The 2007 NFL Playoffs
AFC Divisional Playoff in HDTV on CBS
Indianapolis Colts (12-4 Division Champion) at Baltimore Ravens (13-3 Division Champion)
Live from M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
January 13, 2007
4:30pm ET

Today's game will be broadcast in 1080i HDTV and Dolby Digital 5.1. Thanks in advance for posting all related comments here. Please include all pertinent info; source and provider, cities, station call letters, DBS, Cable, OTA.


From NFL.com, by Senior Analyst Gil Brandt

This is a different Ravens team than the one that lost to Indianapolis last season, 24-7. For starters, that team didn't have Steve McNair at QB. McNair passed for 3,050 yards and 16 TDs this season. The key for Baltimore's offense will really be the health of LT Jonathan Ogden. Running back Jamal Lewis will get 25-30 carries, but I think the receivers -- Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and TE Todd Heap -- will get more passes thrown to them than we expect. The Ravens have allowed an average of just 9.1 points over last seven games, with an average time of possession of 32:49 for those games … For the Colts to win, QB Peyton Manning needs to be great and not turn the ball over. Don't expect a 100-yard game from RB Joseph Addai. The Colts line needs to block Trevor Pryce, who had a great year. Both teams have great kickers.

Indianapolis has to prove it can block that three-man front -- they've had problems with that. The Colts' quickness on defense is going to make the Ravens throw the ball more than they want. If Ogden plays, Baltimore will win. If he doesn't, and if DE Dwight Freeney plays like he did last week, then the Colts have a good chance.

Go Ravens!

:D

Pregame up in HD.

Argh, I hope our CBS' tower isn't screwed cause of this ice. :( Pregame is SD here in Tulsa. (KOTV via Cox Cable.)

Let's Go Colts!!!

It's up in 1080i & DD5.1, on the CBS digital television network.

Game time weather:

66 degrees
Wind from SSW at 3mph
Humidity 59%
Cloudy with light rain, more rain expected later

Cal Ripkin Jr. gave the Ravens the home-town edge in the toss. :)

Hopefully the NFL drops CBS next year. Worst HD football available. Very sad. Almsost un-watchable. Why can't CBS provide good HD?

GO RAVENS!!!

Picture is phenomenal on WCCO-DT via OTA in Minneapolis.

Picture is phenomenal on WCCO-DT via OTA in Minneapolis.

We're watching it on Comcast Cable. Might go back over to my house to watch on DirecTV. Cable sucks so bad it's not even funny.

We're watching it on Comcast Cable. Might go back over to my house to watch on DirecTV. Cable sucks so bad it's not even funny.
Are you on one of the older Adelphia systems?

I'm watching OTA in Miami and the PQ is fantastic. The DD5.1 audio is great.

Let's go Colts.

Indy is getting drawn into quick snaps. Just because it looks like the Ravens' D is wandering around aimlessly doesn't mean they aren't prepared to pick up their assignments. If the Colts had simply waited and gone with a set offense they'd probably have the TD.

Awesome PQ via WFSB-DT over Comcast Cable. CBS always has excellent PQ for football espescially in dusk/night.

StringsTheory: sounds more like a house-specific problem. You really prefer HD-Lite to cable?

Looks and sounds great on WWJ-DT CBS Detroit (no multicasting), via Comcast.

Blimp glamor shot was as good as I've seen.

WJZ Baltimore OTA and on Comcast Baltimore County.

Fantastic PQ

Is it just me or does CBS have the best first down and line of scrimmage lines of all the nets?

Awesome PQ via WFSB-DT over Comcast Cable. CBS always has excellent PQ for football espescially in dusk/night.

StringsTheory: sounds more like a house-specific problem. You really prefer HD-Lite to cable?

WYSIWYG. CBS is just bad period but even worse on compressed Comcast. They have major bandwidth issues. They've even slowed down internet speed since taking over Adelphia. They just suck.

One of the best games of the season, looks absolutely fantastic.

Watching on Comcast Cable in Philly

WYSIWYG. CBS is just bad period but even worse on compressed Comcast. They have major bandwidth issues. They've even slowed down internet speed since taking over Adelphia. They just suck.
Ah, ex-Adelphia. That explains a lot of it.

