Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy in HD [Text View]

Rammitinski

08-11-06, 02:29 PM

You mean a contestant on a game show actually answered the questions instead of pretending to not know so you could do it? How rude! :rolleyes:That's not what I meant at all.

NOBODY, including the contestants, could keep up with the guy. Even he, himself, admitted that his main tactic was to win the buzzer first, and THEN guess the question. And they kept making the questions harder as they went along, to try and stymie him, and just made it progressively harder for eveyone else. It was as if he was just playing against the writers, and not the other contestants themselves. He was basically just playing by himself.

It was just the most utterly protracted, wasted period ever in the shows history. Actually, it was the ONLY one. I know there are occasionally people on who just outright beat the pants off of the others - and that's to be expected. But that just went on way too long, and all the fun and interest was taken out of it. It was boring and monotonous. Most everyone I knew that watched the show regularly couldn't wait for the guy to lose. And what made it worse, was that something about the guy just didn't make him all that likable. Yet it went on, and on, and on, and on,........

It was like a bad dream that you couldn't wait for to end. If you were a real fan of the show (and not just tuning in to see what all the hype was about), it truly sucked. He may have added a bunch of temporary viewers to the ratings, but he probably caused the show to temporarily lose more of it's regular, devoted ones.

(And F.Y.I., I keep up with the questions quite well, thank you. - I actually appreciate it the harder it is. I'm not bragging, but I often can beat the contestants to the question. I like a challenge, but Jennings was just plain ridiculous.)

SJKurtzke

08-11-06, 03:53 PM

You guys might want to check this out for more on the Ken Jennings incident:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cESHt4MboYk

afiggatt

08-11-06, 04:15 PM

The real point is what's the benefit of showing gameshows in HD?
The real benefit of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune going HD is that these two shows appear to be popular enough to get some stations to spend money to set up for HD broadcasting of syndicated programming. Once these stations are broadcasting Jeopardy in HD, the station may move to increase the amount of HD programming by arranging for the HD version of recent season network shows. This may also open the door to some of the syndicated daytime talk shows moving to HD. I almost never watch daytime TV, but the more hours a day of true HD content, the better in the long run. Oprah in HD. THAT will result in some interesting threads here. :D

One question is what will the stations broadcasting the HD version do? They have to support SD and HD channels. Are they going to download every day both the SD and HD versions and keep them in sync? Or will they download/downlink only the HD version and downconvert it to SD for the SD channel? If downconvert, will the station crop to 4:3 or send out a 16:9 letterbox? Anyone in the business with info on how this is going to work?

earletp

08-11-06, 04:55 PM

The real point is what's the benefit of showing gameshows in HD? To me, there will be no more information in a higher resolution to make them worth the extra expense. Let's all holla when SCI-FI HD or National Geographic HD becomes commonplace.

Wolfie

Any show in HD benefits us all, whether it's a show "generic you" want to watch or not.
It lends itself to wider acceptance and more pressure to keep adding HD content.

It wasn't that long ago HD content was so sparse that everytime even an HD commercial came out there was a thread started about it.

bdfox18doe

08-11-06, 05:34 PM

One question is what will the stations broadcasting the HD version do? They have to support SD and HD channels. Are they going to download every day both the SD and HD versions and keep them in sync? Or will they download/downlink only the HD version and downconvert it to SD for the SD channel? If downconvert, will the station crop to 4:3 or send out a 16:9 letterbox? Anyone in the business with info on how this is going to work?

We'll have to run dual playback unfortunately due to the legal requirement to pass captioning. Our Sony decks will not pass HD captions until a future software upgrade. Plus, our Teranex cross convertor from 1080i to 720p will also not pass captions. If Sony can make the decks pass captions through to the downconverted
480i SDI output, then we can use the HD playback to feed both HD and SD. We'll see what they come up with.

bdfox18doe

08-11-06, 07:24 PM

? If downconvert, will the station crop to 4:3 or send out a 16:9 letterbox? Anyone in the business with info on how this is going to work?

It would have to be 4:3 center cropped, I don't think the "analog" demographic that these shows are so popular with would tolerate letterbox. :(

coyoteaz

08-11-06, 07:42 PM

KNXV (ABC-Phoenix) just got the final list of equipment that will be needed to carry these shows in HD and is working to get the last piece obtained and set up. I guess this is one time where being stuck in MST is a good thing for viewers as the stations are already familiar with delaying and playing back HD.

Droford

08-11-06, 08:34 PM

The UPN channel here has WOF and Jeopardy, and will be changing over to FOX on August 21st. They announced that they were making the switch to FOX back in May I think. Supposedly they did an HD upgrade (although I wont know for sure until 8/21) for the transition, so maybe its possible that they'll show these two programs in HD, but Im not holding my breath. Im in DMA #148 after all.

kspaz

08-12-06, 11:24 AM

The real benefit of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune going HD is that these two shows appear to be popular enough to get some stations to spend money to set up for HD broadcasting of syndicated programming. Once these stations are broadcasting Jeopardy in HD, the station may move to increase the amount of HD programming by arranging for the HD version of recent season network shows. This may also open the door to some of the syndicated daytime talk shows moving to HD. I almost never watch daytime TV, but the more hours a day of true HD content, the better in the long run. Oprah in HD. THAT will result in some interesting threads here. :D

One question is what will the stations broadcasting the HD version do? They have to support SD and HD channels. Are they going to download every day both the SD and HD versions and keep them in sync? Or will they download/downlink only the HD version and downconvert it to SD for the SD channel? If downconvert, will the station crop to 4:3 or send out a 16:9 letterbox? Anyone in the business with info on how this is going to work?
Once these stations are broadcasting Jeopardy in HD, the station may move to increase the amount of HD programming by arranging for the HD version of recent season network shows. This may also open the door to some of the syndicated daytime talk shows moving to HD. I almost never watch daytime TV, but the more hours a day of true HD content, the better in the long run.

Other than Soap Operas which are truly drama programs that are in a daytime timeslot, daytime television is ALL based on talk. whether its infotainment or a talkshow or a variety of talkshow with segments on other stuff it is all very similar. These shows do things on the cheap which means cheap sets. Just the cost of upgrading a set and maintaining it would kill their budgets. ABC's GMA has to have 2 I.A.T.S.E. Union set painters come in everyday they move the set to touch it up and 'maintain' it. That gets VERY costly. Until they have to producers of these daytime shows will not switch to HD. They are syndicated shows. So Unless someone like Kingworld distribution has advertising buyers demanding that the show be in HD then forget it. we've got another 5-year run on this type of cheap-as-it-can-be programming. When you can have production assistants become associate producers (a fake title as their paycheck reflects they are a lowly assistant) and operate a miniDV camera on location why would you want to have that same person fall flat on their face trying to shoot High Definition video showing all the flaws of their focusing, framing, exposure, camera shake, lighting problems unless you can get away with it. In 5 years this type of show will still be using little HDV (or AVCHD, the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 8cm DVD consumer format that will make its way into low quality camera shooting for cable tv and daytime television location shoots) as a replacement for miniDV and when they edit in HD and post it all the way through it will really separate the hacks from the pros.
Oh, and the 'talent' on daytime television will demand that they look good facilitating additional makeup and hair budget upgrades and much wasted energy will go towards this as daytime TV is mostly closeups anyway. With HD though, this may change for the 'Barbara Walters syndrome' reason. Yeah I like that. we ought to coin that phrase. Not everybody needs it written into their contract that they are to be shot with 3 filters at all times. (black diffusion net, +1 Soft FX, +1 ProMist)

I applaud soap operas moving to HD as even though it is all on studio stages it brings the quality up. Although with mostly closeups here too Makeup and Hair go into overdrive and work 4 times as hard. Mostly makeup artists.

Yes in general gameshows moving to HD will help programming in times other than primetime but daytime tv is in for a major overhaul when they upgrade to HD as they will find out. they will ride out SD production as long as they can.
It will only be in 2009 or so that Letterboxing will become the norm. I highly doubt American broadcasters as well as producers will do what the UK has done and decided to go with 14:9 as the only alternative to 16:9. that is just a major compromise.
It will take another 10 years before all TVs are made in 16:9 ratio and no longer 4:3 square.

