Ok so, I posted a thread on the forum.blu-ray.com site about some pretty terrible image problems on the first disc of the set. (though, I haven't watched much more of the set, others in that thread have noticed the same problem on other episodes...) Here's the link to the thread for a recap:

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=8245

But if you don't feel like sifting through that thread, basically the image problems happen at : "title 4 chapter 1, 00:03:47, and then again (and most noticeably) at, "title 4 chapter 1 00:05:30" on disc 1, in the "Freshwater" episode.

I have been in contact with customer support at BBC, and through them the authoring house that made the set. After sending them the exact time code, and scene information, this was the latest email I received:

"Very quick response on this one too. Your customer will like this!

Many of the shots on the Freshwater episode were shot using the
"heligimble" camera. During filming for this episode the radio in the
helicopter interefered with the onboard recorder. This was not realised
until the film crew returned to base and had no opportunity to retake.
The shots had to be specially cleaned up, but however some RF
interference was still evident in the source material."

So, with this "final word" from the authoring house, do those here with advanced knowledge of HD compression/codec/authoring feel that this is an adequate conclusion?

Thank you all in advance for your 2cents! Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this!

If it's a lie, it's one a heck of an excuse, I'll give it that.

Well i'm not assuming it's a lie... I just want to be sure this seems correct. It would seem that they could pretty much come up with anything rather than start a massive recall/make available replacement discs at bulk.

What problem? There is no problem you are a very foolish boy. If you dont stop spreading these vicious rumors, A gang of av enthusiast will show up at your door and things will get ugly. Planet earth was rated as having 5 out of 5 picture quality so you are obviously delusional.

Definatley not 5 out of 5 for video IMO, maybe 4. I watched all of disc 3 and some of disc 4. I saw some areas that were overly grainyn even with full light, I saw some softness from time to time, and some vertical banding which might be related to the interference noted above. This is not the same as horizontal banding that pops up on some digital displays.

Even in terms of a HD nature series, there was an insect show on Discovery HD with this quirky Canadian guy that hands down beats Planet Earth for video quality. I wish they would release that series.

What problem? There is no problem you are a very foolish boy. If you dont stop spreading these vicious rumors, A gang of av enthusiast will show up at your door and things will get ugly. Planet earth was rated as having 5 out of 5 picture quality so you are obviously delusional.


Sorry friend, but go to that time code and you'll see for yourself. Particularly at 05:30... Hardly 5 out of 5 if you ask me.

I wished amazon had it delayed till May 12th or something later. I feel asleep during the first disc and it was from Netflix. I did notice it wasnt spectacular. I just viewed Babel which itself wasn't great but sharper than this. I got my pack today from Amazon.

Sorry friend, but go to that time code and you'll see for yourself. Particularly at 05:30... Hardly 5 out of 5 if you ask me.

He was just playing with you, look up on some other thread and he was the one who started the PQ thread and everybody jump on him for it, but I do accept their explanation about that scenes, I have seen helicopter shots before and sometime there is a flickering problem like that.

This seems to be a common problem with hardcore AV enthusiasts, but maybe you'd enjoy Planet Earth more if you sat back and just enjoyed the content rather than obsessing over every single pixel looking for flaws. Particularly in a wildlife documentary in which the footage is being shot under conditions that are far from ideal, inhospitable and at times even downright dangerous with no opportunity for reshoots, you'd think some people might give the film-makers a little slack and just agree that the footage they got was amazing rather than bashing them for not managing to make every single shot an HD demo reel.

This seems to be a common problem with hardcore AV enthusiasts, but maybe you'd enjoy Planet Earth more if you sat back and just enjoyed the content rather than obsessing over every single pixel looking for flaws. Particularly in a wildlife documentary in which the footage is being shot under conditions that are far from ideal, inhospitable and at times even downright dangerous with no opportunity for reshoots, you'd think some people might give the film-makers a little slack and just agree that the footage they got was amazing rather than bashing them for not managing to make every single shot an HD demo reel.

I don't guess many people read that little blurb on the cover that says it's not all in HD either, because it couldn't all be shot in pure HD due to circumstances of the shoots. But I think that 5/5 review for PQ is what is throwing people. Me, I'm not so nitpicky.

"Many of the shots on the Freshwater episode were shot using the
"heligimble" camera. During filming for this episode the radio in the
helicopter interefered with the onboard recorder. This was not realised
until the film crew returned to base and had no opportunity to retake.
The shots had to be specially cleaned up, but however some RF
interference was still evident in the source material."
Thanks for sharing this, Mistersh0w!!

We noticed this also and were trying to figure out why it only occurred during a limited number of aerial shots.

The extra nitpicky-ness is also because this is in HD format, not SD. I've already commented that the broadcast SD has more content than HD and I paid for the HD version. I dont understand that.

I believe the response the OP got was sincere. It's good that they actually cared enough to go to the specific timecode and research the problem.

As an editor working with HD material, the reasoning behind the PQ suffering seems legit. Normally I would avoid using the footage and look for a shot that can convey the same thing that is more pristine. However, given the fact it couldn't be re-shot, and supposing the director just couldn't live without it, they chose to leave it in.

In spite of the occasional sub PQ shots in the show, I am generally impressed with the whole program! There are moments that have an IMAX-like impact! I'm happy to have this title in my Blu-ray collection.

Many of the shots on the Freshwater episode were shot using the
"heligimble" camera. During filming for this episode the radio in the
helicopter interefered with the onboard recorder. This was not realised
until the film crew returned to base and had no opportunity to retake.
The shots had to be specially cleaned up, but however some RF
interference was still evident in the source material."

...yeah, that beats "the dog ate my homework". :)

Thanks for sharing this, Mistersh0w!!

We noticed this also and were trying to figure out why it only occurred during a limited number of aerial shots.

You are very welcome bluchunks! I'm happy to have shared it with you. I guess this is the answer many of us have been looking for.