Dom Robinson reviews

First out the trap was Sky with their digital service on October 1st 1998, with ITV Digital following a few weeks later on November 15th 1998. Both offer a number of the same channels, but each also have their exclusives in a bid to attract new customers. While SkyDigital is masterminded by the Murdoch empire that many people are familiar with, ITV Digital is a collaboration between Granada and Carlton.

The compression method used is known as MPEG 2 (MPEG = Motion Picture Experts Group), the same algorithm that is used for DVD technology which is certainly a step up from MPEG 1 which afflicted the Video CD era, a format that died off quite quickly in this country as the quality was appalling. MPEG 2 compression works by comparing consecutive frames. Anything that doesn't change can stay unchanged, whereas the rest is altered as necessary. Analogue TV would repeatedly send down a lot of the same information in this instance, thus wasting most of it.

Anyone who's seen a well-encoded DVD in action will know that the quality can be stunning. Digital TV isn't always like this however. While a DVD is mastered with care when transfering to a 5-inch disc, the encoding done for digital TV is done on-the-fly (ie. instantly, so the content can be seen as quickly as intended) so imperfections will be noticed at times, but the better the source material, the better the end result.

While the digibox is connected to one of the NICAM VCRs via SCART, it is also connected to the mono VCR by RF lead and tuning it into a spare place on that VCR was made immeasurably easier by simply altering "UHF output channel" in the TV and video settings menu (more of this later).

After getting the ITV Digital setup screen on my TV, which comes in a garish yellow colour and I hope one day that options come along to customise it, I pressed "select" as asked, followed by the "getting started" option from the main menu. It took approximately 15 minutes (the instructions state "up to 20") to find all 37 channels available. I feared it wouldn't work at first since it found all of them after the progress bar got past 50% of its searching time. Next, a quick call to the customer service line effortlessly activated my card for all of the subscription channels.

As of Feb 1st 2000, there are now 43 channels via the Winter Hill transmitter.

Bruce Springsteen sang a song about how there was "57 Channels and Nothin' On", but here we have a current total of 55 channels with a fair bit on to watch and more to come in the future. I'll list each one in order of their appearance on the channel list with their number.

1. BBC One

Programmes that look damn good in widescreen on this channel: Walking With Dinosaurs, Eastenders, Casualty, Airport, Clive Anderson All Talk, Watchdog, plus many other in-house BBC productions. I'm not quite sure how much pre-school children will appreciate Tweenies being filmed in 16:9 widescreen, but it's a very colourful show and looks good on digital. Sports fans will be pleased to hear that some sports are being shot in 16:9. While analogue viewers will get a cropped 4:3 picture, digital owners will be able to see the Golf World Matchplay in full effect. Many recent films are broadcast in 16:9 widescreen which is a shame if they've been filmed at a wider ratio, but it's still preferable to the fullscreen version showing on analogue. Not-so-good: Roger Roger - pleasing framing, especially with Tina's choice of outfits, but the film stock is a little grainy; and National Lottery Show - do we really need to see more of Dale Winton ?!

Previously, there as no regional news items on the BBC via ITV Digital and you would see News 24's replacement, UK Today, but now there are regional news broadcast on there, in 4:3 format, while News 24's output remains 16:9. SkyDigital don't have a full regional service, just variants for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Many of the trailers and BBC1 logos will also be shown in widescreen, whereas they are cropped to 4:3 on analogue. The BBC's channels are set up such that when there's a change in picture format, from widescreen to 4:3 or vice versa, if you have a widescreen TV it should tell it automatically to switch to that mode. Even in 4:3 mode, you could zoom such a programme in to fill the screen albeit losing resolution. N.B.: BBC Scotland now get their BBC output correctly formatted in anamorphic widescreen where required and 4:3 when it should be. Previously EVERYTHING was in anamorphic widescreen. See under ITV's heading for why this is a problem.

Why 16:9 ? If you believe what the 'experts' say, they'll say it's more like how we view the world - which is rubbish. If TV looked how we viewed the world, then the programmes would be filmed in Cinerama (for the complete wrap-around effect). Apparently the actual "magic ratio" in which we view what's directly ahead of us is approximately 1.61:1 (a little bit wider than 14:9 - the 'compromise' ratio being used for widescreen programmes on analogue TV), but is that for only those who have perfect 20/20 vision and how much can I see in front of me after a cider frenzy?

There are no regional programmes for the BBC, so when viewers are normally treated to their local newsreader you get UK Today whose colourful logo has plenty of artifacts, or in the case of the Six O'Clock News, more news from the main studio.