NetworkTV

08-12-06, 02:18 PM

Just the cost of upgrading a set and maintaining it would kill their budgets. ABC's GMA has to have 2 I.A.T.S.E. Union set painters come in everyday they move the set to touch it up and 'maintain' it. That gets VERY costly.
Of course that's a union issue, not an cost of HD issue. ESPN, a non-union division of the Disney company, has several sets that are moved, collapsed and stashed away every day, yet they somehow manage to do without ridiculous fanfare such as that. For the amount of money GMA would waste each day on those two painters, ESPN can staff an entire show. If something needs touching up, one of the studio crew members will grab some paint and a brush. Besides, if the set get's dinged up that easily on a daily basis, they should have demanded something more durable.

There are plenty of shows along the lines of Oprah that have fixed sets that are often rebuilt every 12-18 months anyway. They just need to be more detail conscious on the next set rebuild and use less cardboard, paper and gaffers tape in places that can be seen on camera.

In addition, existing syndicated shows that were produced in HD in their original run could definitely stand to have HD transfers available to stations that can run them.

Aliens

08-12-06, 02:47 PM

NOBODY, including the contestants, could keep up with the guy. Even he, himself, admitted that his main tactic was to win the buzzer first, and THEN guess the question. And they kept making the questions harder as they went along, to try and stymie him, and just made it progressively harder for eveyone else. It was as if he was just playing against the writers, and not the other contestants themselves. He was basically just playing by himself.

It was just the most utterly protracted, wasted period ever in the shows history. Actually, it was the ONLY one. I know there are occasionally people on who just outright beat the pants off of the others - and that's to be expected. But that just went on way too long, and all the fun and interest was taken out of it. It was boring and monotonous. Most everyone I knew that watched the show regularly couldn't wait for the guy to lose. And what made it worse, was that something about the guy just didn't make him all that likable. Yet it went on, and on, and on, and on,........

It was like a bad dream that you couldn't wait for to end. If you were a real fan of the show (and not just tuning in to see what all the hype was about), it truly sucked. He may have added a bunch of temporary viewers to the ratings, but he probably caused the show to temporarily lose more of it's regular, devoted ones.

(And F.Y.I., I keep up with the questions quite well, thank you. - I actually appreciate it the harder it is. I'm not bragging, but I often can beat the contestants to the question. I like a challenge, but Jennings was just plain ridiculous.)

I, and obviously millions of others not only disagree with everything you say, but we just wanted to let you know you got that one WRONG, Mr. Smarty Pants. :p

Jennings's winning streak on Jeopardy! has made him something of a celebrity. Jeopardy! ratings went up 62 percent during his run on the show (11.1 million viewers was a ten-year high); for three weeks in July 2004 and for most of the latter part of Jennings's run, it surpassed traditional leader Wheel of Fortune to become television's highest-rated syndicated program.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jennings

austen0316

08-12-06, 03:53 PM

when are Soap Operas on abc going hd?

afiggatt

08-12-06, 04:12 PM

when are Soap Operas on abc going hd?
The afternoon soap operas are all network shows, AFAIK, not syndicated. So it is up to the network and production company. So if the soap upgraded to HD, the network would only have to place the signal on the existing HD feed to the broadcast stations. They might to arrange for an afternoon HD feed, but the distribution system is in place. Email ABC asking for the daytime soaps in HD. Can't hurt.

The issue with Jeopardy and WOF is that they are syndicated programming and there are no daily or weekly scheduled syndicated programs in HD at this time. It will be a first if even a small number of stations show them in HD starting September 11.

billodom

08-12-06, 11:55 PM

The following is an exchange of emails between me and Paul Garnet, head engineer at Baltimore ABC affiliate WMAR:Just wondering if you could advise whether you plan to carry these programs in HD beginning 9/11. I read an article in TV Week saying that 49 of the 210 stations now carrying the programming had the proper equipment. I know you have carried the Billy Graham specials in HD when they were offered and was hoping you would do the same with these programs. If the answer is in the affirmative, would you mind posting the info at AVS Forum? I think I have read a couple of your posts there in the past.We are seriously looking into this. We have capability of recording and playing back in the 720P format. The issue will be the initial delivery of Wheel and Jeopardy in HD. The shows will be sent via satellite requiring us to purchase a unique HD IRD. In addition, the programs will be delivered in the1080i format requiring us to cross convert it to 720P. The distributor is eventually going to be delivering the programs via Pathfire, a feed forward server system that we currently use for the standard def feeds. This server will require modifications but it can also be used for other program delivery. The various issues facing us will be the cost of this specific equipment and whether this gear can be used in the future. When I get back, we will analyze the costs and the potential use of this equipment for other programs to determine whether it makes sense to purchase this for this fall season. Once I have all the information, I will try to post an official response on the AVS forum.Plus according to Bob's post above, they'll have to accommodate closed-captioning. The engineer at the DC station that carries WOF/Jeopardy has already said 12-18 months.

Rammitinski

08-13-06, 02:11 AM

I, and obviously millions of others not only disagree with everything you say, but we just wanted to let you know you got that one WRONG, Mr. Smarty Pants. :p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_JenningsHow does that make me wrong?

If anything, it proves that at least half of what I said was right - the part about how they added a bunch of TEMPORARY viewers. They were hyping it all over the place, so what do you expect? It was on the newscasts, in the newspapers, and the butt of late-night talk show jokes constantly. Most of those people just tuned in to see how much he'd win - not necessarily to become new, devoted fans of the show. I do not have any numbers or proof in front of me, but I'd be willing to bet that the regular ratings are nowhere near that number now, and are not that different from what they were before he was on.

And as far as the other part, whether they actually did lose some viewers TEMPORARILY or not, the TEMPORARY ratings jump would've more than made up for it. So naturally the actual number of viewers went up. But I knew of plenty of long standing, regular watchers that were sick of him. The people that just tuned in for the sideshow, were the ones that were enjoying it the most. But they weren't true fans of the show itself.

The key word in the italicized part of my post you were referring to is TEMPORARY.

I think the thing that myself and others (who've watched the show for years and years) didn't care for the most about the whole thing was not the he was winning so much - it was that it was never a show about "hype", or "stars". It's sort of an institution - a constant in this ever-changing world, and we wanted it to remain that way.

Aliens

08-13-06, 06:18 AM

I don’t watch Wheel, but it is a very colorful show and should look great in HD. Besides, we all have shows we could care less about. The object is to get everything in HD, not only what certain individuals want to see.

How does that make me wrong?

If anything, it proves that at least half of what I said was right...
Well, we all need to save face don’t we? ;) :D I don’t know, Ram, I was kinda caught in-between. My wife and I have been long-time fans as well (she competed locally for the show) and we always pulled for KJ to win. But after awhile I was getting anxious for some ‘new blood,’ and as much as anything, tired of the banter between Alex and Ken. The undeniable fact is the guy did know his sh*t.

generalpatton78

08-13-06, 09:01 AM

I think most of us are more interested in the fact these are the first syndicated shows to go HD. There is tons of potential for syndicated HD to give us several more hours of HD per network. If we can get locals to pick these shows up in hd it bolds well for more hd in the not so distant future.

This was in response to HDTV Freak.

petergaryr

08-13-06, 09:36 AM

This may be just a nostalgia thing, but locals broadcasting HD reminds me of the excitement of seeing local stations switch to color many years ago. Back then, a local station buying a COLOR camera was a big deal.

I have to get out more.

surf_fun85

08-13-06, 01:35 PM

when are Soap Operas on abc going hd?

I remember there was talk about General Hospital going HD in November
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=541951

Ken H

08-13-06, 02:05 PM

I think most of us are more interested in the fact these are the first syndicated shows to go HD.

The first syndicated HD program was Paramount HDOne. From the HDTV Programming Synopsis, circa 2004.

