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HD syndication ... more on the way  

post #1 of 384
8/3/07 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere, but if it has, I haven't seen it. There's been a lot of talk here about HD syndicated programming (or lack of), so I thought it would be interesting to note that Warner Bros. will be making the syndicated episodes of "Two and a Half Men" available to stations in HD when it debuts in September. The episodes will be delivered via Pathfire.

There may be other shows that are getting the same treatment, but this is the only one I've heard about so far.

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post #2 of 384
8/3/07 at 1:20pm
Isn't that basically what HDNet is doing with those HD series it licenses?
post #3 of 384
8/3/07 at 1:26pm
Thread Starter 
HDNet is different -- they just get their own copies of the shows and keep them in their library. Syndicated shows are sent down everyday, and are re-sent for each airing as there is integrated commercial content which changes each time.
post #4 of 384
8/3/07 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by archiguy View Post

Isn't that basically what HDNet is doing with those HD series it licenses?

Syndication is an entirely different ballgame. See the Jeopardy in HD thread for details on why doing syndicated programs in HD has been a big hurdle to climb. This will eventually lead a whole lot more HD programming over the course of the day at your local broadcast stations. Would be nice to see CSI reruns or the redone Star Trek TOS episodes in HD or even Seinfeld at some point in 4:3 OAR HD.
post #5 of 384
8/3/07 at 3:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by afiggatt View Post

This will eventually lead a whole lot more HD programming over the course of the day at your local broadcast stations.

That's the way I see it too. Since the majority of syndication is done through Pathfire, this means that there will now be a relatively painless way to move this content to the stations. Now the station(s) will still need to invest in an HD server and ancillary gear to get this stuff on the air, but this a good sign that things are about to change ...
post #6 of 384
8/3/07 at 8:30pm
Just curious, if a station is airing Jeopardy or 2.5 Men in HD, do they need to download an HD and an SD feed for air later? Or can they just downconvert/centercut an HD feed to create the SD one? Seems if they could do the latter, it would make the whole ordeal slightly easier.
post #7 of 384
8/4/07 at 12:12am
Thread Starter 
The answer is, "it depends." Some HD servers can provide a simultaneous SD output, which can either be letterboxed or center-cut. Barring that, they could use an external downconverter to accomplish the same task. If neither of those are possible, then recording two different copies would be required.
post #8 of 384
8/4/07 at 1:21am
Has anyone heard anything about shows like "Live With Regis & Kelly", "Oprah" and "Ellen" being made available in HD?

Larry
SF
post #9 of 384
8/4/07 at 1:43am
Thread Starter 
I remember there was a rumor about "Oprah" awhile back, but I've not heard it recently. The place I work for doesn't air any of those shows, so I don't have any inside scoop on what might he coming down the pike.
post #10 of 384
8/4/07 at 4:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by videojanitor View Post

The episodes will be delivered via Pathfire..

Only if you're willing to spend the money to upgrade your pathfire servers to HD..
They don't provide that upgrade for free..I have 3 of the beasts to do..
post #11 of 384
8/4/07 at 7:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdfox18doe View Post

Only if you're willing to spend the money to upgrade your pathfire servers to HD..
They don't provide that upgrade for free..I have 3 of the beasts to do..

Where?
post #12 of 384
8/4/07 at 9:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vertigo235 View Post

Where?

In the pathfire rack of course.. .. Here @ WCCB-WOLO..and that doesn't include the other 4 stations In our group...
post #13 of 384
8/4/07 at 10:07am
What will that bring to WCCB?

I ask obviously because I'm in Charlotte!
post #14 of 384
8/4/07 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vertigo235 View Post

What will that bring to WCCB? !

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.. as the ONLY syndication we air that is currently available to us in HD is Wheel & Jeopardy, and that airs on WOLO... Which is why I won't spend the money to upgrade pathfire..
post #15 of 384
8/4/07 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdfox18doe View Post

Only if you're willing to spend the money to upgrade your pathfire servers to HD..
They don't provide that upgrade for free..I have 3 of the beasts to do..

Hmmm, this is interesting, because our station received a communique from them to let us know that they would be upgrading our servers to HD this weekend. It's just a software upgrade -- no hardware. I had not heard that there was any cost involved for this, but then again, I don't hear everything. Perhaps this is because for this particular upgrade, they won't be supporting VIDEO playout of the HD material -- you've got to have HD servers that will accept the content via file transfers.
post #16 of 384
8/4/07 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by videojanitor View Post

you've got to have HD servers that will accept the content via file transfers.

