Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How is HBO HD?

This is topic How is HBO HD? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 08-13-2010, 08:40 PM:

I used to subscribe to HBO before I got a HD television but cancelled the service. Our local cable company is now running a HBO promotion that is not too exciting but the regular rate of $14.95 in addition to what I am paying for cable service sounded reasonable so I thought I would try it for a month. Although I will be getting all three HBO channels, only one will be in HD here in Honolulu. Are the other HBO channels in HD in other areas. One of the things that bothered me about HBO when I had a standard definition television was all of their movies that was released to theatres in scope were shown pan and scanned and they looked terrible. Are scope and matted movies 16X9 enhanced in HD and presented that way? If they are, how is the picture quality compared to other HD movie channes like MGM and others?

-Claude

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-13-2010, 09:11 PM:

No problem with HBO HD here...they are as good as other HD channels. Showtime, which generally doesn't suit me as well as HBO DOES tend to use the Letterboxed version of movies more than others.

In general, I like HBO and the products they produce (shows, movies, docs.). This does look to be a pretty dry month for them though.

Steve

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 08-13-2010, 09:18 PM:

OUr Brighthouse Network cable system in Bakersfield gives us all HBO Channels with both West and east feeds in HD. And yes, they generally only use 16:9 for scope films, although a few do sneak in (The Doors for one)

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-13-2010, 09:54 PM:

On Dish Network I have 6 HBO channels, all in HD (HBO, HBO-2, HBO Signature, HBO Zone, HBO Comedy & HBO Latino) plus two duplicates (HBO West and HBO-2 West). The HD quality isn't near Blu-ray standards at all, but definitely much better than SD. I think Dish gives HBO a good bit more bandwidth than many of the other HD channels it offers.

Most movies shown on HBO are shown 16x9 regardless of aspect ratio. Sometimes there are exceptions. Certain movies distributed by Paramount have been shown in 2.39:1 on HBO, such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Patriot Games.

The main reason why I subscribe to HBO is for their original series and documentaries. Boardwalk Empire (coming this fall) looks like it ought to be really good.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 08-13-2010, 10:53 PM:

Bobby,

Do you also receive HBO with 5.1 sound?

-Claude

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 08-14-2010, 10:57 AM:

Claude, I can say that I get all HBO HD channels with 5.1. However, in standard definition, only the main HBO channel has 5.1. And Bobby, thanks for the Paramount info on HBO. I wish HBO were more like Showtime in this regard.

As far as the bandwith problem, our cable system is using that new SOD technogoloy. Instead of putting all channels through the pipeline at once, only the most popular HD channels are on at any given time. For all the rest, only if someone actually turns to that channel will the cable co. open it up. Which is why for most channels you have to wait a few seconds for it to come on once you turn to that channel. Iritating at times. And now that SHOWTIME is available with HD on Demand, its getting a bit worse. Although our cable doesn't use as much compression as the satellite suplliers or ATT U-Verse.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-15-2010, 12:26 PM:

quote: Claude S. Ayakawa
Do you also receive HBO with 5.1 sound?

Yes. I suspect the bit rate is on the low side. While the audio is often Dolby Digital 5.1 it doesn't have quite the level of clarity, channel separation and dynamics I hear on DVD or Blu-ray.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 08-16-2010, 12:23 PM:

Claude - Concerning 5.1 sound...

All my digital channels are capable of it but many times a movie that was made with 5.1 will be broadcast with only 2 channels. I recently watched "From Dusk Till Dawn" which has a great 5.1 digital sound mix (was actually 8-channel in SDDS) and they played it in two-channel Dolby Surround.

I have found that typically the primary HBO channel has 5.1 while the add-on channels (HBO2, Signature, etc) are hit and miss as to whether you'll get the full 5.1 or a two-channel "Surround" version.