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ABC announces HD online plans, bends meaning of 'high definition'
In an industry where the list of HD formats and sizes has already expanded beyond the arguable boundaries of sensibility, Multichannel News has dug up some interesting details on how ABC will be flexing this format just a little more with a new HD online venture. With full episodes of some shows set to debut online in July, ABC will be bending the rules of HD by providing their shows at 1280 x 720 (the minimum dimensions to warrant the HD label) and 24 frames per second - but compressed between 850 Kbps and 2 Mbps. As Multichannel News points out, the HD you get at home via cable and satellite providers is typically compressed at 12-19 Mbps in MPEG-2, with the new and more efficient MPEG-4 standard (which uses the H.264 codec) requiring at least 5 Mbps.
Unless there is some serious other video voodoo going on here, compressing shows to files sizes that are less than half the required specs could backfire on ABC's first foray into online HD content. There's a fine line between doing things efficiently and doing things right, and when it comes to providing video content to consumers who are specifically looking for high quality content, quality is one of the few things you can't sacrifice. Subaru might as well introduce a lineup of "rally-tuned" sports cars but check the all-wheel drive at the factory in the name of shaving budget costs; it just isn't right.
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsedmundJun 1st 2007 5:42PM
This HD content is free, right? So how can you complain?
High compression rates allow for smaller file sizes, and therefore a better streaming experience for all users.
1280x720 is HD. "Minimum resolution" is misleading, as it implies that 1920x1080 is "more HD." It is a higher resolution, but at sizes below 40", that difference cannot be comprehended by the human eye at normal viewing distances.
on computer monitors, sizes like 20", 720p should be just fine FOR FREE.
darkhelmJun 1st 2007 6:17PM
ABC is using the player developed by Move Networks (http://www.movenetworks.com/). The demo on their site is pretty impressive. I didn't see any visible artifacts.
wolliamJun 2nd 2007 11:41AM
is this a reply to joost?
http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/
Dave ChartierJun 2nd 2007 7:42PM
#3: It could certainly be, though I'm not sure if Joost is doing HD yet. Also, ABC has been offering some of their shows as streaming for a while. July will simply mark their first venture into HD.
#1: While something can certainly be said for a network trying out new formats and distribution methods, I'll still argue that there's an efficient way to do something, and the right way. Would you accept a free car from a dealership if it only had half an engine and three wheels? While my analogy could certainly be argued against because a car in that state wouldn't run in any way shape or form, and highly compressed, streaming HD will still play, I primarily want to make the point that ABC is bending the rules on what HD truly is. The specs and guidelines for HD, at least according to Multichannel's research, state that MPEG-4 HD requires at least a minimum of a 5MB stream, and 12-19 for HD. If one is in search of *high definition* content that offers *more visual quality than other formats and venues,* can we really refer to video that is compressed far beyond its minimum requirements as 'HD?'
JamesJun 2nd 2007 9:08PM
I for one couldn't give a shit less if it's 2MBps or 5MBps -- it's still about two orders of magnitude better video than all the other TV station-provided streaming video I've seen. I'm glad ABC is stepping up the quality, and frankly I don't care if they apply the "HD" moniker to it or not.
Now, if they can just make some shows worth watching...
KirbyMeisterJun 3rd 2007 6:04PM
ABC's video streaming service has been up for a while, and streaming high-def. It looked really good, actually. Plus, may I note, that most people's computers are still at 1024x768 or 1280x1024. 1600x1200 is still the realm of high-end boxes.
Oh, and calling 720p the "bare minimum" is just a marketing tactic used by various TV manufacturers to make you buy the higher-resolution ones. 720p still looks really good; like another poster said, you only need 1080p/i for stuff bigger than about 40 inches.