Paramount HDOne Movies - broadcasting 1080i
Paramount Domestic Television has introduced the first syndicated movie package available in HDTV. HD One will consist of 39 titles, including The Godfather I & II, the first six Star Trek movies, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The syndication window runs through the 2004-2005 TV season, with two showings per title, per station. Many of the local UPN DTV affiliates have picked up this package, but it can show up on any station that purchases HDOne; DTV, HDTV or analog NTSC. Here is the list of features for 2004.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek II-The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek III-The Search for Spock
Raider of the Lost Ark
Star Trek IV-The Voyage Home
Star Trek V-Final Frontier
Star Trek VI-The Undiscovered Country
The Godfather
The Godfather, Part II
Major League

balazer

08-13-06, 08:39 PM

Paramount HD One started in November 2001. But it wasn't a program, per se; it was a set of movies. Syndicated programming after that was Billy Graham specials in HD, and Imax movies.

generalpatton78

08-13-06, 09:29 PM

But we all know Star Trek isn't going to provide enough motivation for a station to go thru the hassle of setting up a syndicated HD system. Wheel and Jeopardy is on enough and get high enough ratings that it might spur some of the stations to go hd. Maybe I'm wrong and everybody here just wants to see 50 year old Ms White in HD and I'm going to puke if you provide a link that tell me she's 45 or something lol.

bobby94928

08-13-06, 10:01 PM

Actually Vanna is 49 1/2, so you're close. She still looks awfully good to this 62 year old. Bring her on in HD.......

Rammitinski

08-14-06, 02:18 AM

I've always felt that her head was too large for her body. Or at least her face, anyway.

And although you can't see them on the show, her thighs are disproportionately too skinny. There's no muscle or tone to them at all. I just remember getting a good look at her body when she was half-naked in bed with AL Bundy.

I guess when all you do all your life is just stand around and smile, that's to be expected. But I like my women with a little more flesh, curves and muscle tone.

She never did all that much for me, even when she was younger. She's the last thing I pay attention to when I'm watching that show.

Baldmaga

08-14-06, 12:24 PM

I didn't feel the need to start another topic since we are talking game shows in here.

But today I saw that the Price is Right is operating with HD cameras. Now isn't the Price is Right broadcast on the National CBS feed, meaning no expensive syndication equipment?

fredfa

08-14-06, 12:42 PM

Yup, Baldmaga, that is correct.

As a reminder: David Letterman used HD cameras for quite a while before actually switching to HD.

Gary*w*

08-14-06, 12:51 PM

Actually Wheel has been using HD cameras for a while. I remember Pat saying something about the new cameras at the opening of the show like 6 or 8 months ago.

JCoule

08-14-06, 12:53 PM

King World will distribute their two game show powerhouses, WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY in 1080i beginning September 11, 2006. I *knew* I should have gone into cosmetic surgery!

Marcus Carr

08-14-06, 01:51 PM

BillN96

08-14-06, 02:41 PM

WTNH, the ABC affiliate in Connecticut, will not be showing Wheel Of Fortune or Jeopardy in HD because they do not have to equipment to do so and have no date as to when they will upgrade their equipment. This is according to their Program Manager.

cpto

08-14-06, 08:36 PM

I suspect the real value of HD will be in future reruns. Way back when, Hanna Barberra filmed their material in color, even though the shows were broadcast in B&W. H-B felt that it would help future-proof their shows and increase their value.

I guess it's possible that 10 or 20 years down the road people will expect shows in HD, just as they expect them in color today. If that happens, the low-res NTSC shows might lose some of their rerun value. (Whether WOF and J are worth watching in reruns is way outside this discussion.) :D

Rick

The real point is what's the benefit of showing gameshows in HD? To me, there will be no more information in a higher resolution to make them worth the extra expense. Let's all holla when SCI-FI HD or National Geographic HD becomes commonplace.

Wolfie

TVOD

08-14-06, 08:41 PM

SJKurtzke

08-14-06, 11:29 PM

That's the main reason prime time shows have been HD for a few years - future proofing for syndication. Ironic that tape finished shows from the mid 80s - 90s won't be capable of that but earlier film finished shows will. Lucy was redone in HD.
Thankfully, most of big shows from that era have some film aspect to them, so there's hope for HD!

Seinfeld (redone in HD)
Friends (filmed in 35mm, edited on video, later HD)
Cheers (redone in HD)
Frasier (35mm, edited on video; HD for at least the last season)
Will & Grace (???; HD for at least 5-8)
Everybody Loves Raymond (???; HD for later seasons)
The Cosby Show (All tape; No chance for HD)
The Simpsons (Film (!), edited on video)
ER (HD)
CSI (HD)

(And if any network executives are reading, notice how none of these big shows are reality shows!)

TVOD

08-15-06, 01:25 PM

If the shows have EDLs that can trace back to the original film footage, especially with keycode, then it's not too bad. I've heard that there's many shows that don't. As most reality shows don't have any potential for syndication, they are still pretty much SD for now. They'll probably be in HD in a couple years just to keep current viewers.

goldrich

08-16-06, 05:15 PM

Add WTHR-DT, Indianapolis to the list of stations that WILL be presenting Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune in HD starting next month. I just got the word this afternoon.

Steve

kchdtvguy

08-16-06, 05:52 PM

fredfa

08-19-06, 06:36 PM

The Digital Revolution
What’s High-Def, Alex?
By Glen Dickson Broadcasting & Cable 8/21/2006

Since the launch of digital television in the late 1990s, almost every genre has been offered in high-definition, with the exception of first-run syndicated programming. But that’s about to change, when venerable Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, produced by Sony Pictures Television, launch in HD next month.

Who cares about game shows in HD?

Sony Picture Television President Steve Mosko asked the same question.

“I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t anticipate how much better the shows would look in high-def,” he says. “I was blown away by the look of the game. High-def has a huge impact. It just jumps off the screen.”

Sony and King World are developing two game shows for 2007 that may be offered in HD, too.

Until now, production and distribution costs have stymied syndication. But Sony, which produces both shows and has a pivotal role in the evolution of HD, remodeled the Los Angeles studio where both shows are produced to support shooting in 1080-line-interlace (1080i) HDTV. King World, which distributes the shows, will begin delivering the programs in HD Sept. 11.

Bob Seidel, CBS VP of advanced technology, says that more than 40 stations have expressed interest in receiving the HD feeds.

WIDER SHOTS

When Sony decided last fall to provide the shows in high-def, the studio already had HD-capable cameras, says Harry Friedman, longtime producer of both shows, “but that was the only thing we didn’t have to change or acquire. Everything else is new.”

Sony created new set pieces for both shows and reconfigured the studio for wider camera shots, a particular concern for Wheel. Another key set element is a Barco HD projection system. Starting last March, Sony also built an entirely new HD control room and post-production facility.

The project cost around $4 million and included upgrading its existing Sony switcher to HD operation, with 12 channels of digital video effects (DVE), and installing a Chyron high-def Lyric Pro graphics system. It added a Yamaha digital audio console; Avid Symphony Nitris editing systems and Unity storage system; some Apple Final Cut Pro editors to cut interstitial material; and Evertz and Leitch upconverters to handle occasional standard-definition (SD) material.

To record high-def video, the game shows use a mix of Sony HDCAM tape decks, for recording show footage, and XDCAM HD optical-disk recorders, which handle playback of interstitial material, such as show opens, closes and graphics.

DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR A SERVER

“We had a problem finding what we thought was the ideal high-def server, as so many are designed for on-air playout and not for production,” says Phil Squyres, senior VP, technical operations, Sony Pictures Television. “So we actually decided to do something a little different in that vein and installed eight XDCAM HD decks. We use them like an eight-channel playout server, and it’s working pretty well.”

When Squyres was shopping for a production server, he had a hard time finding one that was both operator-friendly and supported Avid’s 145-Mbps (megabit-per-second) HD compression scheme, DNxHD, as well as Sony’s HDCAM format. But he expects to install a server that supports the Avid encoding scheme in the future.

Sony delivers a high-def HDCAM master to King World with a 4:3 center cut that is “safe protected,” allowing an SD version to be easily derived. The SD shows will continue to be delivered via satellite by CBS to stations as before, using an IP-based store-and-forward system from Pathfire that automatically captures the shows as files. The HD versions, however, will require a short-term workaround because Pathfire is still tweaking its system to support HD operation.

At launch, CBS will send out a conventional, scheduled linear feed of both shows at a bit rate of 45 Mbps, and stations will record it with high-def tape decks or servers, which they will need anyway in order to play out the programs locally. Some stations, including ABC affiliates, may need to convert the 1080i feed to 720p, which some satellite receivers will do automatically.

Long term, CBS would like to use the Pathfire system to send Wheel and Jeopardy! as HD files. Technicians thought about using MPEG-4 advanced compression, but neither CBS nor Pathfire thinks MPEG-4 is quite ready for deployment, while vendors are focused on encoders for distribution to the home, not on professional-quality broadcast encoders.