KPIX, San Francisco/Bay area via Comcast

PQ is the 'usual' CBS/NFL amazing :p.
SQ is 'kicking' also with surrounds very active.

web

Hopefully the NFL drops CBS next year. Worst HD football available. Very sad. Almsost un-watchable. Why can't CBS provide good HD?

GO RAVENS!!!
Sounds like a local problem. Anyways CBS has the NFL through 2011.

Ah, ex-Adelphia. That explains a lot of it.

PQ was fantastic when it was Adelphia and cable internet was 3x's faster.

Sounds like a local problem. Anyways CBS has the NFL through 2011.

That sucks. I was hoping that FOX would get it. They have the best HD-Football on earth.

I like the new unobstrusive bug (centered at the very bottom of the screen,) that WWJ-DT is using. Every other broadcaster should use that as an example.

Picture and Sound Quality excellent on Comcast ClearQAM in Detroit.

-- Jim

Watching WOIO-DT Cleveland via WOW cable. WeatherNow subchannel.

Looks very good. Our affiliate keeps the weather sub at a fixed 2Mbps so there's no noticable macroblocking on the main HD channel. They're too cheap to buy the equipment for DD 5.1 audio unfortunately.

PQ is (again) amazing on WCAX-DT Burlington/Montreal OTA. Production is exceptional. Great work CBS. Great game so far!

That sucks. I was hoping that FOX would get it. They have the best HD-Football on earth.
FOX already has the NFC NFL package. That contract runs thru 2011 as well. NBC's SNF runs thru 2012 and ESPN's MNF runs thru 2014.

PQ was fantastic when it was Adelphia and cable internet was 3x's faster.

So, it's really not CBS that sucks, but Comcast?

What city are you in? What affiliate? If cable is so bad, have you tried an OTA tuner?

It appears that CBS is not using a cable cam for this game. I know that this is there number 2 team but you would think they would add a cable cam for a playoff game.

Bring on the Peyton Manning face!

PQ was fantastic when it was Adelphia and cable internet was 3x's faster.

So now you have D* with internet that is 10x slower and and only 1280x1080i video -lol.....great decision.

PQ is excellent on WLNS-DT from Lansing, MI......no multicasting. Best CBS game so far this year.

So, it's really not CBS that sucks, but Comcast?

What city are you in? What affiliate? If cable is so bad, have you tried an OTA tuner?

CBS was at least watchable on DirecTV.

Anyone else getting intermittent pixelization in Chicago through D*

Bring on the Peyton Manning face!

I am beginning to think that Manning is a seven letter word for "Choke." If I was an Indianapolis fan I would worry.


-- Jim

WYSIWYG. CBS is just bad period but even worse on compressed Comcast. They have major bandwidth issues. They've even slowed down internet speed since taking over Adelphia. They just suck.The problem is the old Adelphia system. Comcast will upgrade it.

McNair throws an interception at the one yard line.

-- Jim

The problem is the old Adelphia system. Comcast will upgrade it.

My house isn't even 1 year old. What old system? Comcast raised prices and lowered performance, has nothing to do with the system.

My house isn't even 1 year old. What old system? Comcast raised prices and lowered performance, has nothing to do with the system.
The old Adelphia cable infrastructure, not your in house system.

Beautiful picture from WUSA 9 over Verizon.

My house isn't even 1 year old. What old system? Comcast raised prices and lowered performance, has nothing to do with the system.See homecom's comment.

Your house could have been built yesterday, the problem is the old Adelphia cable system. Adelphia was in bankruptcy for years before Comcast bought it, and let their infrastructure become outdated and unable to keep up with the demands of digital video, high speed Internet, and digital telephone.

It will take Comcast time to rebuild the mess Adelphia left, but they are committed to quality and you will be pleased when they complete the job.

Hmmm. KPIX (SF) just went SD. (after the two minute warning) and then switched back to HD after a minute.

I like the new unobstrusive bug (centered at the very bottom of the screen,) that WWJ-DT is using. Every other broadcaster should use that as an example.

Picture and Sound Quality excellent on Comcast ClearQAM in Detroit.

