Super Bowl XXXVIII on CBS - In HDTV! - Page 17  

I had the Audio dropping problem as well. I was getting my feed from D*

The video was great though.

Ron

Well, we did in fact have some wierd things going on with the D* feed for CBS (Ch 81). I never swicthed over to OTA CBS to see if that made a difference. Things we noted were:

1. There was a major dropout about 10-20 mins into the game. The screen went totally blank. (a loud cry came up from the attendees of my party).

2. There were some very strange artifacts going on with various camera shots. Almost like a line doubler was not synced up (in my lack of tech knowledge here). Just didn't come across (at times) like the HD feed was working well. Somewhat annoying - until the beer kicked in .. :-)

During the 1st 1/2 WCBS would drop audio for a few minutes. KCBS did not have the same problems as far as I noticed. The ausio on WCBS was better IMHO.

I noticed #2 via OTA, so it was not a D* issue.

Not talking about quantity of penalties, but timing and implications (and non calls).

How could the league have anything to do with Kasey kicking it out of bounds? It isn't a penalty that can go uncalled.

Let's see what you guys think ...

With minor exceptions, the CBS coverage was light years ahead of any previous Super Bowl in HD. I find Eye-Vision to be of limited value, especially considering the huge investment in hardware and set up time.

SD cameras...a few...but no big deal. Very minor technical problems, some obvious bandwidth problems, only noticeable in dissolves.

The local CBS affiliate had their entire "A" team on duty, and they did a fine job getting the signal out. About the only thing that caught my attention overall was that CBS was infatuated with close ups...very tight close ups, especially unnecessary with HD. Someone needs to take some of those 70 to 1 zoom lenses away from the director. Otherwise, everyone in attendance at our "showing" noticed that there was little if any audio from the RF-parabolic mics of noise from the field...crunching bodies, etc. We had good rear surround of the pre-game music, crowd noise and all...so the channels were up and running...it's the mix that was a bit questionable.

Overall...CBS gets high marks for their investment in cameras and personnel...and execution.

Now...about that half time show.....aside from JJ's incident, who in heaven's name ever approved the basic concept and casting? It was in poor taste to begin with. It would be appropriate if heads rolled at both the NFL and CBS. Is this the kind of "culture" that we want our kids and the rest of the world to see as a "snapshot" of what our country stands for? Meanwhile...no one is talking about the classy performance of the National Anthem by Beyonce.

She was amazing.

Although there was little Mpeg artifacts, the video black levels between cameras varied widely. The upconverted intermixed camera cut ins, were of very poor quality. The replays were very inconsistent. The DD 5.1 mix was very unbalanced and the commercials were annoyingly loud. Great game, poor production. This was viewed OTA on WCBS-NY.

I have to say last years "Grammies" on CBS from MSG was the best live HD broadcast I've ever seen. CBS can do a great job, but this wasn't it.

This was my 2nd or 3rd Super Bowl Party in HD via OTA .... every year my tv goes in and out throughout the game. I also get freezes and digital artifacts like crazy. This almost never happens when I am watching tv via OTA during any other time during the year. Very few breaks ups if any during shows. Why is it every year for the Super Bowl it is so much worse?? My guests were annoyed with it so I switched to standard definition just so we could get a consistent signal ... very disappointing. Is there any reason for this to happen?? I use the silver sensor for OTA and it's always very good any other time I watch tv using it. What gives?

If the silver sensor is in the same room, it might be the actual people or other things that aren't normally in the room that's effecting the picture.

I agree, my signal levels are highly effected if I walk up near the antenna. Maybe it's my magnetic personality. :)

Like my old coach used to say "INTELLIGENCE STRIKES AGAIN"!

Hey give credit where it is due! It was a great game, there were calls and noncalls that hurt both teams ie. holding by the Patriot OLine and on the 4th down, the ball never made it back to the LOS. But you know what!!! That's exactly what makes the game of football so gutwretching and exciting at the same time. BTW the 28 people at my party loved the HD presentation. Some dropout video & audio but nothing major.

Must have been a D* issue. I watched the entire game on WCBS via Comcast and OTA (to compare) and didn't experience any audio dropouts.

Well, the end of the game (last quarter) was better, but I personally didn't think it was great.

At least it was close, or so sayith the score and the refs, unlike last year.

I noticed audio issues on BellSouth digital (SD) cable as well as Dish Network and OTA. OTA had lots of issues for me. Lost the signal numerous times (registered 88%+ on my dish 811) so watched the first half in SD on Dish.....very disapointing for me and guests. The wow factor went thru the roof when HD OTA became functional after half time and we made it until about 3mins. and lost it again.

When OTA worked it was of terrific quality, audio, surround affects etc. Commercials were too loud (and a waste of $2.3mm).

Antenna is a Channelmaster #4228 8 bay multi-bow. I'm 30-45 miles from transmitting stations, attic mounted about 25' above ground level. I'm new at this OTA HD stuff and was not happy when things went blank and the audio cracked and popped.

When it works, it's beyond expectations, when it doesn't my attitude makes me want to pull an Elvis Presley and start shooting!!:eek:

HD has a way to go........I'll keep trying!
Cheers,
McSpeed

Hey Guys.... You all know Las Vagus found out the hard way the SHOW is for you ONLY your AND FAMILY, not ALL your friends everywhere, this is turning into a very bad joke, or misunderstanding. The ball is NFL, if you don't like it move on. It's that simple.

I have a question . I have noticed all season on the CBS broadcasts of live HD Football games that the mix has the announcers voices at a very low level. When I crank the volume up enough to hear them, the crowd noise and even the Referee's calls verge on being obnoxiously loud. When a commercial comes on it seems like it is 3 DB or so louder than the guys calling the game and it IS obnoxiously loud. I actually had people over to watch the Super Bowl and they were covering their ears and reaching for the remote to turn the audio down every time a commercial came on. Is this low level on the announcer's voices something that any of you have noticed. I don't think that there is anything wrong with my receiver. It shows the 6 lights all on that indicates 5.1. Other sources in 5.1 are fine. I Believe it is the mix. But I wanted to check with others too see if they have heard the same thing.

The other thing...does anyone have a contact at CBS that I could write to about this. It takesmuch of the enjoyment out of watching live HD Football.

Phil P.

I've also noticed that the announcer's level is a bit low...compared to other 5.1 broadcasts. And...yes...the commercials on the SB were even louder than normal. I don't know if this was CBS, or the producers' putting a lot of compression on the audio to boost the overall level. In other words, if you looked at a meter, the audio wouldn't rise and fall very much as does most sound in our lives. It would all appear to be between...say 60-100% modulation. Makes the whole thing sound louder...and it is!

OTA here in Eastern Maine. During the game the only audio defects were the commercials were way to loud. I assume it was the networks problem. Don't know about halftime, the second it came on we went to Earls Court and watched Trampled Underfoot and In My Time of Dying. In fact we didn't even know about the Janet thing till the next day. The halftime show certainly didn't fit the demographics for the crowd watching it here.

Thank you I worked hard to get it done in HD!

I just watched Super Bowl 38. I had recorded on it MyHD. I looked good to me. Best spot: Chevy with the kids getting their mouths washed out with soap. I saw it live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on FOX Sports. It was in SD, Spanish Definition. The graphics were so small that viewers who didn't understand Spanish, couldn't tell that there was :04 left when Venitari (sp?) kicked the game winning field goal. It looked like FOX took the CBS feed.
By the way, it was about 78 degrees at kickoff last Sunday (2-1-04).