So the current plan is to compress the shows as 45-Mbps MPEG-2 files, which are significantly larger than SD files typically compressed at a rate of 10-14 Mbps. As a result, some Pathfire “catch” servers will need to be upgraded with additional storage.

SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD

Joe Fabiano, chief technology officer for Pathfire, notes that HD syndicated content continues to have some unsettled standards issues regarding the provisioning of audio metadata, closed-captioning information and the like. Nonetheless, Pathfire will be moving forward by testing HD store-and-forward delivery with a handful of stations this fall. It plans to roll out file-based HD delivery systems more broadly in the near term.

“We’re working on it with CBS now, and our intention is to do it within the television season [which runs September to May],” Fabiano says.

Friedman, meanwhile, is looking forward to the HD debut.

“What’s really surprising is that a show that is basically fairly static like Jeopardy! can be so much livelier in HD,” he says. “You can really see the dimension of the set. Everything gets taken up a few notches in terms of production values.”

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6364163

Marcus Carr

08-20-06, 12:29 AM

“I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t anticipate how much better the shows would look in high-def,” he says. “I was blown away by the look of the game. High-def has a huge impact. It just jumps off the screen.”

Obviously he has never seen The Brain Game on INHD.

kevin j

08-20-06, 11:40 AM

Afaik WLS in Chicago's going to have those 2 shows in HD from the get go.

NetworkTV

08-20-06, 03:06 PM

I suspect the real value of HD will be in future reruns.
Unless the Game Show Network goes HD, there will be little value to showing more than the occasional off-season rerun of Wheel or Jeopardy.

TVOD

08-20-06, 03:57 PM

Future syndication motivated early HD adoption on network episodics. Now we're at the next step of seeing shows go to HD without that motivation. Some earlier efforts were likely for testing the waters such as local news, the Tonight show and the HD soap in CBS. HD syndication of shows that are primarily intended for one time viewing demonstrates that HD is becoming more mainstream everyday. ABC took that a step farther by using HD on a show (The One) that had no potential for future or present viewers.

RSF_LA

08-23-06, 06:33 PM

Any station engineers look at the Wheel/Jeopardy HD transmission test today?

rasheed

08-23-06, 08:33 PM

I did email KABC, but no reply. I assume they will do it in HD because they are doing some HD-unique things like their local news and some what I would call 'local' issues as most of the team working on the production would use KABC for their own viewing.

In any case, Los Angeles didn't do well with KCOP/News Corp and UPN in the past, but with CW and KTLA/Tribune -- we know that is no longer an issue for HD programming shown/produced in the LA-area.

Perhaps it will take a Los Angeles insider to say if KABC has the equipment to do what is required.

It seems the closed-captioning is perhaps one of the bigger issues affecting the situation which is unfortunate, but it does seem that we are on a bit of a bleeding edge with the HD methods needed here for this syndicated programming when we might have hoped to have some more mature choices for both production and playback at this point.

Rasheed

kmj0577

08-23-06, 09:00 PM

chitchatjf

08-23-06, 11:12 PM

ok so where is the list of stationsd that will be running Jep and wheel in HD?

Is WSBK among them?

Rory Boyce

08-23-06, 11:22 PM

Any station engineers look at the Wheel/Jeopardy HD transmission test today?

We tried but found that the old TDR-6 mpeg decoder we had hoped to use would not decode the transmission signal syntax that was being sent. We will try plan "B" tomorrow. I am told there is no money at this time for plan C.

bdfox18doe

08-24-06, 07:44 AM

We tried but found that the old TDR-6 mpeg decoder we had hoped to use would not decode the transmission signal

We have two TDR-6's of differeing vintage, wasn't here to try the test. Wil probably go ahead and upgrade them as it's only $400 each.. At least I have a Tandberg 1280 to use as our plan B..

Of course, If Sony doesn't deliver our decks in time..we'll have to pick up when we can..

R. Boyce

08-24-06, 05:44 PM

Was anyone able to get both audio and video for todays test feed? We got the video (color bars with a wheel/jep test super) but had no audio. Pid 505 which we thought was supposed to be stereo audio was instead AC-3 per our mpeg analyzer.

RSF_LA

08-24-06, 09:45 PM

It was AC3 on PID 505. I heard there's discussion on whether to add another PID (506) for MPEG audio or change 505. There's another test on Monday.

bdfox18doe

08-25-06, 10:22 AM

Our test yesterday with the Tiernans went fine. Now have HD decks as well.. just have to finish the installation and train the operators and hopefully we'll be ready.

bellbm

08-26-06, 12:56 AM

Afaik WLS in Chicago's going to have those 2 shows in HD from the get go.

I just sent an email to them, hopefully they will. I get WLS-HD over the air and WABC-HD on DIREC-TV, so hopefully at least ONE of them will carry the HD versions of these shows.

wyattg

08-26-06, 03:55 AM

Received an email this morning from KXTV in Sacramento. They are planning on showing Wheel & Jeopardy in HD but probably won't be ready until October or November. At least we will get it sooner than later..

RoyGBiv

08-26-06, 12:28 PM

ok so where is the list of stationsd that will be running Jep and wheel in HD?

Is WSBK among them?

I posted in both the Providence and Boston threads information about this. I e-mailed WSBK, and their response was that they have ordered the equipment to broadcast in HD. They hope to have it installed and running about 12/1. Until then, SD.

SMK

R. Boyce

08-28-06, 03:05 PM

Success! On todays Wheel/Jep test feed we got both pictures and sound which we recorded on a Sony XDCAM deck that showed up this morning. Now if the 1080 to 720 conversion equipment will show up we should be good to go.

TVOD

08-28-06, 05:36 PM

Will Jeopardy have a HDTV category during the first week? or

"Pat I'd like to buy a ... Sony HDTV !!!"

bdfox18doe

08-29-06, 12:37 PM

Will Jeopardy have a HDTV category during the first week? or

"Pat I'd like to buy a ... Sony HDTV !!!"

How about "Wrinkled Tv Show Hosts for $1000" :)

RSF_LA

08-30-06, 12:29 AM

I heard there will be another Wheel/Jeopardy HD test today, Wednesday August 30 @ 3P ET, with program material.

bdfox18doe

08-30-06, 03:24 PM

We recorded and played back today's test successfully. Woo Hoo!

R. Boyce

08-30-06, 04:07 PM

We also recorded todays test feed. We are seeing a lip sync issue (audio early) and occasionally some strange stuff in the video depending on program content. We can delay the audio on our end to fix it if the problem is here.

bdfox18doe

08-30-06, 04:23 PM

We are seeing a lip sync issue (audio early) a.

Lip sync was fine for us. Added 4 frames AES delay to compensate for the Teranex cross conversion. We ran closed circuit thru the encoding chain and decoded back using the Sencore 3384A and all was fine. :)

Also using XDCamHD decks.

jcinzano

08-30-06, 05:36 PM

Lip sync was fine for us. Added 4 frames AES delay to compensate for the Teranex cross conversion. We ran closed circuit thru the encoding chain and decoded back using the Sencore 3384A and all was fine. :)

Also using XDCamHD decks.

DTV engineer -- i often have lip synch issues on HD channels with my Tivo/DTV HD DVR. is it the signal or the box and is there a fix?

bdfox18doe

08-30-06, 05:47 PM

Would need more info to answer that. Depends on the source recorded. Lip Sync can be a difficult issue to handle, especially if you are like me and can't mentally "process" the delay to tell how far it's off. Fortunately, we have two people who can resolve that by eye and
get it pretty close. But first, I do the math with the gear in the chain to get it in the ballpark.
A lot of stations have lip synce issues, and not all of the networks have a good handle on it either. Especially for live programming.

JaxFLBear

08-30-06, 09:30 PM

Received e-mail today from WFTV here in Orlando and they will be showing them in HD.

Michael

HDTV888

08-30-06, 09:47 PM

It's going to be center cropped for the other 90% watching on 4x3. Just like ESPN sportscenter, or any HD boradcast. We will never see any true wide shots of Alex or contestants or anything of substance outside the center area. And this will be true for years to come. But still, it'll look great. Can't wait to see it.

CaysonE

08-30-06, 11:43 PM

I can't get a response from my local affiliate. I'm taking their overwhelming silence as a "No".