-- Jim

Our local KOIN isn't using any secondary bug. Every other broadcaster should use THAT as an example. ;)

PQ and SQ are astounding via Comcast.

Our local KOIN isn't using any secondary bug. Every other broadcaster should use THAT as an example. ;)

PQ and SQ are astounding via Comcast.
jmallory was talking about the legal ID at the top of the hour. If KION is not putting a legal ID up on their HD channel they will be hearing from the FCC soon I would think.

Folks, something to tell about CBS HD:

On average, CBS's HD can very good, IF the local affiliate doesn't compress the signal too much to allow for multicasting. So if you have PQ issues OTA, there's your probable reason.

Cable and especially D*/E* are notorious for overcompressing the HD feeds to fit in as many channels as they can over a small amount of bandwidth. Since Verizon fiber has more available bandwidth than cable, they don't need to compress the signal to the point of heavy macroblocking.

So the point is this: You have a better chance at a good pic OTA vs. any other method (beyond a C-band dish).

PQ and audio (DD5.1) are fantastic on WJZ (CBS Baltimore). Watching on Comcast in Annapolis MD. This is how it should always be. This is how HD is supposed to look. I wish WBAL (NBC Baltimore) would take a lesson from WJZ on how to do a 1080i broadcast properly!

If anyone from WJZ is reading -- don't change a thing, and thank you very much! If anyone from WBAL is reading (ha, doubt it) -- call WJZ and ask them how it's done!

OTA KHOU 11 Houston, pretty great picture.

If I've read this right, it's 18.7 Mbps. What sort of numbers are you folks seeing?

Is pretty good here in Bellingham, WA via Comcast.

However, I still get the same, short duration blockiness as I do with NBC after that damn network logo flys at the screen.

So the point is this: You have a better chance at a good pic OTA vs. any other method.....That can be true, but there are cable systems that pass local HD bit for bit, and look as good as OTA.

It all depends on where you live, and who the cableco is.

KIRO-DT Seattle, OTA

10.8-11.5 mb/s FTW! :rolleyes:

~4.5 mb/s devoted to a 480i stationary airport camera feed...

Macroblocking hello!

KIRO-DT Seattle, OTA

10.8-11.5 mb/s FTW! :rolleyes:

~4.5 mb/s devoted to a 480i stationary airport camera feed...Ugg.

WANE - Fort Wayne, IN - OTA

Looks crystal clear... of course, being in Indiana, the villagers would be in front of the studio with torches lit if it weren't.

BTW - Ken H, I agree with you... the airel shots are beautiful. They mentioned they were in a fixed wing tonight, but I'm wondering if they're doing a little equipment burn-in with the wireless HD stuff they'll be using for golf pretty soon?

Anyone know the definition of a football move as defined in the rule book? Seems this problem is occurring every week, and the announcers all have different interpetations.

KIRO-DT Seattle, OTA

10.8-11.5 mb/s FTW! :rolleyes:

~4.5 mb/s devoted to a 480i stationary airport camera feed...

Macroblocking hello!

Well there you go. I had no idea KIRO had a sub station/feed, which would explain the blocking up here in Bellingham.

OTA KHOU 11 Houston, pretty great picture.

If I've read this right, it's 18.7 Mbps. What sort of numbers are you folks seeing?

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4879/klas11307ef5.png (http://imageshack.us)

OTA KHOU 11 Houston, pretty great picture.

If I've read this right, it's 18.7 Mbps. What sort of numbers are you folks seeing?

About the same here, Comcast out of Chattanooga(WDEF-DT).

did the sound change sometime during this game? in the beginning the crowd was so loud, especially in my surrounds, that i could barely hear the commentary (good thing). in the second half the crowd is almost silent. it seems hard to believe that the crowd is actually that quiet

Anyone else getting intermittent pixelization in Chicago through D*

Yes, I am in northwest IN and switched it to channel 80 due to dad pixelation. On channel 80 (D*) the crowd noise drops out intermittenly and is very annoying.

Go Colts.

Peyton
Harrison
TD
Ball Game

That was a good game, fun to watch. Great job by CBS, I look forward to their coverage tomorrow, next week, and for the Super Bowl.