For a brief while, BBC1 and BBC2 both carried DOGs. What's a DOG? See the description under Channel 5's heading.

2. BBC Two

Watch in widescreen: Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The Cops, People Like Us, Have I Got News For You. The Tennis Davis Cup, when shown in its own slot on BBC2 was presented in anamorphic 16:9 widescreen, while the analogue variant was cropped to 4:3. During BBC1's Grandstand, any tennis was shown cropped to 4:3 on both formats. Avoid in widescreen: Clerkson - his ego is big enough for a 4:3 picture, so why give him more room to move around in? Still, at least he admits that road rage is a good thing.

3. ITV 1

There's only one thing that bugs me about ITV, which also affects ITV2 and Carlton Cinema. They are presented in anamorphic all the time, so regular 4:3 pictures are mostly shown by stretching the picture sideways a little and showing some extra picture info at the sides that would normally be lost to overscan on any TV. I also caught a bit of Sunday Morning, a religious programme, which made me wonder if the controller of ITV was drunk. Analogue TV had a 4:3 image, while the digital version was approximately 15:9, adding some extra picture info at the sides, but also cropping some at the top and bottom (!) The same effect has also lended itself to House of Horrors and Airline.

To watch a 4:3 programme properly with no black bars on a regular TV you'll need to select "normal (4:3)" and "full-screen" as the viewing format. For some strange reason, if you select "normal (4:3)" and "letterbox", while widescreen programmes will be shown properly, any 4:3 material will be broadcast in a "windowbox" with black bars showing all around it, which looks daft. Apparently some regions are taking steps to remedy this, but my region - Granada - haven't sorted it out yet.

I watch a lot of 4:3-filmed TV zoomed in to 14:9 anyway as it gives a more pleasing framing on the screen, partly due to the fact that such footage is shot with a "safe area" in which nothing important is placed at the extreme edges of the picture in case they're lost to overscan. Also, all you tend to lose out on from the top and bottom is the top of someone's head or part of someone's lower torso, making the end result resemble something you'd expect to see in the cinema.

Recent Wednesday night football has been shown in anamorphic widescreen on ITV, while UEFA Champions league football shown at the same time was in 4:3, so will be cropped if that too was filmed in 16:9. The Rugby World Cup has also been shown in widescreen. More films are also getting a screening in 16:9 widescreen such as Twister and the entire James Bond run, recently ending with Tomorrow Never Dies.

As for a particular children's show, Mopatop's Shop, it is shown on analogue TV in 14:9 and the same on digital, but it's set within the 4:3 frame also sent out within a 16:9 anamorphic frame. The end result is a 14:9 window-boxed picture that can't be zoomed in unless you select "4:3" and "fullscreen" from the menu.

ITV is one of a number of channels not yet available on SkyDigital, but it is rumoured to be joining at some point along with ITV2.

ITV and ITV2 are worryingly threatening to carry DOGs soon, apparently at the request, nay, demand of their advertisers. See what a DOG is under Channel 5's heading, but note that for most channels with these, the DOG tends to be removed when the advert break is shown (!)

NOTE 1: S2, the Scottish equivalent of ITV2, has now begun autoswitching properly. How long before the other channels follow suit?

NOTE 2: This channel became ITV1 in August 2001. They maintain it's because ITV is no longer a channel but a brand name, hence all the other ITV-prefixed stuff.

4. Channel 4

Analogue viewers don't always lose out though with this channel as many of the widescreen programmes are broadcast in 16:9 letterbox format, but while they still won't get the benefit of an anamorphic picture, a number of these shows and films are broadcast in PALPlus format. This adds resolution to those few TVs with a suitable PALPlus decoder, but most widescreen TVs will just zoom it in to fill the screen automatically depending on the brand.

On the downside, when I was watching TFI Friday, I thought there was a horrible red rash streaking across the screen, but then I realised it was only Chris Evans :)

For a brief while, Channel 4 carried a DOG. What's a DOG? See the description under Channel 5's heading.

5. Channel 5

The amount of widescreen programming on here is close to zero. Anything that is widescreen is more by luck than judgement. They also once showed an Emmanuelle film in anamorphic widescreen, but presumably in error and I only caught a few minutes of it, testing the anamorphic mode on my TV purely in the interests of er...research, obviously. :)

This is the only terrestrial channel to carry a DOG (a Digitally-Originated Graphic), ie. the "5" you see in the top-left corner of the screen, to identify what channel you're watching. You can't remove it, so you'll forever have to watch this channel (and many others) with such corporate branding.

