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Tag: mpeg-4

  • DISH Network first to offer all HD programming in MPEG-4

    Competition among US TV providers continues apace as satellite networks’ claims to be first to offer all programming in MPEG-4

    Dish Network is claiming a pay-TV industry first with its announcement that it is to transmit all standard and HDTV programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding Standard.

    Always keen to stress any competitive advantage over its rivals, the satellite provider asserts this is just the latest in a series of market-leading offerings.

    Recent announcements have included its latest HDTV expansion; the launch of TurboHD, the only 100 per cent HD service; the availability of movies in Blu-ray Disc quality 1080p resolution and the commitment to offer up to 150 national HD channels by the end of the year.

    DISH officials said that new customers in 21 designated markets in the eastern half of the country who sign up for any Dish Network HD package will be the first in the nation to receive the advanced delivery system on all televisions connected to Dish Network service.

    This includes all SD and HD programming broadcast in MPEG-4 via Dish Network’s MPEG-4 HD and HD DVR receivers.

    To maximize the benefits of MPEG-4 TV, new customers can sign up for Dish Network’s recently introduced TurboHD, the only packages in the industry featuring 100 per cent HD, MPEG-4 programming, starting at US$24.99 per month.

    TurboHD is available in three separate tiers and comprises special “turbo-charged” features and benefits that include what the company says is the highest quality HD available including 1080p where applicable, and the most-watched HD channels that may be viewed on any TV—analog, digital or high definition.

    Current Dish Network customers can get a “turbo-charged” HD package from US$10 more per month.

  • DISH first to broadcast live Blu-ray quality video

    Satellite broadcaster becomes first the TV broadcaster to offer video in a full 1080p resolution

    Subscribers to America’s DISH Network who have its MPEG-4 HD DVR boxes are to be offered full 1080p (1920×1080 progressive) resolution wherever content is available.

    Starting on August 1 with a Video On Demand option for the movie I Am Legend, the new high resolution programming will supercede the 1080i (interlaced) or 720p which until now was usual HD fare for DISH and other services.

    The satellite company claims it is giving subscribers Blu-ray quality images for a lower price than renting a disc.
    It is also launching a new set of channel bundles known as TurboHD that are claimed to be the first in the market to offer customers a package that only contains HD stations.

    Charlie Ergen, CEO of DISH Network, said the upgraded resolution was possible as a result of its new satellite, Echo XI.
    This will also allow the broadcaster to extend its current 114 HD channels to 150 by the autumn.

    He said that by early August, all DISH Network customers with MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers will be able to view 1080p content.

    “This marks the first time in history a pay-TV provider offers movies in 1080p, the highest resolution format available for HD video enthusiasts,” he said.

    “Our latest system upgrade, coupled with the introduction of TurboHD, further strengthens our position as the leader in digital television and high definition television, platforms we look forward to enhancing even more with mobile and portable options.”

  • Starz Entertainment becomes latest cable network to adopt MPEG-4


    The move towards the new compression standard continues as Starz Entertainment invests in a four-channel, HD MPEG-4/AVC encoding system from cable-equipment manufacturer Motorola.
    The premium programmer has become the latest cable network to adopt MPEG-4 compression to conserve satellite bandwidth as it expands its HD offerings.
    The Motorola system – already being used for Starz’s existing HD channels Starz E, Starz Kids and Family HD, Starz Edge HD and Starz Comedy HD – compresses, encrypts, modulates and receives HD signals within a single integrated transmission system.
    The new transmission system also includes DVB-S2 satellite modulation gear, which can increase a satellite transponder’s output by up to 50 per cent.
    Starz said upcoming HD channel Encore HD will also be launched using MPEG-4.
    Ray Milius, senior vice president of programming operations and information technology for Starz, said a key selling point for the Motorola MPEG-4 system was its development of an integrated receiver/decoder for affiliates, the DSR-6050.
    This is able to receive the MPEG-4 signals and then transcode them to MPEG-2 compression for delivery to existing digital cable set-top boxes.
    The importance of such backward-compatible receivers was mentioned by HBO when it selected Motorola last year for its conversion to MPEG-4 delivery for all of its networks.
    “Motorola’s highly efficient MPEG-4 encoding system allows us to seamlessly migrate from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 with the video quality that we require while conserving satellite bandwidth to deliver diverse additional HD content for our customers,” said Milius.
    He said MPEG-4 was “all about how much can we squeeze out of the satellite”, a necessity as the network was running out of capacity on its [VOD] pitching distribution.
    HBO was the first programmer to announce plans to adopt MPEG-4 for most of its planned HD feeds.
    By the end of June, the programmer will offer all 26 channels in MPEG-4, although it will retain the primary HBO and Cinemax feeds in MPEG-2.