[mddawson]

There has been some use of these features:

ABC's now defunct ABC Kids channel.

SBS have a second channel running their international news programs all day.

During the Rugby world cup, 7 aired the regular broadcast (in WS) on 1 channel, the same less studio commentary and with stadium audio bumped up on another channel while the third channel had a 1/4 size image of the game surrounded by stats, player profiles, etc with the commentary audio.

[Mark B]

mddawson wrote:
> There has been some use of these features:

Yes, of course I know that. What I am advising is that multi-view
is certainly not something the networks are very committed to
and it is certain that we will not see any significant multi-view
for the foreseeable future. So nobody should consider multi-view as a
factor to influence whether you buy an STB.

[mddawson]

I should add that a lot depends on if you live in Sydney or Melbourne as TV viewers in these places will get any wizz-bang features as soon as they are introduced.

I live in a regional area and only the ABC displays any program info. In fact the only new thing that digital has given us (apart from WS) is we finally get channel 10 in stereo for the first time!!!

[Kevin Hendrikssen]

"mddawson" <mddawson.10xxyk@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:mddawson.10xxyk@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> I should add that a lot depends on if you live in Sydney or Melbourne as
> TV viewers in these places will get any wizz-bang features as soon as
> they are introduced.

You might think that but apparently Nine Adelaide (which is not owned by
PBL) now offers a seven day EPG, unlike any channel elsewhere. Very handy if
you have a STB with a hard drive, as you can choose a programme and set to
record it straight from the EPG.

[Mark B]

Kevin Hendrikssen wrote:
> You might think that but apparently Nine Adelaide (which is not owned by
> PBL) now offers a seven day EPG, unlike any channel elsewhere.

Ah, interesting. The is a very simple feature that the other
nine stations *should* also offer - but you have actually pointed out why they
don't. ;)

[Kevin Hendrikssen]

"Mark B" <mark@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:401d8447$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> Kevin Hendrikssen wrote:
> > You might think that but apparently Nine Adelaide (which is not owned by
> > PBL) now offers a seven day EPG, unlike any channel elsewhere.
>
> Ah, interesting. The is a very simple feature that the other
> nine stations *should* also offer - but you have actually pointed out why
they
> don't. ;)

Absolutely. One day things things will come.

[BenOne©]

Mark B wrote:
> waynej wrote:
>
>> other than better quality pictures and sound, does owning an stb have
>> any of
>> the promised additions such as multi-angle or extra channels?? or are
>> there
>> any eventual plans to?
>
>
> Forget about extra channels or multi-view. They don't look like being
> offered.
>
> However, you have not mentioned the biggest advantage - widescreen. It
> is hard to
> watch 4x3 once you are used to 16x9. Plenty of shows (e.g. all us, uk,
> aus dramas)
> and most movies are in widescreen.

Except on channel 7.

--
--
Ben Thomas
Melbourne, Australia

[oH Ho]

Extra channelwise: Sydney has a datacasting service, and SBS offers a world
news channel.

"waynej" <waynej@mail2me.com.au> wrote in message
news:bvgibd$8v6$1@pinah.connect.com.au...
> other than better quality pictures and sound, does owning an stb have any
of
> the promised additions such as multi-angle or extra channels?? or are
there
> any eventual plans to?
>
>