DOGs are completely pointless in the digital age since the decoder TELLS you what channel you're watching when you select it, but still they insist it stays. Even with analogue equipment, anyone with half a brain should know what channel they're watching and could find out without too much difficulty. On analogue TV, you know where Channel 5 is - it's the 5th button on your TV and it's the one with the exceptionally grainy picture. At least via digital TV (and analogue satellite for this channel), the picture is much more clear.

The head of Channel 5 spoke on Right 2 Reply about their DOG some time ago, stating how necessary it was, but after complaints from the public it toned down the intensity so it looks less obvious - but surely if you want to advertise yourself, you don't tone it down - you shout it from the rooftops! As such, it made the channel look very foolish indeed, since they're clearly embarrased about it, but can't be seen to be backing down 100% over the issue.

6. ITV 2

ITV2 began life on December 7th last year at 7pm with a programme headed by Billie and "hardman" Vinnie Jones. It attracted 700 viewers.

This channel is not always broadcast in anamorphic widescreen any more.

On the downside, ITV2's DOG has returned! Are ITV Digital trying to drive customers away?

7. BBC Choice

BBC Choice have stupidly brought back their DOG on the English variant of the channel, which is the one that ITV Digital carries. Rumours are abound that this is a test which will last for six months, although I have joined in the protest to get them removed. It's very annoying when I've missed something on BBC1 or 2, so have to catch the repeat with the crisp, clear pictures obscured by the DOG.

9. Digital Text & 10. BBC Text

Until late last year there were a few beta-test software updates sent out over the air, but now it's official. I've used it a few times but it's too slow compared to regular analogue text which can be received via SkyDigital.

One thing worthy of note though is that when looking at the first couple of menus for BBC Text you can still see the picture of the BBC Channel you're watching and it can be accessed from any of these channels.

1. Setting the Timer

2. Choosing Favourite Channels

3. Parental Lock

4. Viewing preferences

• 1. ITV Digital box settings
  • 1. Preferred language
    Select English, Welsh or Gaelic. However, there's only English available at present.

  • 2. Subtitles
    This has similar options, but they're only available in English at present. A 'hard of hearing' option is available too which highlights the sounds you hear and not just the dialogue.

    With the subtitles on while watching TV, pressing the "subtitle" button on the remote will toggle them on/off. If you switch them off and then change channel, they return though, so they only way to get rid of them completely is to switch them off in the menu.

    Note that as it is the box that generates the subtitles, if you record something when they are on, they will also be recorded and cannot be turned off from a recording, obviously.

    Those with the beta-test software, as previously mentioned, will find that they can leave the subtitles set to on in the menu and be safe in the knowledge that when they switch them off with the "subtitle" button, they won't return when you change channel. This makes much more sense and saves wear and tear on your fingers as you don't have to punch in "888" as analogue viewers do.

  • 3. Subtitles language
    English, Welsh and Gaelic with hard of hearing options, but I've never seen anything but English onscreen.

  • 4. TV volume
    9-position setting from none to full volume. I leave mine on full and if I want to turn it down, I'll alter the setting on my amplifier as I presume most people would. The remote does allow you to mute the sound too.

  • 5. Info display time
    The idea behind this is that the green bar, which appears when you change channel, either doesn't appear at all, stays for a normal length of time, or for a long time. I have mine set to 'normal', but I still have the aforementioned problem with BBC Knowledge and if you have them switched off, if a channel has something to say for the second part of the green box, eg. "Your games are loading" on the games channel, or the description of BBC Parliament then it will still appear, but minus the channel number and name.

  • 6. Timer alarm
    This pops up when a programme is about to start for which a timer event has been programmed. You can select a visual alarm, or a "visual + audio" alarm.

  • 7. Date and Time
    An option to set it for the box, or correct it if it's out.

• 2. TV and video settings

  • 1. TV screen
    Select anamorphic widescreen - denoted as "widescreen (16:9)" - or for those with older or regular TVs, select "normal (4:3)". Any programmes which are broadcast in widescreen will be correctly-proportioned for a 4:3 TV as long as "letterbox" is selected, although there is an option to crop these to fit a regular TV by selecting "full screen". Personally, I have the setting left to "widescreen (16:9)", since I watch on a widescreen TV.

