QUOTE(edbravo @ Mar 16 2010, 02:25 PM)
Thank you for the clarifications, but the issues here are as following and I hope you can enlighten us.
1) If we have to watch SD channels on pillar box 4:3, why do we have to frequently change the settings each time we change channels (its set to zoom for all SD channels and I believe it should be 4:3)? Moreover, I was told to switch the cables each time I wish to watch the normal SD channels and switch it back again if I change to the HD channels or I will not get the full screen HD, isn’t these a nuisance? I think we are not moving forward in technology because technology serves to ease the burden and not to make it harder. I believe the older folks are going crazy with this new system.
2) Why can’t we have the options to watch starched SD channels like before? Would it be a legal issue here in Malaysia or international if we go back to the old ways? Please explain the matters of law regarding this issue, if there in fact any legal issues?
3) Are you aware if we watch on the zoom option, the top and bottom of the full picture are chopped off? Do you consider this as better quality? Do you think we should also chop off our monthly subscription based on our views and the sevice and quality we getting now without notice?
4) When will we have the options to view all the channels under HD because since there is no specific dates given? Do you think that Astro should had transferred all SD channels to HD before taking this steps and making any changes to the viewing pleasure of the public? I believe this is one of the major issue because no prior resonable notice or warning were given when Astro promoted the beyond system. Do you believe the public will now change to beyond since we are facing this issues?
5) Do you think that those people with big LCD TVs are now very frustrated viewing pillar box or zoom after spending thousands to upgrade their system mainly because of the new Astro Beyond? Do you think that with the present changes, LCD TV market will reduce and others will not be happy since their business will be affected?
6) I believe internationally the other countries have better options compared to what we have now? Do you agree? Please explain those options.
As for now, we are not FREE to pick our viewing options accoding to our desire pleasure. I am still paying the same amount to Astro, but truthfully as a customer I feel the quality of the SD channels have reduced. The principle of good services and business as a whole is that at all times you should listen to your customers needs and hopefully you believe in this principle. Do you?
Thank you.
edbravo, to answer your questions from my personal perspective and experience.
1. From the screen shots I have seen (I am out of the country at the moment) it looks like zoom was intended to make 4:3 letterbox broadcasts go full screen. This is a feature of some TVs (my Sony at home). You should not have to switch inputs between channels. When I am at home I watch TV in the correct way, 4:3 pillarbox, if a program is letterbox then I have to pick up my Sony remote control and zoom it. My problem is that when I zoom the TV I loose the subtitles, even when they are closed caption. If the b.yond box did the zoom then my picture would be bigger, fill the screen, not distort and I will see all the subtitles. In the rest of the world (except India), 4:3 letterbox with open captions is an all but dead format!
2. There is no "law" on stretching. But Astro will have to have their HDMI output approved by the standards body, the stretch is most certainly out of the standard guidelines. If Astro has the certification on HDMI (it may not) the stretching may make them loose it! That would be a tough call, annoy the stretchers again or comply with certified standards. Astro also license channels and programs from the big studios such as fox and disney, the stretching could easily breach their license and the channel could withdraw or force Astro to remove stretch, a tough decision should it happen!
3. I think the zoom was intended to make letterbox 4:3 go full screen, like my sony TV at home. Yes this is better (in my opinion) stretching almost makes me ill (as a professional).
4. You will never have the option for all channels in HD, look around the world. Sky in the UK, 400+ SD channels, 32 HD, they have had HD for 4 years! Direct TV in the USA has also 400+ channels and about 80 in HD. These HD channels cost the customer about RM60 a month! The decision for HD or SD depends on the number of subscribers for that channel, HD cost 4 times more to transmit and double to buy or produce the content, if the channel is a minority one then it stays in SD. If we start talking about 16:9 SD then this is possible as almost zero cost, often they just change settings in the studio or production!
5. Do you think I am happy having to view letterbox content as a postage stamp on the screen? This is a personal thing, I hate stretching and I can not see why someone who has paid a fortune for an LED TV would want distorted video? The CNET article
here explains it very well, see the 16:9 (widescreen) page.
6. All other HD boxes that I have seen do not offer anything other than Pillarbox for the reasons detailed in answer 1. Astro is the only operator that allows stretch. Many BluRay and HDMI devices do breach the aspect ratio but their model is different to a broadcaster. A broadcaster continually updates the software in the box, requires ongoing certification and has to keep the program owners happy, like Disney. I actually applaud Astro for at least trying to do something other than forcing everyone to pillar box with no choice, but if they actually sorted themselves out and did 16:9SD then we would not have this problem in the first place!
The SD has not got worse (I actually look at their broadcast on a PC card analyser), your personal standards have got higher now you have HD, this happens in nearly every country that launches HD! Your mind and eyes change to the better quality, at some point you will see stretching as I do! ;-) All business have to listen to customers but also move forward, did Apple or Sony listen to the "backwards compatibility" argument for Mac OS or PS3, no... sometimes the customer does not alway want what is right and sometimes they do. Sometimes businesses have to make tough decisions, stretch and continue bad viewing habits and put your license and approval at risk or zoom and force people to change an old habit. Its a tough call, I am please I only install them and do not have to make decisions like this!
BTW I am doing some massive installs in Japan for a Ultra HD demo, amazing. What makes me laugh is when I see a 100 inch Ultra HD TV and think of Astros 4:3 Letterbox with open captioning, it would just look terrible. Like playing a VHS in a cinema!
Mar 17 2010, 12:29 PM
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