Re: BBC DAB TV Ad Campaign Number 18 starts

Alan White wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:57:48 GMT, Richard L
> <usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> That's pure supposition on your part: I don't believe you have any
>> evidence that the BBC restricts audio quality on other platforms to
>> avoid harming DAB take-up. For one thing, there seems little reason
>> to think that it would make much difference.
>
> The BBC pensioners comic, Prospero, has been carrying some letters
> about DAB quality, all complaining. In the November issue, One
> correspondent reluctantly accepted the current position on DAB but
> proposed an increase in the bit rates of the radio services on
> satellite.
>
> <quote>
> No new equipment needs to be purchased - changing the bit rate
> involves only the equivalent of turning a switch. The uplink to the
> satellite remains unchanged. If the data allocation for the TV and
> interactive services were reduced by 1.5 per cent the allocation to
> the radio services could be doubled - the change to the TV viewer
> would be imperceptible. Moreover, for the majority of the day, 5 or 6
> of the 9 interactive channels are carrying nothing more than animated
> channel identification graphics. If only one of these were released
> all BBC radio services could broadcast at 256 kbps and more!
> </quote>
>
> The response from a spokesman for BBC Digital Radio was:-


What was his name?


> <quote>
> There are a number of constraints on the overall bit rate on satellite
> and, as with any other platform, cost is one of them.


Nonsense. Utter, utter nonsense.


> We believe the
> quality offered is commensurate with the individual items and we get
> very few adverse comments on this issue.
> </quote>


To translate from BBC Digital Radio language to English:

"We believe that if we increase the audio quality on satellite that some
people might decide to listen via satellite rather than via DAB. I,
personally, am vehemently opposed to that, because my department is
responsible for making everybody listen to DAB."


> That reply sounds to me like a nonsense (no additional bandwidth would
> be required so no additional cost).


The reply is nonsense.


> The December issue doesn't follow up.
>
> So, the official BBC line is that higher quality costs more.


But when you translate the comment, the actual official BBC line is that
audio quality should be deliberately limited.


--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

Find the cheapest Freeview & DAB prices:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/freeview_receivers.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab_radios.htm


.

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