AndyHDTV

09-05-06, 02:08 AM

Wheel Of Fortune & Jeopardy is on my guide as presented in HDTV on 9/11/06.

NYC-TWC

Looks like WABC here in NYC will transmit the signal.

vertigo235

09-05-06, 02:10 AM

Guide data says HDTV for me too in Charlotte.

ayrton911

09-05-06, 02:15 AM

KABC is showing Wheel and Jeopardy will be HD next week. KABC BTW is Los Angeles ABC.

Miniacs

09-05-06, 02:41 AM

KABC is showing Wheel and Jeopardy will be HD next week. KABC BTW is Los Angeles ABC.

Where did you see this? The only local schedule (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=tvlistings&id=3639789) I could find makes no mention of HD.

nikeykid

09-05-06, 03:02 AM

anyone know about KGO in SF?

RSF_LA

09-05-06, 03:12 AM

KABC received the test transmissions successfully and AFAIK plans to carry the shows in HD on the 11th.

ayrton911

09-06-06, 02:27 AM

Where did you see this? The only local schedule (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=tvlistings&id=3639789) I could find makes no mention of HD.

If you have a HD TiVo, the program guide data tells you if a show is HD or not.

thecrazykevy

09-06-06, 02:37 AM

If you have a HD TiVo, the program guide data tells you if a show is HD or not.
Same if you have any device with TV Guide On Screen.

Miniacs

09-06-06, 10:58 AM

If you have a HD TiVo, the program guide data tells you if a show is HD or not.

I do, and I'm distrustful of it. It also showed the various primetime shows on UPN as being in HD last season, even though the LA affiliate never broadcast HD. I hope it's accurate this time though.

vstone

09-06-06, 11:27 AM

Titan shows both local markets (Roanoke, Greensboro) showing both programs in SD.

fairtomiddlin

09-06-06, 01:37 PM

Titan shows both local markets (Roanoke, Greensboro) showing both programs in SD.
As confirmed by the post linked below, WFMY in Greensboro does plan to broadcast the HD version of both shows.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8333883&&#post8333883

Also, the IPG on TWC-Greensboro lists them as being in HD starting 9/11.

RSF_LA

09-06-06, 11:59 PM

Anyone take the HD promos today?

talbain

09-07-06, 12:48 AM

Titan shows both local markets (Roanoke, Greensboro) showing both programs in SD.

same here for nyc via directv...

bdfox18doe

09-07-06, 11:33 AM

Anyone take the HD promos today?

yep, no problem here.. :cool:

R. Boyce

09-07-06, 05:17 PM

We recorded both shows today for Monday air.

nightowl

09-07-06, 09:24 PM

We recorded both shows today for Monday air.

Great! Thanks for all your work, Rory. All of us HD geeks in Sacramento appreciate it.

VARTV

09-08-06, 10:08 PM

Titan shows both local markets (Roanoke, Greensboro) showing both programs in SD.Roanoke will be shown in HD. Confirmed with WDBJ... Check out VARTV.com (http://www.VARTV.com/)

kevin j

09-09-06, 10:43 AM

I emailed WLS to see if the shows'll be in HD on Monday.

surf_fun85

09-09-06, 08:06 PM

I emailed WLS to see if the shows'll be in HD on Monday.

I dont know but i found this here (http://chicagoavforum.com/index.php?showtopic=1253) says they will...

kevin j

09-09-06, 08:31 PM

I've seen that post already btw[i'm a moderator there].

ChrisPC

09-10-06, 12:01 AM

Wheel has been using a video wall with moving scenery behind the contestants for a couple of years now. I'm pretty sure that's been using HD video.

kevin j

09-11-06, 02:15 PM

I received an email from WLS this morning that said that Wheel and Jeopardy will definitely be in HD starting today.

GBFreek

09-11-06, 02:27 PM

^^^Thats great!! Not that I watch this shows regularly, but I will certainly tune in more often now.....now we will be able to see that Vann White is actually 84 years old...

I was always curious as to why WLS did not go HD with their local news coverage as well when the moved to the new State St studio....They already have the HD chopper...

kevin j

09-11-06, 02:30 PM

Afaik WLS's still working on switching their news studio over to HD.

bdfox18doe

09-11-06, 02:56 PM

Well, I guess we're all ready?

dtle

09-11-06, 03:41 PM

Here in DFW, Jeopardy is in HD (I think), but it has 4x3 RATIO with black bars on the side. The new set looks great, though.

OutGolfn

09-11-06, 03:45 PM

Bob,

I am ready, but on my 8300 here in Charlotte the guide is not showing HD on WCNC (220), nor is titan tv?

RemyM

09-11-06, 03:46 PM

dtle,

If you're seeing it in 4:3 on a HD channel then it's not being shown to you in HD.

bdfox18doe

09-11-06, 03:53 PM

Bob,

I am ready, but on my 8300 here in Charlotte the guide is not showing HD on WCNC (220), nor is titan tv?

I have not confirmed that WCNC is airing it in HD, haven't spoken with those guys lately. We're ready for WOLO-DT tho.. which actually comes from here @ WCCB.. :) I told the guys at 'CNC we'd just fiber our feed over for them. :D

jerryez

09-11-06, 03:55 PM

My local Fox cannot even keep the Sunday NFL football game in HD for three hours and thats is a pass though, when they can do it. Last Sunday, the game went to SD for over 30 minutes, before returning to HD.

Rakesh.S

09-11-06, 05:04 PM

Here in DFW, Jeopardy is in HD (I think), but it has 4x3 RATIO with black bars on the side. The new set looks great, though.

4x3 is not HD.

Disappointing..DFW is a pretty big market and we can't get it in HD.

Haven't received any response from KTVT either. Mr.Schully seems to have vanished without a trace.

TBarclay

09-11-06, 05:46 PM

Jeopardy looked good in HD in Atlanta. Can't wait to see Wheel.

luv2chill

09-11-06, 06:09 PM

KSHB in Kansas City did not show the HD feed today... guess they didn't get their equipment installed in time.

smashthesymbols

09-11-06, 06:10 PM

I emailed KSHB in Kansas City and asked about Jeopardy and Wheel in HD, this is the response:

If all goes well and the special equipment arrives and is installed in time, KSHB will begin broadcasting

Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in HD beginning the week of 9/11.

No HD Jeopardy on KSHB for me. I guess the equipment didn't arrive in time. I'd email and ask them but I don't know who there to contact.

EDIT: Someone already beat me to it. Sorry.

AndyHDTV

09-11-06, 07:00 PM

Jeopardy confirmed in HD, Here in NYC via WABC.

gb4fan92

09-11-06, 07:02 PM

Nope not here in Milwaukee :(

thehman

09-11-06, 07:04 PM

WKBW Buffalo ABC in which most of Southern Ontario, Canada has for their ABCHD feed is not showing Wheel in HD. :mad: (the canadian substitute OMNI is also not showing it on HD on theri channel either, but they dont show anything in HD anyways)

bgall

09-11-06, 07:08 PM

not HD on WFTV Orlando, even though they do HD news, guess that doesn't give them any archiving advantage :(

Posty-McPost

09-11-06, 07:09 PM

Jeopardy HD on WBNS 10.1 OTA
WoF started SD and is HD now.

foxeng

09-11-06, 07:11 PM

Wheel in HD on WFMY in Greensboro, NC. Jep starts at 7:30 pm ET here.

Also Wheel in HD on WDBJ Roanoke, VA. Jep is also at 7:30 pm ET on that station.

bgall

09-11-06, 07:11 PM

omg that guy couldn't figure out praying mantis from that clue?

SJKurtzke

09-11-06, 07:12 PM

No HD here on WJLA.
D'oh!

(We're probably one of the few stations in the top 15 DMAs to have this happen)

SJKurtzke

09-11-06, 07:15 PM

omg that guy couldn't figure out praying mantis from that clue?
One time it was "How _uch is that doggie in the window?"
And the woman screamed "G!"

jtbell

09-11-06, 07:20 PM

Wheel is now running in HD on WOLO-DT in Columbia SC, with Jeopardy to follow. Looks great!

Jeopardy is unfortunately not in HD on WCNC-DT in Charlotte, which was supposed have it. The SD looks better than before, though.

Finally, I had seen no indication that WLOS-DT in Asheville would carry these shows in HD, and sure enough, they aren't.

