Just checking out Channel 60 (12:13pm today). Channel 6 PRIME is showing a Michael Caine movie. Channel 60 is showing 'My Restaurant Rules' -- an old episode since it has Dicko on it -- apparently in HD (it's certainly being broadcast at 1080i). During ad breaks it is showing a Qantas-sponsored 'HD Break' promo.

Has PRIME Canberra finally moved away from the horrible 1080i/576i switching?

Still doing 1,440 by 1,080 rather than 1,920 by 1,080 I notice.

They've been multichannelling at times during the day for a while now, but there are still plenty of times where LCN60 is simply redirected to LCN6.

Yes, now it has 'Deal or No Deal' on in 576i. Had my hopes up there for a little while.

I don't think 7HD is 24 hours a day either. Uusually late night and daytime.
I actually think Prime has been doing this for a while and shows the same content as 7HD.

Its a shame we don't get 10HD as it is 24 hours a day with a lot more exclusive HD only content.

Alternative HD programming on Prime is listed here each week: http://www.primetv.com.au/i-cms.isp?page=1.7.127.696

Thanks for that link I'll keep an eye on the programming there from now on...

Mark

wonder why the Canberra Times TV guide says the Raiders of the Lost Ark was 'HD', when it clearly wasn't....

when I watched it on ch60, there wasn't even an HD watermark and it looked just the same as on ch6


cheers

Was HD on my telly!

might have been showing on channel 60, but I know it wasn't showing the "PRIME-HD" watermark...just the normal one
I think it was just the SD broadcast being relayed through channel 60

the ad breaks were different though (IIRC)

The normal watermark shows when they aren't doing HD as a multi-channel. ie. is shown when they do a HD simulcast.

Different content in the ad breaks is also a sign that you are watching HD (and it was defiantly on in HD).

I'm still a bit confused about this...

I see two different things on channel 60

1. programs with PRIME:HD watermark (usually mid afternoon, which sometimes includes 4:3 programs!!!)

2. programs with just PRIME watermark (eg Indiana Jones movies)

Are they both 'genuine' HD transmissions, or just those in the first category?

To my fairly discerning eye I cannot see any visual difference between, for example, the Indiana Jones movies on channel 6 and Channel 60. The sound is much better on 60.

Spoke to Prime in Canberra who said they will 'eventually' transmit Dolby Digital 5.1 sound

cheers

S

The Prime HD watermark is only shown when the programming differs from Prime, regardless of quality. I haven't actually checked to see what they broadcast the old 4:3 stuff as though.
But shows that are filmed in HD and simulcast on both channels don't have the Prime HD watermark on Prime HD just to be more confusing.