Well there you go. I had no idea KIRO had a sub station/feed, which would explain the blocking up here in Bellingham.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3492/blahwa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

good job colts. great job CBS on a fabulous presentation. Looked perfect here. I went up the screen to make sure i wasnt in dreamland and nope, it was as beautiful at 2" as it was at 20'. Only thing i was hoping to see was that great Super Slomo vision cam they had last week at Foxboro.

good job colts. great job CBS on a fabulous presentation. Looked perfect here. I went up the screen to make sure i wasnt in dreamland and nope, it was as beautiful at 2" as it was at 20'. Only thing i was hoping to see was that great Super Slomo vision cam they had last week at Foxboro.
I have a feeling that we will see that super slomo camera tomorrow, since that game will feature the number one announce team and production crew.

OTA in Montgomery AL the HD picture was great.

I have a feeling that we will see that super slomo camera tomorrow, since that game will feature the number one announce team and production crew.
Bing!

I have a feeling that we will see that super slomo camera tomorrow, since that game will feature the number one announce team and production crew.
Not to mention more available light to work with. Those cams must be doing over 100 frames a second.

Not to mention more available light to work with. Those cams must be doing over 100 frames a second.
Someone from CBS mentioned in last week's thread they were operating at 300 fps.

It'll be interesting to see what framerate they can get tomorrow as it starts to go dark toward the end of the game (yeah, I forgot that CBS gets the late game tomorrow).

Bing!


They only have one? will they ever buy more and put that in all of their AFC games? That camera system is freaking awesome.

They only have one? will they ever buy more and put that in all of their AFC games? That camera system is freaking awesome.
I doubt you ever see them in all games, it would be quite expensive. Most people at home never notice these things so they are only brought out for big games. FOX had these types of cameras for the World Series and league Championship games and that was it.

Beautiful picture and sound from CBS as usual.

I have the DirecTV HR20, which has the integrated HD local channels...but CBS still does not come through as an HD signal. FOX finally came through about a month or so ago. DirecTV mentioned that it was a bug in their HR20 box. I am in Indianapolis...does anyone else have the same experience or suggestions. Thanks.

I have the DirecTV HR20, which has the integrated HD local channels...but CBS still does not come through as an HD signal. FOX finally came through about a month or so ago. DirecTV mentioned that it was a bug in their HR20 box. I am in Indianapolis...does anyone else have the same experience or suggestions. Thanks.
Have you checked your local thread for information about your local situation. Find your local thread here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241

Anyone else getting intermittent pixelization in Chicago through D*

I'm getting it in south-central Pennsylvania (Blue Ridge Cable) and it sucks.
Every time there is fast action (including animated graphics), the picture
gets pixelated. Commercials look fine, however. I don't know whom to
blame but I hate it.

I get 1080i from ESPN and it always looks great. 720p from Fox looks great.
CBS 1080i looks great for still or slow moving images but fast action goes
to pot.

Ironically, Sony advertises/brags that they are CBS's equipment supplier
for CBS's HD coverage of the games. If they saw what I see, they
would be embarrassed.

Every game that I've seen on CBS this year has the same problem. The picture is incredibly blurry until the camera zooms in on the action or players. Once the camera zooms in the picture quality is pretty good. It's almost like the HD cameras they're using has the auto-focus turned off unless it's zoomed in. This is the only station I've ever experienced this too. Fox doesn't have this problem, ESPN, etc. Commercials look great that are in HD also.

Unfortunately I guess that means the Super Bowl will have the same issues as well...

Every game that I've seen on CBS this year has the same problem. The picture is incredibly blurry until the camera zooms in on the action or players. Once the camera zooms in the picture quality is pretty good. It's almost like the HD cameras they're using has the auto-focus turned off unless it's zoomed in.Auto focus? Not quite. It's all manual.

Auto focus? Not quite. It's all manual.

there's the answer then. the guys running the camera aren't getting the focus right unless they zoom in on the players. Even my wife has complained about this and she really doesn't really pay that much attention to detail when it comes to our TV. It's not that big a deal. I don't like any AFC teams anyways, it's just a shame the Super Bowl will be shown on the same station...