Yep, and that's a whole nother kettle of fish.. and usually involves "file-wrapping" via additional pathfire or Telestream software..again, mo money..
post #17 of 384
9/28/07 at 1:55am
Contrary to what bdfox18doe mentioned, there are a few other syndicated programs that are simulcast in HD. In my market, we get Comics Unleashed as well as National Poker League and Laura McKenzie's Traveler in HD. So, yeah; it's slowly growing in terms of local programming (aside from HD news). So far, so good. Heh.
post #18 of 384
9/28/07 at 3:37am
Out of interest - does anyone know what codec and datarate Pathfire uses for SD and HD content? Presumably it spits out an SDI or HD-SDI signal (or does it have file based transfer options for transfer to suitable servers?) but I assume it uses compression for distribution?

I've been involved in a system used in the UK for distribution of commercials and music promos in SD that is based around 50Mbs I-frame only MPEG2 (not massively different to 50Mbs IMX I guess) and that is pretty good quality - not noticably worse than DigiBeta.
post #19 of 384
9/28/07 at 9:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sneals2000 View Post

Out of interest - does anyone know what codec and datarate Pathfire uses for SD and HD content? Presumably it spits out an SDI or HD-SDI signal (or does it have file based transfer options for transfer to suitable servers?) but I assume it uses compression for distribution?

I can't get info on the original files, but when they're transcoded and deposited in our air playour servers, the SD files are between 10-12 Mb/s, while the HD files are 37 Mb/s. Their workstations can output SDI, but not HD-SDI -- if you want the HD content, it has to be done via file transfer (for now ... I believe they will be offering HD-SDI playout in the future).
post #20 of 384
9/30/07 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by videojanitor View Post

I believe they will be offering HD-SDI playout in the future).

Hey Bill, are you guys airing any syndication in HD yet?

Still the only thing "WE" air that's available to "US" (contrary what teamfx says) is W & J..There is one PAID programmer we have on both stations that is moving to HD, but they have been saying "this fall" for the 2nd year in a row now. Can't name them as they haven't officially announced HD. But they have bought the equipment, and will use satellite distribution as they do now.
post #21 of 384
9/30/07 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdfox18doe View Post

Hey Bill, are you guys airing any syndication in HD yet?

Indeed. We are airing "Two and Half Men" in HD, twice a day. As far as I know, that's the only thing on our schedule (outside of FOX, which doesn't count) that's available in HD. I had read earlier this year that "Merv Griffin's Crosswords" was supposed to be HD (at least on the NBC O&Os), but I can't find any evidence that it is.
post #22 of 384
9/30/07 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdfox18doe View Post

There is one PAID programmer we have on both stations that is moving to HD, but they have been saying "this fall" for the 2nd year in a row now. Can't name them as they haven't officially announced HD.

I know you won't confirm, but lemme guess: Is it a church?
post #23 of 384
9/30/07 at 5:45pm
Merv Griffin's Crosswords isn't in HD on WMAQ btw.
post #24 of 384
10/1/07 at 10:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikemikeb View Post

I know you won't confirm, but lemme guess: Is it a church?

My guess from unofficial rumblings and rumors would be more of a club, than a church.
post #25 of 384
10/1/07 at 11:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CPanther95 View Post

My guess from unofficial rumblings and rumors would be more of a club, than a church.

And might this "club" upgrade to a 14:9 "right" justified transmission, and not transmit anything on the "left" side at all ????

And might they change their name to "The 720p Club".

Sorry, couldn't resist.....
post #26 of 384
10/1/07 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin j View Post

Merv Griffin's Crosswords isn't in HD on WMAQ btw.

4:3 SD here on WNBC.
post #27 of 384
10/14/07 at 2:44pm
Is anyone airing the HD remastered Seinfeld in syndication?
post #28 of 384
10/14/07 at 11:03pm
Thread Starter 
The answer to that seems to be no, because they are not being made available. The syndicated episodes are sent out daily (because they include different national commercial content with each airing), and as far I know, they don't have HD syndication versions.
post #29 of 384
10/16/07 at 8:40pm
I guess it's time to start hounding the powers that be until we get our HD Seinfeld.
post #30 of 384
10/16/07 at 9:01pm
Thread Starter 
You would think that someone would realize that having these in HD would actually add value to the reruns -- it would at least give you a reason to WATCH them. I know if they were in HD, I would watch -- whereas I don't now.
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