OutGolfn

09-11-06, 07:24 PM

JT,

You sure WCNC was suppose to have it? I've tried to call their programming dept and have had no such luck. I assume I am talking to the people not incharge?

Disappointed with no HD here in Charlotte because these shows are favorites of mine!

vertigo235

09-11-06, 07:29 PM

Yup no HDTV here, although the guide data did say HDTV.

Bummer.

bgall

09-11-06, 07:33 PM

really playing up the Hd in wheel of fortune

didn't really listen to jeopordy to see if there was any mention there..

goldrich

09-11-06, 07:39 PM

HD on WBNS 10.1 OTA

Wheel of Fortune and now Jeopardy (@ 7:30 p.m. EDT) in HD on WTHR-DT, Indy, sister station to WBNS, Columbus, OH. WTHR-DT is currently utilizing existing equipment while installing new HD equipment to make the record/playback procedure much less engineer-intensive.

Steve

Amnesia

09-11-06, 07:42 PM

No HD for either in Boston...(WSBK)

bdfox18doe

09-11-06, 07:42 PM

.... to make the record/playback procedure much less engineer-intensive...Steve

Amen to that! :eek:

jtbell

09-11-06, 07:44 PM

You sure WCNC was suppose to have it?

I was going by comments from Bob @ WCCB/WOLO some time ago that WCNC was at at least planning on it. Maybe you can find out where that fiber-optic cable is and tap into it. :cool:

Marcus Carr

09-11-06, 08:00 PM

From the DC/Baltimore thread:

I emailed the engineer at WMAR this past weekend and got a prompt and rather detailed reply! WMAR will have to buy some equipment to present Jeopardy and WOF in HD. But he expects to get approval for the purchase. He stated that he would post here when he had a date for presenting Jeopardy in HD. I got the sense that this would be sooner rather than later.

Southern Spy

09-11-06, 08:18 PM

WKBW Buffalo ABC in which most of Southern Ontario, Canada has for their ABCHD feed is not showing Wheel in HD.

But CFTO Toronto showed Jeopardy in HD

GutBomb

09-11-06, 09:25 PM

no HD here in denver on either.

GBFreek

09-11-06, 09:57 PM

Caught Wheel here in Chicago (WLS) and it looked pretty soft. Was HD, but was not blown away. Some blurriness and certainly a softer picture.

They do appear to have a more HD friendly set though (a lot of colors, etc)...

yudaman33

09-11-06, 10:03 PM

In Los Angeles (KABC), it only implied that the show was in HD. However, it was not!!! Damn you, COX!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GeorgeLV

09-11-06, 10:04 PM

My guide claimed they would be HD, but no dice in Vegas. (KVBC)

TonyW79SFV

09-11-06, 10:06 PM

KABC is having problems switching to HD. When they tried the HD feed, there was only a dark green screen. So for now it's an SD upconvert.

Robert Deckman

09-11-06, 10:09 PM

I'm in LA too and soooo upstet about Jeopardy! I was looking forward to the HD picture and it's not there.

waaaaaaa!

TonyW79SFV

09-11-06, 10:10 PM

KABC finally got the HD working. It looks nice.

supaet

09-11-06, 10:13 PM

no hd in san francisco either

yudaman33

09-11-06, 10:13 PM

Yes, the HD feed finally became a reality before the 2nd commercial break - in time for Double Jeopardy.

mark_b

09-11-06, 11:03 PM

bgall

09-11-06, 11:26 PM

any pictures?

Rory Boyce

09-11-06, 11:46 PM

Both shows aired in HD in Sacramento.

KeithAR2002

09-12-06, 12:08 AM

Wheel looked very good in HD via WABC-HD on D* :) I'll try and catch Jeopardy tomorrow...it's excellent thet we've finally got these shows in HD.

Mikef5

09-12-06, 12:19 AM

KGO in San Francisco doesn't have the proper receiver, but it is ordered and will be a couple of weeks before they get it. Heard this story before, checks in the mail. ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

talbain

09-12-06, 01:16 AM

Jeopardy confirmed in HD, Here in NYC via WABC.

yep, it was on via d*. funny comments by both hosts about the new hd...

didn't care for the new jeopardy set at all. looks like a warehouse now...

Filthy McNasty

09-12-06, 07:47 AM

Only 49 of the 210 stations had it in HD

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10524

dan57

09-12-06, 08:45 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeopardy! in HD on WABC (NY) via Comcast in Central Jersey. Nice picture. I noticed that there was little or no output from the surround speakers. I assume that this was a programming choice, and probably not unwise.

JSWbBk

09-12-06, 09:11 AM

Jeopardy confirmed in HD, Here in NYC via WABC.

Yes, I watched both shows OTA here in Brooklyn. Channel 7 had intermittent problems getting the commercials to start and there were several seconds of black screen and some sputtering. Who cares about the SD commercials, though?

Alex on Jeopardy said because of HD he was using new makeup, "A combination of Max Factor and spackle".

Pat on WoF came out with his hands covering his face. In the promo before the start he touted the new HD while covering his face with his hand. I think it's more than a joke - - he was hardly on camera the whole show. Vana looked great and didn't seemed bothered by the HD.

The Jeopardy website mentions that the numbers on the wheel are now outlined with "SPARKLES" !! I'm glad I have HD so I could see those sparkles! It was worth it.

:)

bdfox18doe

09-12-06, 09:12 AM

Only 49 of the 210 stations had it in HD

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10524

Not quite, the article did not say 49 stations WOULD or WERE carrying it in HD.

The number is not that high based on the list I saw from CBS. See GeorgeLV's comments on the first page of this thread.

RemyM

09-12-06, 10:12 AM

VARTV

09-12-06, 10:48 AM

RoyGBiv

09-12-06, 11:01 AM

Neither the Boston nor Providence channels showing WoF or J had it in HD. I understand it will be in HD by December from the Boston channel.

SMK

RemyM

09-12-06, 11:09 AM

Ummmm... Didn't the picture look much sharper and life-like???

Sure it was sharper, but it's not like the shows got more exciting in HD. I'm not going to set the DVR to make sure I don't miss them just because they're in HD now.

dtle

09-12-06, 12:02 PM

DFW has Jeopardy in 16x9 HD now.

Marcus Carr

09-12-06, 12:11 PM

Pictures of the sets:

http://www.jeopardy.com/announcement_20060907HD.php

GeorgeLV

09-12-06, 12:56 PM

From the avove:

Q: If I buy a new HD TV, will I be able to watch JEOPARDY! in High Definition right away?
A: To enjoy the full HD viewing experience, you'll need to upgrade your cable or satellite service to enable you to receive HD programming.

-------

It's nice that the let people know that buying an HDTV doesn't magically make every channel HD, but they could have mentioned that "upgrading" your tv with an ota antenna works too.

OutGolfn

09-12-06, 03:19 PM

No HD here in Charlotte, and from the looks of it not going to get it anytime soon. Here is the response I got from our local WCNC.

Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are available in HD for those stations who are set up to handle it. We do not have the appropriate equipment to air syndicated programs in HD therefore we will still be airing the shows in SD. At this time, there is no date set when we will be able to up convert the shows to HD.

Thanks for watching WCNC-TV.

talbain

09-12-06, 03:50 PM

Didn't see any benefit to either show in HD except for now having a full screen instead of black bars. You're not seeing any more of the games like you do with sports. But, it now paves the way for other syndicated shows to start going HD.

well, it is alot sharper now. come on, its hd for crying out loud. don't ever forget the basic formula: more hd=better living.

but the real benefit is that it is yet another step to convert ALL programming to hd. afik these are the first hd gameshows. hopefully other gameshows will follow suit (are there even any other gameshows? i really don't know). then hopefully someone like oprah will pioneer hd for talkshows, someone else for reality shows, etc. then before you know it all of our programming will be in hd. THAT's the benefit...

lovswr

09-12-06, 04:17 PM

Jeopardy looked good in HD in Atlanta. Can't wait to see Wheel.

Since I'm in Herndon, VA at a Jupiter Networks class, that is really great to hear. Can't wait to check this out next week. :)

SgtFury

09-12-06, 05:21 PM

Day 2 and still no HD in Houston. :mad:

Rick_R

09-12-06, 06:00 PM

The HD looked great here in Los Angeles on KABC. The colors of the wheel looked especially more vibrant. Vanna looke4 good in HD too. Pretty good for a woman pushing 50.

