Post by dkennedy on Feb 13, 2006 10:27:41 GMT -5
NBC Blinks On HDTV Olympics
February 12, 2006
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
Some viewers are irate over NBC losing its high-def picture during Saturday night's Olympic broadcast. But haven't we seen this before?
"I was watching and suddenly the picture went out. Then it came back on and then it went out again! Why did I buy this thing?!"
You might think I'm talking about NBC's high-def broadcast of the 2006 Winter Olympics, but I'm actually referring to what many people were saying about television in the early 1950s. Millions of Americans who had purchased the new device were complaining that the picture would often warp into a jumble of twisted images, or go black entirely. They could sometimes restore the picture by getting up from their easy chairs and adjusting the vertical hold button. But if that didn't work, many people would simply take matters into their own hands.
Literally.
They would smack the set on its side. Over and over again.
Remarkably, that method seemed to work more often than turning and twisting the half-dozen confusing knobs that poked out of the back of the television.
At least it would work for a few minutes.
After more than five decades, Americans have come a long way. Few HDTV owners are dumb enough to smack a $3,000 TV on its side, assuming it even has a side. Today's flat-screen TVs measure just four inches deep.
But, in some respects, we are still like our fathers and grandfathers back in the 50s. We are still yelling at our TVs because they sometimes don't display the great pictures we expected when we brought them home.
For instance, on Saturday night, NBC's HD feed occasionally went dark during the 'Women's Moguls,' 'Men's Speed Skating' and 'Pairs Figure Skating' events. The audio was ok, but there suddenly would be no picture. Then, the picture would return, but not as a high-def image. The network had cut to the analog feed, which seemed to have no problems.
A few minutes later, back came the HDTV picture. But, of course, then it would disappear yet again.
Gold medal-winning speed skater Chad Hedrick must have been too fast for NBC's high-def cameras.
Saturday's East Coast snowstorm was a likely reason for the network's difficulties. However, as you can imagine, this was very annoying, particularly for people who had purchased a new high-def set specifically for the Winter Games. I received about a dozen e-mails from readers urging me to immediately write a blistering editorial about NBC's incompetence. In addition, the high-def message boards, such as the one at the AV Forum, were lit up with complaints about the 'now you see it; now you don't' coverage.
By Sunday, the problem seemed to have been fixed. At least as of this writing. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again. And then again. High-Definition TV is still in its infancy and everyone from the networks to the cable and satellite providers are still trying to master how to display it and transmit it.
When everything works, it's beautiful. In fact, the NBC-owned Universal HD channel has delivered some jaw-dropping pictures of women's hockey and other events. And the mother network has also done a fairly good job -- that is, when the picture doesn't go to black. There's been some pixelation, but overall, the shots of the Italian countryside, the speed skating events and some of the figure skating events have been a feast for the eyes.
And today, Bob Costas' high-def interview with the heart-broken Michelle Kwan (who had to withdraw from the games due to a groin injury) was sensational. In HD, you really felt the pain and suffering this great athlete is experiencing.
So, let the games continue. I'll be watching -- and, probably sometimes, yelling.
February 12, 2006
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
Some viewers are irate over NBC losing its high-def picture during Saturday night's Olympic broadcast. But haven't we seen this before?
"I was watching and suddenly the picture went out. Then it came back on and then it went out again! Why did I buy this thing?!"
You might think I'm talking about NBC's high-def broadcast of the 2006 Winter Olympics, but I'm actually referring to what many people were saying about television in the early 1950s. Millions of Americans who had purchased the new device were complaining that the picture would often warp into a jumble of twisted images, or go black entirely. They could sometimes restore the picture by getting up from their easy chairs and adjusting the vertical hold button. But if that didn't work, many people would simply take matters into their own hands.
Literally.
They would smack the set on its side. Over and over again.
Remarkably, that method seemed to work more often than turning and twisting the half-dozen confusing knobs that poked out of the back of the television.
At least it would work for a few minutes.
After more than five decades, Americans have come a long way. Few HDTV owners are dumb enough to smack a $3,000 TV on its side, assuming it even has a side. Today's flat-screen TVs measure just four inches deep.
But, in some respects, we are still like our fathers and grandfathers back in the 50s. We are still yelling at our TVs because they sometimes don't display the great pictures we expected when we brought them home.
For instance, on Saturday night, NBC's HD feed occasionally went dark during the 'Women's Moguls,' 'Men's Speed Skating' and 'Pairs Figure Skating' events. The audio was ok, but there suddenly would be no picture. Then, the picture would return, but not as a high-def image. The network had cut to the analog feed, which seemed to have no problems.
A few minutes later, back came the HDTV picture. But, of course, then it would disappear yet again.
Gold medal-winning speed skater Chad Hedrick must have been too fast for NBC's high-def cameras.
Saturday's East Coast snowstorm was a likely reason for the network's difficulties. However, as you can imagine, this was very annoying, particularly for people who had purchased a new high-def set specifically for the Winter Games. I received about a dozen e-mails from readers urging me to immediately write a blistering editorial about NBC's incompetence. In addition, the high-def message boards, such as the one at the AV Forum, were lit up with complaints about the 'now you see it; now you don't' coverage.
By Sunday, the problem seemed to have been fixed. At least as of this writing. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again. And then again. High-Definition TV is still in its infancy and everyone from the networks to the cable and satellite providers are still trying to master how to display it and transmit it.
When everything works, it's beautiful. In fact, the NBC-owned Universal HD channel has delivered some jaw-dropping pictures of women's hockey and other events. And the mother network has also done a fairly good job -- that is, when the picture doesn't go to black. There's been some pixelation, but overall, the shots of the Italian countryside, the speed skating events and some of the figure skating events have been a feast for the eyes.
And today, Bob Costas' high-def interview with the heart-broken Michelle Kwan (who had to withdraw from the games due to a groin injury) was sensational. In HD, you really felt the pain and suffering this great athlete is experiencing.
So, let the games continue. I'll be watching -- and, probably sometimes, yelling.