best looking HD content?

I guess since you're asking here you're asking for the best "broadcast" content. As you might already know, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD can excel over broadcast with 1080p and higher bitrate video and audio.

As for broadcast though, I think you'd find people hard to argue about DISC-HD offering some of the most stunning broadcasts around.

Also depends on what type of 'content' you are looking for. Are you into episodic dramas, game shows, sporting events, live event specials? I mean if you really want to show off a 46 inch there's nothing better than a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD (beats the crap out of most HD television). As far as TV goes I would tend to agree that some of the episodic dramas on CBS, particurally the CSI franchise and Lost on ABC are pretty visually stunning. Discovery HD, and PBSHD I think are great as well. ESPNHD is hot or cold depending on your provider. But if you're showing off your display to someone who's never seen HD before then just about anything on the air that's HD (save for maybe some TNT movies) should suffice.

Get an HD-DVD or Blu-ray player. Nothing else comes close.

I find the best HD PQ is always shown in commercials. There were a bunch of epson HD commecials that completely blew me away, and demonstrating how clear 1080i can be, when the format is properly used. I just wish all HD could be that clear.

Do you already have a non-OTA content provider (i.e. cable or satellite)? If so, what do you subscribe to?

Also keep in mined that film sources and video sources produce very different looks.

Look for the Toshiba HD DVD ad. It looks amazing, especially on HDNet.

I recently saw a demo of the Sony Bravia LCD panel. It was using a device with a hard drive to feed it 1080i SUPER high resolution content. The bit stream was 36Mbps. There is no question this is by far the BEST looking, most stunning HD I've seen to date.

Does anyone know of any sample clips (.ts files or the like) that is available for playback on a PC at 1080p with this level of quality. Man I would love to see how that demo tape looks like on my display.

This is getting a little off the original topic but wouldn't a video with at least 1920x1080 resolution played on a HTPC (running with videocard set to at least 1920x1080 @ 60hz resolution) connected to an HD display be considered 1080p content?

If you're talking about the demo they playback of Hawaii and Italy, that is a 1080p demo.

Not if the HTPC was playing 1080i content. It might look just as good as real 1080p content however.

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same demo or not. The one I watched had various clips and some that certainly could have been from Hawaii and Italy. This loop included footage from the movie Open Season. Is that the same one you are thinking of? If so I'm pretty certain it was 1080i, as the Taradex (sp?) player it was outputting only lists 1080i as its max resolution with no 1080p support.

Just finished watching "Planet Earth" on Discovery HD. WOW What an episode. The birds in Borneo were magnificant. HIghly recommended. PQ was Phenomenal.

Anything on HDNet (music, bikinis), DiscoveryHD (travel or almost anything). FoodHD and HGTV HD are excellent as well.

Of course the mother of all sporting events, the Super Bowl on CBS in 1080i. That's half the reason I dropped $4500 on a Panny 1080p 50" plasma this xmas.

Many of the shows on Discovery HD Theater look better than other broadcasts I've seen through DirecTV HD. I love that channel.

Check out Blue Realm on Discovery HD. Always looks unbelievable to me.

I also watched Planet Earth on Discovery HD, it was absolutly amazing. I will be keeping this one on my DVR for awhile. Sigourney Weaver does a good voiceover too. Can't wait for the 11-part series in March!!

Discovery Theater HD without question is best broadcast.

Planet earth (and I hate to use the cliche) was amazing. My 19 year old nephew he never watches TV -- well he sat there stunned.

I'm in Canada, so I don't know if you guys in the USA get this show but..

Insectia, on DiscoveryHD.

Simply put, short of HD-DVD/Blu-Ray, nothing comes close in terms of PQ.

Definitely Insectia on Discovery HD is the best I've ever seen on my set.

So much for the anything short of full 1920 x 1080i is HD-Lite theory. Discovery HD uses HDCAM - 1440 x 1080i.

Agreed. Some of the Discovery around the world HD shows are ridiculous.

I dont even watch the channel but nor care about travel but I feel like I am there.

+1
Planet earth looks downright breath taking, the colors just POP out at you..
Also "Nothing But Trailers" on HD NET looks great too, just movies trailers but they look stunning sometimes

the smartass answer. couldn't resist

I couldn't resist.
the smartass answer:
a professional HDCAM-SR VTR.


for a consumer format
Blu-Ray is the best format for video with Max Video Bitrate: 40Mbps
1920x1080 24p using the MPEG-4's H.264/AVC compressor not MPEG2

compared to
the almost 10-year old tape-based D-VHS digital HD format
D-VHS Max Video Bitrate: 28Mbps



details on the Professional HDCAM-SR format

10Bit YUV (4:2:2) HDCAM-SR tapes
MPEG4 Studio Profile Compression (4:2:2 10 bit sampling @ 2.7:1 video compression- 24PsF
The VTR can record and playback the 1920(H) x 1080(V) HD format
593 Mb/s data rate
SRW-5000 Studio Editing VTR
MSRP- $113,900.



runner up:
HDW-F500 VTR
HDCAM tape format
3:1:1, 8-bit @ 7:1 video compression
Data rate: 143Mb/sec

check out those data rates. talk about compressed for broadcast! Even a show like "30 rock" is shot on 35mm and telecined to HDCAM-SR at 593 Mb/s data rate.


= = =

Honestly, I would put the video from the consumer($900) Canon HV10 up against most professional HD cameras. The colors and clarity from this camera are absolutely stunning. Now it won't do as well in low light but low light HD video wouldn't be the best you have ever seen even with the most expensive camera.

HD-DVD and especially Blu-Ray suck compared to what can be done when you don't have to adhere to a spec and when it is played through a computer.

Best Looking: Concerts on HDNet
Best Sounding: Concerts on HDNet
Best Action: 24 on FoxHD
Best Sports: (Tie) Football on Fox/Hockey on HDNet

Bringing up a thread that's almost 10 months old, just to pump HDNet. Bad form, newbie.

I think CSI: Miami looks great in HD. Yes, yes, it's over-saturated like crazy, but it looks cool...