Rick R

bmoney017

09-12-06, 08:50 PM

well, it is alot sharper now. come on, its hd for crying out loud. don't ever forget the basic formula: more hd=better living.

but the real benefit is that it is yet another step to convert ALL programming to hd. afik these are the first hd gameshows. hopefully other gameshows will follow suit (are there even any other gameshows? i really don't know). then hopefully someone like oprah will pioneer hd for talkshows, someone else for reality shows, etc. then before you know it all of our programming will be in hd. THAT's the benefit...

I really thought that survivor would be the first reality show to go HD, since there was a new season which started recently, but sadly thats not the case. I would like to see Deal, No Deal in HD, but hopefully in a year we will see a ton more HD station launch and have a lot of shows in HD.

TVOD

09-12-06, 08:58 PM

American Idol already has had 2 seasons in HD. ABC had one that lasted two weeks, but started Dancing With The Stars tonight in HD.

icemannyr

09-12-06, 10:40 PM

WABC-DT NYC Cablevision.

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icemannyr

09-12-06, 10:40 PM

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bgall

09-12-06, 11:22 PM

weeks, but started Dancing With The Stars tonight in HD.

??? Didn't think that went HD this year, but I didn't watch it...

mpgxsvcd

09-12-06, 11:57 PM

I really thought that survivor would be the first reality show to go HD, since there was a new season which started recently, but sadly thats not the case. I would like to see Deal, No Deal in HD, but hopefully in a year we will see a ton more HD station launch and have a lot of shows in HD.

Everyone seems to forget Branson's reality show that went arround the world and was shot entirely in HD.

Rakesh.S

09-13-06, 12:38 AM

There is obviously a lot to be gained by composing both these shows for 16:9...much tighter shots on jeopardy showing the 3 contestants -- the same with WoF.

The WoF puzzle board and the Jeopardy topic board can also be shot tight to fit the 16:9 frame. It would look so much better.

stonecrd

09-13-06, 10:57 AM

The big advantage for Miami is that WPLG has been providing their non-HD content via 16:9 stretch-o-vision. Moving to HD at least means we don't have to look at people with lopsided heads and big shoulders. Local Fox, WSVN, does the same thing and it drives me crazy

AnthonyB

09-13-06, 01:35 PM

I just got this email from WTSP-Tampa/St. Pete

We are looking at this right now. Believe it or not, it's a huge deal because 99% of our HD programming is a pass-thru from CBS. With these syndicated programs we need to be able to record and playback in HD. There are a couple of other issues as well. I'm sorry that I don't have a difinitive answer for you yet.
Ellen Lasher
Programming

Obviously they don't have archival equipment..

Joe3

09-13-06, 03:20 PM

PhillyGuy

09-13-06, 06:39 PM

Both are in HD here in Philly. They look great!

dr004

09-13-06, 07:26 PM

I guess the local TWCSC messed up again..............

homcom

09-13-06, 08:12 PM

I guess the local TWCSC messed up again..............
Is your local station passing the show in HD?

I doubt it would be Time Warner's fault if your local station has the proper equipment to record and pass the show in HD.

VARTV

09-13-06, 09:16 PM

NO HD for SE VA... (WVEC/13)

humdinger70

09-13-06, 10:27 PM

Not in HD on NBC O&O station KNSD...

Gary*w*

09-14-06, 08:08 AM

No HD for WUXP Nashville TN.

wmarkw

09-14-06, 08:43 AM

Sometime in JAN07 here in Denver......

HDTVFanAtic

09-14-06, 08:54 AM

Not quite, the article did not say 49 stations WOULD or WERE carrying it in HD.

The number is not that high based on the list I saw from CBS. See GeorgeLV's comments on the first page of this thread.

So to clarify, you and GeorgeLV think that only 49 affiliates in 210 markets are currently broadcasting an ATSC Digital Signal?

bdfox18doe

09-14-06, 10:46 AM

So to clarify, you and GeorgeLV think that only 49 affiliates in 210 markets are currently broadcasting an ATSC Digital Signal?

Once again you attempt to distort other comments. What was that comment George made early on in the thread about "reading comprehension"? :rolleyes:

No, George and I are saying that there are NOT 49 stations carrying Wheel and Jeopardy in HD as some here surmise. On the last list I have from CBS, and there are NOT 49 stations listed as possibly carrying the show in HD. There were 16 to be exact who expressed interest.

George and I both are aware of how many stations are carrying an ATSC digital signal. It's readily available info here and many other places. :)

posg

09-14-06, 12:43 PM

I'm confused.

Is someone trying to say that only 49 of the 210 WOF/JEOP affiliates can broadcast in HD PERIOD, or only 49/210 can broadcast HD Syndication.

Since WOF/JEOP are seen primarily on network affilliates, I find it hard to believe that only 49/210 have ANY HD capabilities. I would think that nearly all top 100 markets are at least 75% HD across the Big 4 Networks.

P.S. Both are now in HD on WTVD Raleigh/Durham, an ABC O&O.

bdfox18doe

09-14-06, 12:54 PM

RSF_LA

09-14-06, 01:42 PM

Anyone having any issues with the satellite feeds?

posg

09-14-06, 02:05 PM

My interpretation of the memo was that 49 of the 210 affiliate stations were broadcasting in
HD. But, Just beacause a station can pass the "network" HD feed doesn't mean they have the ability to receive, record,playback, and switch syndicated HD programming. We've had the ability to PASS live HD programming other than network feeds (we carried the 2004 Allstars game in HD from FOX, before the splicer). But, I still had to spend $50k for record/play and cross conversion gear to be able to carry these shows in HD.

I'm still confused.

When you say that 49/210 affiliate stations were broadcasting in HD, do you mean
A) passing network HD feeds only
B) passing network HD feeds AND having syndicated HD capability
C) having both of those AND showing WOF/JEOP in HD
D) none of the above

bdfox18doe

09-14-06, 03:41 PM

Anyone having any issues with the satellite feeds?

Only saw part of the 3pm Wheel..it was fine.. :confused:

jtbell

09-14-06, 04:02 PM

For what it's worth, here's a list of the stations that have been reported as showing Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune in HD so far, based on postings in this thread and in the local reception threads (where I searched for "Jeopardy" and "Wheel"). Sometimes I didn't see the station call letters, just the city. I'll try to update this with any additions or corrections that I see.

This list contain updates and additions as of the last-edited date at the bottom of this posting.

DMA
Rank Station City
---- ------- ------------------
1 WABC New York NY
2 KABC Los Angeles CA
3 WLS Chicago IL
4 WPVI Philadelphia PA
9 WXIA Atlanta GA
11 WDIV Detroit MI
13 KNXV Phoenix AZ
17 WEWS Cleveland OH
19 WFTV Orlando FL
20 KXTV Sacramento CA
21 KSDK St. Louis MO
25 WTHR Indianapolis IN
26 WCNC Charlotte NC
29 WTVD Raleigh NC
31 KSHB Kansas City MO
32 WBNS Columbus OH
47 WFMY Greensboro NC
68 WDBJ Roanoke VA
83 WOLO Columbia SC
121 WMAZ Macon GA
-- CFTO Toronto ON

Rankings are from CPanther's 2006/2007 DMA Rankings (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=719690), in the Local HDTV Info and Reception forum.

videojanitor

09-14-06, 04:07 PM

The Sacramento station is KXTV. The shows are in HD and look good.

According to the Sony website, the other missing call letters are:

Philadelphia - WPVI
Atlanta - WXIA
Little Rock - KATV

bdfox18doe

09-14-06, 04:16 PM

I'm still confused.

When you say that 49/210 affiliate stations were broadcasting in HD, do you mean
A) passing network HD feeds only
B) passing network HD feeds AND having syndicated HD capability
C) having both of those AND showing WOF/JEOP in HD
D) none of the above

You would need to ask that of each individual station. However, just because
a station passes its respective networks HD feed does not mean it can record and play back syndicated feeds.

Thanks to jtbell for collecting the data. :)

spwace

09-14-06, 06:27 PM

The Sacramento station is KXTV. The shows are in HD and look good.

