Future of HDTV in Singapore?

audiojunky · Post by **audiojunky** » Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:21 am

So it seems that there are only 2 HDTV channels available in Singapore currently - National Geographic and Discovery - after paying $16/month.

So what's the future of HDTV in Singapore? Are there any plans to increase the # of channels, include news, sports, series etc.?? And if yes, any idea when?

There seems to be a lot of HDTV sets on sale in Singapore but the future of HDTV broadcast seems bleak!

muratkorman · Post by **muratkorman** » Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:28 am

Channel 5 shows some TV series such as CSI LV in HD format. I guess they will increase the number of shows. For the other channels, I don't have a clue.

Dobski · Post by **Dobski** » Mon, 06 Aug 2007 1:20 pm

later this year........

http://www.corporate.mediacorp.sg/press ... 691786.htm

rhino · Post by **rhino** » Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:11 pm

Singtel's mio pay-TV offering has 3 HD channels as part of its line up. I think its channel line up compared to Starhub though is really poor though - might improve over time.

bigfilsing · Post by **bigfilsing** » Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:09 am

muratkorman wrote:Channel 5 shows some TV series such as CSI LV in HD format. I guess they will increase the number of shows. For the other channels, I don't have a clue.

Dont be fooled. the shows are shot in HD ( well at least 720P) but the transmitted version is standard quality.
Nobody ...and i mean nobody...transmits in true HD in singapore. IP TV is bollocks. pretending to be HDTV when it's not.
Use google then you'll realise what proper HDTV is! Dont; listen to the hype and accept 3 rd rate crap on offer.

The people upstairs love it. Everybody wants it but is not quite sure what it is= dollars!

GranSport · Post by **GranSport** » Wed, 19 Mar 2008 1:20 pm

..talking about HD... have a question:

i subscribed to the standard *hub package which comes with the digital
set up box, i receive 99% signal quality but the picture quality on my
HDTV just sucks. now my question is, will the quality improve if I get
the HD box instead since the HD box supports HDMI and/or component
(the standard box only supports analog (yellow)). I know I will never get
a full HD signal but I'm wondering if I can optimize the signal with the
HD box (upscaling)?....

the guy from *hub told me per se: "no"

thank you in advance
GranSport

Dobski · Post by **Dobski** » Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:30 am

quick answer: No

Picture quality on my HD TV sucks on non HD channels.

It's actually worse on the full HD TV(with HD set top box) than it was on the non HD plasma (with a 'normal' box). If there is upscaling, I can't see it.

But the 2 HD channels are v nice indeed and the kind of shows on Discovery and Nat Geo are perfectly suited to it.

They're also showing some English football on a third HD 'preview' channel - but not with any frequency or consistency that should be considered when going for the HD package - ie - don't buy the HD package for the football !

GranSport · Post by **GranSport** » Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:27 am

thank you Dobski, so then I need to know where I can get a wide
range DVD's and as usual reasonably priced..... don't wanna get
eye cancer, quality is really poor....

cheers
GranSport

Splatted · Post by **Splatted** » Sat, 22 Mar 2008 5:09 pm

Singapore, typically puts the cart before the horse, and waits until there is widespread adoption of something new before it bothers throwing in the dollars to add expanded service.

We saw this previously with the MRT where the odd new station remained closed for months on end because there weren't enough estates and HDB blocks built up as yet within the vicinity to make manning the station 'profitable'. Never mind the thousands already moved to the area who are penalized for the lack of services.

My expectation is that once analogue broadcast is scrapped (in the next few years or so), you will see a lot of people upgrading their tv's to HD, and many more channels then rolled out.

sillingw · Post by **sillingw** » Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:08 am

I have no technical or scientific evidence to back this up, but I do have 3 Plasma screens in the house: 2 are connected to the standard starhub set top boxes, the other Home theatre setup is a hi-def box connected to a high end 50 inch HD Plasma - I definitley see a better quality picture on the Home theatre setup which is connected by HDMI and have even connected the standard box to the same screen to check it out - just my 2 cents - There are also some of the premier league games broadcast on channel 303 the test channel, but I cannot find a schedule, just take what I am given, but when they do broadcast, it is very cool, but can be a bit jumpy from time to time

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Thu, 27 Mar 2008 3:01 pm

Dobs/Sillingw - really?

We have the HubStation and the new Sony Bravia X Series arrives on Saturday - are you saying my currently rented TV will be showing a better quality signal? I'll be using component output from the HubStation into the Bravia. Any advice?

Thanks lads, P

[edit: Model of TV]

Dobski · Post by **Dobski** » Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:46 am

I also have the Bravia 1080p
I think my non HD plasma handles a non HD signal better than the HD LCD Bravia.
I certainly prefered how the non HD channels looked on the non HD plasma to how they look on the HD Bravia.

Perhaps that's all it's down to - my personal preference between LCD and plasma..........

I feel an LCD higlights a poor picture as it's so sharp, whereas a plasma smoothes away the imperfections.
I remember some people insisted that CD's sucked when they came out compared to vinyl as the digital CD lost the real feel of the music that an analogue vinyl gives !

My LCD looks great when it has a full HD picture going to it.

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Fri, 28 Mar 2008 1:20 pm

Might try dumbing the connection down and using the HubStation's standard cables if I run into trouble. Seems a pity given the cost of the Bravia! Oh well, at least I got a free PS3 as part of the deal!!

Thanks for your help

Dobski · Post by **Dobski** » Fri, 28 Mar 2008 1:34 pm

free PS3 !
v nice

get some Bluray's to see the full potential of the TV, or you can download Kung Fu Hustle or Casino Royale from PS network in HD.

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Fri, 28 Mar 2008 2:00 pm

Yeh it was a deal back in Oz - $AUD3300 all up for the 40" including the AUS (Oceanic) PS3 - 60G puppy. Did all the research before our container left and got a mate to snag it for me

BluRay - yeh I'm bought 2 games when I was back last week, but no BluRay movies. The Wikipedia entry said 80% were going to be non-regionalised - do you think that's a fair statement?

If you have some that are regionalised for SIN, could we arrange tro borrow one to do a test? I'll shout you a beverage of your choice or three for your trouble. PM me if you're interested.

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Future of HDTV in Singapore?

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