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BBC Lowers HDTV Bitrate; Users Notice

aws910 writes "According to an article on the BBC website, BBC HD lowered the bitrate of their broadcasts by almost 50% and are surprised that users noticed. From the article: 'The replacement encoders work at a bitrate of 9.7Mbps (megabits per second), while their predecessors worked at 16Mbps, the standard for other broadcasters.' The BBC claims 'We did extensive testing on the new encoders which showed that they could produce pictures at the same or even better quality than the old encoders ...' I got a good laugh off of this, but is it really possible to get better quality from a lower bitrate?"

7 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Focus group... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    As a 49 yo grandmother, a feminist, and having had a long career as a C programmer, I find that offensive. Would they have said his father couldn't see it? This is just another racist characterization of women being incompetent with technology.

  2. Re:Yes by MisterSquid · · Score: 0, Troll

    I absolutely agree. In fact, this new technology I've patented has produced better than HD compression with unparalleled image quality. Contact me if you're interested in licensing.

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  3. Re:Focus group... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    1) The alleged wife in the quote is purported to have cataracts. Cataracts typically reduce visual acuity due to the cloudiness they impart to the lens of the eye. How does a reduction of visual acuity translate to "just another racist characterization of women being incompetent with technology"?

    2) If the quote had been ""Even my husband can see a reduction in picture quality and he's got cataracts," wrote one." would you have bothered to make your little rant post?

    P.S. The term you were looking for is "sexist" not "racist".

    What's the difference between a nigger and a pile of shit? Eventually the shit will turn white and stop stinking.

    What do you say to Mike Tyson with no arms? Nigger, nigger, nigger!

    How was breakdancing invented? From niggers trying to steal hubcaps from moving cars.

    How do you babysit a nigger kid? Wet his lips and stick them to the wall. How do you get him back down? Teach him to say "motherfucker."

    Are those jokes sexist?

  4. Re:Yes by MisterSquid · · Score: 0, Troll

    Joke is the new troll. Sheesh.

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    blog
  5. Re:Focus group... by hiscross · · Score: -1, Troll

    In the US, Comcast uses codex compression to squeeze HD on their cable systems. When people get to see native resolution at the TV store, then get the Comcast version when they plug in their shiny new HD TV, they wonder WTF? That the beeb would put their foot on the garden hose and expect no one to notice is ludicrous.

    I wish the FCC would get involved in the US to force cable companies to limit the number of channels supported and broadcast them in the highest sustainable resolution-- or tell their users the truth about what's happening and why. Maybe we can start to get rid of the excess junk channels.

    In the US, Comcast uses codex compression to squeeze HD on their cable systems. When people get to see native resolution at the TV store, then get the Comcast version when they plug in their shiny new HD TV, they wonder WTF? That the beeb would put their foot on the garden hose and expect no one to notice is ludicrous.

    I wish the FCC would get involved in the US to force cable companies to limit the number of channels supported and broadcast them in the highest sustainable resolution-- or tell their users the truth about what's happening and why. Maybe we can start to get rid of the excess junk channels.

    And how you teach peace? Since man is fallen, and his nature is rebellion, peace seems almost impossible to achieve. The exception of course are those who are saved by the grace of God through his only son Jesus.

  6. Re:They suck at math too by dkh2 · · Score: 0, Troll

    This from the clone who splits infinitives and places a comma where there is no need.

    The widespread structural misuse of the English language is one of the reasons we don't use it as a programming language.

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    My office has been taken over by iPod people.
  7. Re:They suck at math too by dkh2 · · Score: 0, Troll

    In Star Trek terminology... "to boldly go..."

    You've placed the verb modifier before the verb.

    A more structurally pure format might have been... "One practice which is accepted generally is to ..."

    And, yes, I AM a pretentious wanker.

    --
    My office has been taken over by iPod people.