    If you have set the box to "normal (4:3)", then you can toggle between "letterbox" and "full screen" with the remote's "WIDE" button while watching TV. Pressing this button when "widescreen (16:9)" is in use will have no effect.

  • 2. TV sound
    Stuck on stereo, but then it's a rather pointless option really - if you have a stereo TV, you'll have this set to stereo. If you have a mono TV and no way of routing the sound to a stereo outlet, it doesn't matter what the setting is as it won't come out in anything but mono.

  • 3. TV standard
    Choose from "composite" or RGB. I understand the latter is for those connecting to their TV via a SCART lead. However, I tend to get a better picture this way with the setting on "composite".

    On my previous TV, a Philips 32PW6322 (32" NICAM widescreen), I have the decoder plugged into EXT 2 (second SCART socket) and a DVD player plugged into the S-video TV socket (which the TV calls "Y/C EXT 2"). With the decoder set to "RGB" for TV Standard, I get a black-and-white picture for all DVDs, whereas selecting "composite" returns the DVD picture to colour. That's what comes of having to things sharing the same input, so of course to watch ITV Digital I have to remove the S-video lead from the DVD player.

  • 4. Video sound
    Stereo or mono, again. And again this option has been greyed out.

  • 5. Video standard
    Another option greyed out. "PAL I" or "S-vhs". A confusing option this, since there is no such video standard as "S-vhs" - it refers to a type of video format that more expensive VCRs may have and can record at a higher resolution with the respective tapes being used. "S-video" leads or sockets are sometimes referred to as "S-vhs" even though they shouldn't be.

    There are different variations of PAL throughout the world, but this box has one of those options and since I'm getting a picture via my ITV Digital box, guess which variant we use here in the UK ?

  • 6. UHF channel number
    For those watching ITV Digital via a standard RF aerial lead and not a SCART lead, you won't want it to interfere with any others near to it. The first four terrestrial channels are placed higher up the band for most areas of the country, while Channel 5 proves a problem being placed in the middle of the frequencies used by most VCRs, as they tend to fall between 32 and 40.

    The range runs from 21 to 69 and this allows you to place ITV Digital's signal wherever you like. Refer back to my piece on "setting up" and you can imagine how much of a boon this option proved to be.

• 3. Modem settings Those with a PC will be able to work these out, while those without are best phoning customer services. The modem isn't needed for anything at the present time. In time it may be used to provide a similar service to Sky's Box Office, by dialling out at certain times to tell them which pay-per-view films and events you've been watching.

  Don't expect much in the way of online multi-player gaming as those with 56.6k-modem-equipped PCs or 33.6k-modem-equipped Dreamcast console, since the modem in an ITV Digital box is 9.6k baud.

5. Getting Started

• 1. Channel list
  The long way round to selecting a channel to watch.

• 2. Change channel numbers
  Quite handy if you can't remember which Sky Sports channel is on 21, 23 or 25. This option allows you to swap them round to suit yourself.

• 3. Add channels
  Only perform this task when you know that more channels are to be added to the line-up, such as the recent Sky Sports 2.

• 4. Store channels
  This should restore your channel line-up to the default setting. When some people added Sky Sports 2, it placed it as one of the original 800+ channel settings, until they used this option.

6. ITV Digital updates

• 1. Smartcard data
  This tells you when your subscription ends. There are four dates listed here and only the first one seems relevant. Even then, it just states the date at the end of next month if you pay monthly. With the "prepaid" scheme in which you save around £12 by paying all in one go for six primary channels, that date may change to a year ahead.

• 2. Check your postbox
  This is a service allowing you to display messages sent by a broadcaster. When you receive one, the digibox will flash "POST" on its front. The manual states this service will be in use "from early 1999", but it's never been used.

  It would be handy if it could be used for sending email to other ITV Digital users or anyone else in the world.

7. Technical Information

• 1. Signal strength
  This allows you to determine the signal strength to your digibox. The display will give a reading depending on the number you type in, presuming it's a relevant number. You won't normally need to use this yourself, but if you have a poor signal and you phone customer services, you may be asked to enter this menu.

• 2. Manufacturer data
  Technical stuff about the software versions running on your digibox.

• 3. Auto update
  What to do when some new software is available, such as the aforementioned recent beta-test digital teletext updates. When changing from BST to GMT and vice versa, an auto update will be necessary to stop the 'now and next' section being an hour out. However, make note that if you already have the digital teletext software and then run an auto-update while the beta-test software is not being broadcast, you will lose the teletext.

Of the buttons not fully described already...