Benefits of high-definition broadcasts for analog sets

[OmegaMan]

I was watching the Stanley Cup playoffs on television the other night. I have four-year-old Sony 32 in. TV, analog. I have digital cable (not high-definition or even 480 P.) with an S. video output. I'm sure the Stanley Cup playoffs were being broadcast in high-definition. As I watched the action on my analog television set with a picture coming in through the S. video input, the picture was far clearer than any hockey game I had ever seen before. Is this my imagination or do people with analog sets benefit from high-definition broadcast?

[Magnadan]

The only thing I can think of is that non-HD viewers may get the benefit of the network using a newer, higher quality camera for such broadcasts. After it leaves the camera it's converts to a 480i SD signal and is broadcast as such.

[BadCamper]

You'd also get a much clearer reception. HD broadcast from an HD tuner (even when the output is Composite or S-Video and 480i) will have no fuzzy/ghosting/poor reception.

Not to forget the audio, HD content is broadcast digitally also.

Don't forget, both of these advantages I mentioned would require an HD tuner in order to receive the full benefits, however most HD tuners I've seen can also downconvert the output signal in 480i and use composite/s-video connections for analog televisions.

[57U]

Originally posted by BadCamper Not to forget the audio, HD content is broadcast digitally also. So are any digital channels - channels don't need to be HD to be digital.

As for the better PQ on an analogue set - probably due to "production values". Whenever the original product is better, as well as all the "connections" along the way, the final product will also be better.

[Wooger]

- channels don't need to be HD to be digital.

Absolutely... Our local Fox affiliate has TWO digital channels, they come up as:

47.1 and 47.2

47.1 is the 480p (ED) picture, and 47.2 is the (digital) 480i picture. Nice! Just wish that they would join the party and broadcast TRUE HD now...

[mhdiab]

I know exactly what you mean Omegaman. I am over at my Finace's place (work keeps us in different places) and she has a 20-inch small 6year old tv (at least) I have watched all the previous games in HD and I know what camera is which. The quality from the SD cameras - not that great. The quality from the HD cameras - Great! Same production, same feed, the HD-cameras are just much better. I don't know the technical details enough to say why - I just know that they need to promote that the game is coming off better because of HD. (if they don't get to specific then they aren't lying :)

[OmegaMan]

Also going from my cable box straight into my TV via S-videi helps the color seperation a great deal, even on non-digital broadcasts.