On Demand vs. DVD

[Newt182]

Since DVDs are limited to 480p, would it be better to purchase a movie as a PPV like On Demand HD rather than go to blockbuster and rent the DVD? Will the the PPV broadcast be true 720P or 1080i, or will it be upconverted someway?

[mjones73]

The On Demand HD PPV movies should be in 1080i format, not upconverted.

[Sheabuff]

Having rented a coupe of movies thru OnDemand HD, it is much better than DVD. As mjones stated - true HD, that is why the selection is so limited

[57U]

Let's get a few things straight.

1. DVDs are encoded as 480i. PS DVD players deinterlace them to 480P, but the original content is 480i. Even though they look very good on most TVs, they will not look as good as a good HD signal, especially once your screen gets larger than 40" (arbitrary number chosen to make a point.

2. The masters that are supplied to the Broadcasters for say HBO, Networks, PPV, etc are either 1080/24P or 1080i/24 (HD), which are then typically encoded onto a server before transmission at their HD broadcasting format.

3. DVDs are a "home media" device. Broadcasters cannot, and do not, use them.

[mjones73]

"1. DVDs are encoded as 480i. PS DVD players deinterlace them to 480P, but the original content is 480i. Even though they look very good on most TVs, they will not look as good as a good HD signal, especially once your screen gets larger than 40" (arbitrary number chosen to make a point."

You sure about that? :D

Ignore my comment Newt, little inside joke hehe

[tbenson81]

IMO - Although you can make an argument that the OnDemand has a better picture, I still believe that the audio is superior on DVD's. I have watched several HD OnDemand movies through TW and although they output DD 5.1, it doesnt sound nearly as good as the audio encoded on DVD's.

I am not sure the reasoning for this, I am sure 57u or someone probably knows. It is probably due to compression or some manipulation by the cable company.

This opinion is only a comparison of Cables OnDemand HD. I am not sure how Directv would compare, does dirctv offer HD pay per view yet? Since audio on sattelites is always superior, this may be closer to DVD's audio.

[57U]

The encoding on HD material (master tapes, usually 1080/24P or 1080i/24) sent from the studios is usually Dolby "E". This is then converted to DD5.1 as it's encoded onto the server with the video. This may cause some differences. There could also simply be a difference between the way sound is "balanced" on DVDs.

I know that many newer CDs for example have boosted bass and treble, which make them sound horrible on a good audio system, but helps them sound better on "boom boxes".

[strangersonmyflight]

IMO - Although you can make an argument that the OnDemand has a better picture, I still believe that the audio is superior on DVD's. I have watched several HD OnDemand movies through TW and although they output DD 5.1, it doesnt sound nearly as good as the audio encoded on DVD's.

It's probably going through an extra stage of data compression as part of broadcast prepping, whereas the DVD sound gets to you exactly as it was intended and mastered for the DVD product.

[SHoTTa35]

well this is good info.. i was curious about regular ondemand. But i just realized how stupid it was of me to think that. I was wondering if the audio is 5.1. I only thought this because i thought it was supposed to be the competition for renting or buying dvds? Well it's definitely not a competition i guess if you have a HDTV and surround sounds. Instead of renting i could just download it and if i like it buy the dvd. (no i don't have a huge divx collection, i download to sample the movie, and if it's good then i buy the dvd - i have close to 200 DVDs total now :-D