New high-definition DVDs to use old video technology?

[canadateck]

As Hollywood readies its new and controversial high-definition DVDs, at least one major studio is leaving some of the most advanced parts of the new disc formats on the table in favor of technology that's more than a decade old.

That could mean disappointment for some of the tech industry's biggest names, particularly if other studios follow suit. Companies such as Microsoft and Apple Computer have been betting that their work on advanced video software formats, called "codecs," will help them sell their own products."

It's a little-known but equally intriguing subchapter in the yearlong fight between Blu-ray and HD DVD, two incompatible hardware technologies for high-definition DVDs, backed, respectively, by consumer-electronics manufacturers Sony and Toshiba.

Video codecs (a contraction of "coder-decoders") are important because they determine what quality of video can be squeezed into a given amount of digital storage space, or can be sent over a DSL or cable television line. The codec is an essential part of a DVD.

Microsoft surprised many two years ago when it submitted its Windows video technology, called VC-1, to technical standards bodies in hopes of seeing it appear on the new DVDs. Other technology giants hold patents in a rival advanced format called MPEG-4 AVC.

Last week, studio giant Sony Pictures quietly voted for "none of the above," and took a swipe at the new codec formats. The new advanced codecs aren't immediately necessary for discs released in Sony's high-capacity Blu-ray format, Sony Pictures executives said in an interview with CNET News.com, and the studio would instead use the 11-year-old MPEG-2 video codec used on today's DVDs.

"Advanced (formats) don't necessarily improve picture quality," said Don Eklund, Sony Pictures' senior vice president of advanced technology. "Our goal is to present the best picture quality for Blu-ray. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, that's with MPEG-2."

None of this alphabet soup of acronyms is likely to mean much to the average consumer. Once the discs come out, it will be a matter of matching a Blu-ray disc with a Blu-ray player, or an HD DVD disc with an HD DVD player. The discs should play as simply as they do today, no matter which underlying video format is being used.

But the studios' decisions could mean a great deal to companies that have invested heavily in creating or supporting the new video technologies. Microsoft has been betting that the adoption of its advanced video format by Hollywood studios, cable networks and satellite TV companies will help Windows-based devices capture a bigger share of the home entertainment market.

Correction: This story incorrectly stated the storage capacity of some new DVDs. The smallest standard Blu-ray disc will hold 25GB of data, while Warner Bros. is planning a 9GB disc.

http://news.com.com/New+high-definition+DVDs+to+use+old+video+technology/2100-1025_3-5...l?tag=fd_carsl

[lumis]

over 2 hours, thats about a 25mbps bitrate.. i wonder how good mpeg-2 would look at 25mbps?

[MozartMan]

over 2 hours, thats about a 25mbps bitrate.. i wonder how good mpeg-2 would look at 25mbps?

lumis,

It looks real good for old technology, trust me. I have Sony HDR-HC1 HDV camcorder that records 1440x1080i anamorphic (displayed at 1920x1080i) at 25Mbps. Looks awesome.

[Edmund Blackadder]

(Edit: post deleted)

Nevermind.

[edDV]

Nothing new in that article. Plan was always to launch Blu-Ray with 1080p/24 (for film) MPeg2 @25Mb/s. ATSC HDTV is typically 1080i/720p MPeg2 @between 14 and 19Mb/s by contrast.

[SatStorm]

Most European HDTV Satellite transmissions are mpeg 2, 1920x1080i at 25MB/s. Those transmissions, look excellent.

There gonna switch to mpeg 4 later, because of the digital HDTV terrestrial transmissions. In Sweden, tests made 2 weeks ago and there were mpeg 4

France decided satellite mpeg 2 HDTV transmissions and terrestrial mpeg 4 HDTV transmissions.

Germany use mpeg 2 for the FTA satellite HDTV tests and mpeg 4 for the coded tests (Premiere world).

We don't know what Sky Digital (UK) gonna use for the HDTV transmissions.

I believe mpeg 2 gonna stay for HDTV Satellite transmissions, and mpeg 4 gonna appear to IP/TV and maybe future DVB / T transmissions

So, those Blu Ray discs using mpeg 2, I don't see why not to...

[edDV]

Over here DirecTV is converting to MPeg4 for HD service and plans to put the locals up there as well for a total of up to 1000 HD capable channels. Individual customers will get the national channels + their locals but no others.

Blu-Ray and HD DVD have VC-1 and Mpeg 4 AVC H.264 as alternate formats. Both allow similar quality to MPeg2 but with less than half the datarate.

ATSC are evaluating VC-1, H.264 and other MPeg4 variants for alternative DTV transmission. If allowed, this will permit multiple HD subchannels over 19 Mb/s.

Comcast currently distributes HDTV as MPeg2 @20 to 25 Mb/s but is expected to convert to some form of MPeg4 in the future to expand the number of HDTV channels.

[canadateck]

I really never Put much thought into what Format they would go with.
But really was hoping that it would support multiple Format's,Including MPG2.

It would be a great step,No matter what format they go with,I guess.

[Cornucopia]

They ARE going to support multiple formats: MPEG2, VC1 (WMV9), and h.264 (MPEG4 AVC).
It's just that this 1st batch of titles is going to be done using MPEG2. Just like if in the early days of DVD a studio didn't have the best audio AC3 codec available, but did have PCM or MP2 they could go that way until the hardware was up to snuff and had economical workflow to use that compression on a regular basis.

Scott

[edDV]

They ARE going to support multiple formats: MPEG2, VC1 (WMV9), and h.264 (MPEG4 AVC).
It's just that this 1st batch of titles is going to be done using MPEG2. Just like if in the early days of DVD a studio didn't have the best audio AC3 codec available, but did have PCM or MP2 they could go that way until the hardware was up to snuff and had economical workflow to use that compression on a regular basis.

Scott

So long as they can fit a movie into 25GB @25Mb/s they will use MPeg2. When they decide to put a multiple episodes of "Lost" in HD on a single side (or double side) Blu-Ray disc, then VC-1 or H.264 will look more attractive.

All players must be able to play VC-1 or H.264 material per the standard.

[BJ_M]

funny how d-cinema (DCI) has standardized on jpeg2000 4:4:4 16 bit --

which also would have worked (space wise) , and looks awesome ...

they also use another two wavelet codecs - as well as even mpeg2 in some applications ....

even at higher bit rates - mpeg4 technology is STILL a lot of compression, but i fear that when vc-1 / h264 is used on future HD disk , they will not use uber high bitrates , but go for as much content as they can stuff ...

as a matter of intrest - mpeg2 , which used in cinema applications at 1080p -- is at between 30-50meg , and 30 for the lowest bitrate, considered the min. acceptable level ..

with new generation hardware encoders - i can see 25 vbr being really good for the smaller home displays ..