According to the Sony website, the other missing call letters are:

Philadelphia - WPVI
Atlanta - WXIA
Little Rock - KATV

And Sacramento is market 19, last time I checked.

R. Boyce

09-14-06, 07:15 PM

Not any more. Orlando is now 19 as of the latest re-ranking. They grew by about 60K homes while Sacramento gained about 22K from year to year.

spwace

09-14-06, 07:29 PM

Not any more. Orlando is now 19 as of the latest re-ranking. They grew by about 60K homes while Sacramento gained about 22K from year to year.

I was aware of the changes regarding San Francisco, Boston and Dallas, but I hadn't heard about Orlando and Sacramento. According to the local thread index, they were only separated by 120 households, previously.

R. Boyce

09-14-06, 07:31 PM

Anyone having any issues with the satellite feeds?

We have been having some problems with occasional video glitches that cause the recorder to briefly unlock. I suspect our HD mpeg decoder is the problem. If no other stations are seeing these it would seem that is our problem. I am going to try recording the shows with a frame sync in the path to see what difference it makes.

If out decoder is the problem I think we can come up with the money to get the Harris IRD.

Other than that my only issue is that there is often not much time to adjust anything between the uplink coming up and the show start.

mdviewer25

09-14-06, 07:57 PM

Both are in HD here in Philly. They look great!

Was able to get your station one night when it was foggy weather. Wish the signal could have stayed in. Does not look like our affiliate(WJLA) will be getting it anytime soon. Added a new subchannel and engineer will not say what it will be used for. Hopefully WMAR may get it soon

RSF_LA

09-14-06, 08:48 PM

Only saw part of the 3pm Wheel..it was fine.. :confused:Sorry, I meant the feeds in general, not a particular feed.

bdfox18doe

09-15-06, 08:31 AM

Sorry, I meant the feeds in general, not a particular feed.

No, but as Rory mentions, we did have to framesync the output of the Teranex mini crossconvertor to keep the XDCam decks properly locked.. as the mini doesn't have a genlock input.. a slight design omission.. :( I've got an XMR on the way once they finalize the code ...

Using Tiernan TDR-6 receivers. Also have a Tandberg 1280 on hand.

videojanitor

09-15-06, 02:22 PM

Being the nit-picker that I am, here's something I have noticed in watching Jeopardy several times this week: Whenever there is a dissolve, be it either from camera-to-camera or bringing on a key, it is not smooth. It looks like an old analog switcher with a dirty pot. :D

Since I can only view this over-the-air, I have no idea if this is something that is present in the original production, happens in the feed, or has something to do with KXTV's recording. It sure is weird though.

rcman2

09-15-06, 04:51 PM

Jeopardy in HD on KSDK in STL for the first time. About time I say.

Jonathan Hickey

09-15-06, 08:45 PM

No HD of either show here in Chattanooga. :(

bgall

09-18-06, 07:01 PM

Hooray Jeopardy and Wheel are finally in HD on WFTV in Orlando :)

DrDetroit

09-18-06, 07:43 PM

Jeopardy in HD, PQ is outstanding, no 5.1.

bdfox18doe

09-19-06, 08:34 AM

Jeopardy in HD, PQ is outstanding, no 5.1.

Not yet produced in 5.1..

HDTV888

09-21-06, 08:45 AM

cthame1

09-21-06, 02:17 PM

No, but as Rory mentions, we did have to framesync the output of the Teranex mini crossconvertor to keep the XDCam decks properly locked.. as the mini doesn't have a genlock input.. a slight design omission.. :( I've got an XMR on the way once they finalize the code ...

Using Tiernan TDR-6 receivers. Also have a Tandberg 1280 on hand.

I can't follow what you are talking about, but if you are talking about the blurryness in some of the shots on Wheel of fortune, (camera focus issues), then maybe a solution is on the way?

The loosing focus makes me dizzy, and kinda makes my head hurt. Same thing for the college football broadcasts. Is ABC trying to fix this? I'm in Chicago, and have been seeing this for a few weeks on ABCs live HD broad casts.

coyoteaz

09-21-06, 02:33 PM

cthame1, better than even odds your ABC station is using a Harris FlexiCoder and has the prefilter set to adaptive. This is the same problem reported by many people on their NBC stations for SNF. It primarily manifests itself as the picture going blurry when going to a still shot after a lot of motion. You might want to check in your local thread to see if anyone else is noticing it, and if so, email the station's engineering department.

bdfox18doe

09-21-06, 02:33 PM

if you are talking about the blurryness in some of the shots on Wheel of fortune, (camera focus issues), .

Uhh... No...

Chris J

09-21-06, 06:49 PM

I'm now watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy again :)

TVOD

09-21-06, 07:34 PM

The loosing focus makes me dizzy, and kinda makes my head hurt. Same thing for the college football broadcasts. Is ABC trying to fix this? I'm in Chicago, and have been seeing this for a few weeks on ABCs live HD broad casts.Sounds like a local HD encoder issue. I've seen the satellite feeds and they are from CBS LA using the same high bitrate parameters as CBS network. They look good as well as the OTA from the local ABC station here. The crossconvert on the station here looks flawless.

aviators99

09-21-06, 07:45 PM

No HD on KOMO Seattle for either show. I was expecting Seattle to have both seeing as how it is a major market in the US, at least I believe it is. Does anyone know if they will have the show in HD and they are waiting for equipment to arrive or do they not plan on carrying it?

CTVHD (CFTO-DT) Toronto did carry Jeopardy in HD, but they don't air Wheel.

In the Seattle local thread, someone from the station explains that they cannot air it in HD because it is uplinked at 1080i and they broadcast in 720p.

This seems absurd to me. I know there are lots of ABC affiliates successfully doing this. Can't their satellite HD recorder record it in 720p??? All of my (3) HD DVRs can *output* in 720p no matter what resolution the programming is natively. It doesn't seem like much of a stretch for a *broadcast station* to be able to do this. If not record at 720p, how about recording at 1080i and outputting at 720p?? Can someone from another ABC affiliate give KOMO a call and tell them how to do it??? Does it make sense that they wouldn't have the equipment to do this?

Hughmc

09-21-06, 10:57 PM

SD in Portland, KOIN. 5.1 though....stupid!

TVOD

09-22-06, 02:13 AM

Can someone from another ABC affiliate give KOMO a call and tell them how to do it??? Does it make sense that they wouldn't have the equipment to do this?I saw the info stations that air these two shows receive and it spells out exactly what's needed. It said a professional cross converter (http://www.evertz.com/products/7710XC-HD) is around $7.5K ($9k with a frame) and a HD IRD (http://www.broadcast.harris.com/television/vnetwork/pdf/netplus.pdf) with internal cross-conversion is around $10K. I really doubt KOMO doesn't know this. These are list and the price is probably less for the station.

bdfox18doe

09-22-06, 03:34 PM

Found out today that if you have a feed problem on your end.. a re-feed is $500..Of course, they don't give away the transponder time so that's not surprising.

videojanitor

09-22-06, 03:57 PM

Found out today that if you have a feed problem on your end.. a re-feed is $500.

At that price, I imagine most stations would opt for a nice, low-rez SD upconvert! I heard that they are only providing ONE feed of these shows, which seems a bit stingy, especially considering this uncharted territory. The odds of a problem are HIGH.

As you know, with few exceptions, every SD syndicated show is sent twice (those sent via regular satellite feeds that is).

Igloo

09-22-06, 06:42 PM

I can understand if some stations aren't airing Wheel and Jeopardy HD. A lot of stations just aren't set up yet to recieve and re-broadcast syndicated shows in HD, simply becuase there haven't been any up until now. It's easy to say that you can downconvert the sat signal to 720p if you buy the $10,000 Harris NETplus, or a $7,000 downconverter. But if your station doesn't have that kind of money in the budget, then having to spend $7k, or $10k, or more just to get two shows on the air is a hard pill to swallow for a lot of stations that are already making hard decisions about how to budget the crossover to HD. Infrastructure for these types of things is expensive, maybe a lot more expensive than most people realize.

Also, keep in mind that there really isn't any increased revenue for your local station if they switch to Wheel/Jeopardy HD. As more and more syndicated shows start going HD, then more stations will start getting the equipment. But right now, it's just not realistic to think that everyone is just going to drop a ton of cash to get these shows on the air.

SJKurtzke

09-22-06, 06:52 PM