BBC Olympics HD - 24 channels

[Dave_]

They are broadcasting 3D highlights from 11pm each night on BBCHD for one hour.

This may be a daft question but if we are able to 24 extra HD channels during the Olympics , why can't we get more freesat hd the rest of the year

Because Sky are providing the capacity/footing the bill for satellite distribution of the 24 HD and SD Olympic feeds...

this is interesting - does it costs lots more to run a HD stream than a SD one?Do you need special satellite slots? I'd be interested in knowing what the financial/logistical barriers are to actually doing away with SD (ignoring you need to shoot everything in HD before you broadcast in HD!).

A satellite transponder in DVB-S mode, can handle 8 -12 SD channels, if they were to to use DVB-S2 for SD, many more, but would make all SD boxes redundant and everyone having to upgrage to HD (DVB-S2) compatible boxes

In DVB-S2, the same transponder can carry 4 - 5 HD channels.

Transponders are switchable, so different transmission and modulation modes as well as different symbol rates and error correction etc can be used

 

[GSB]

can anyone elaberate as to why the HD quality was so good?

was it indeed a better broadcast than usual?

cheers