Comcast, others degrade HD video quality to pack in more channels

Mon Apr 7, 2008 5:22PM EDT

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High-definition television provides a crystal clear viewing experience, free from artifacts and with noticeably better quality than standard-definition television... right? Not so fast. Turns out Comcast and other providers of so-called high-def TV are intentionally compressing the video stream on many of their channels, sometimes by as much as 38 percent, degrading image quality along the way. Why? Supposedly, it frees up bandwidth so the operators can pack in even more channels.

The news is the result of independent research from a user at AVS Forums, probably the best-known meeting ground for audio and video enthusiasts. Here, that user provides a wealth of examples and empirical data outlining the issue, complete with screenshots of what channels look like with standard compression and with Comcast's extra squeeze. Some of the channels don't look much different, but a few examples are particularly egregious, such as the 34.2 percent added compression applied to MHD, seen above in a "before and after" shot. (Note that this level of pixelization will be less apparent in a moving image than a still frame, bit some of the examples are so horrible they'd be obvious to even a casual passerby.) Some commenters have noted that the compression is so bad they thought something was wrong with their equipment.

Comcast isn't the only one pulling these stunts. DirecTV has been sued over a similar issue in the past, and DISH has also engaged in such "HD Lite" tactics as well, namely by dropping the overall resolution of its broadcasts to save on bandwidth. In fact, DirecTV actually sued Comcast when Comcast tried to call out DirecTV's lower-resolution HD in its advertisements. That suit was settled late last year. Now maybe it's time for DirecTV to launch an ad campaign of its own...

Comcast has yet to issue a response regarding this issue.

LINK: AVS Forum
via Consumerist

Comments on Comcast, others degrade HD video quality to pack in more channels

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  • 6 Posted by mgilbert@pacbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    Nice article, but lacking any definition or knowledge. How about starting with "degraded from what?" Do you mean ATSC standard? do you mean studio HD at 1.5GB? do you mean Sony HD camera at 150MB? what??? If you want to discuss HD quality (a great topic!) then define what you think HD should be (I like 1920 x 1080, 24 bit RGB color, 60Hz but that's a bit of a bandwidth hog for transmission) and then hit on all the players that screw it up, and most do, some more than others. Thanks

  • 7 Posted by aprkareckas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Would it be possible for Verizon to compress their service? Don't kid yourself that they wouldn't do it if they could. I just want to know what I am paying for and what I'm getting, wonder what happens when you ask Dish or Comcast about compression?

  • 8 Posted by muscogeekid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I use Knology and I have seen this on some channels as well, but they were not HD channels, just normal digital channels. Mostly it is on old re-run channels like TNT, that I don't watch much, so I didn't worry about it.

  • 9 Posted by tonyb11 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    HELLO??? They dont compress it like a codec, they compress it like a zip file, using hardware and bandwith...like a cable modem tho, the more users there are, the less bandwith you will have.,,,FiOs can have 32 users at 20mbps, plus the Television Channels, on a strand of fiber optic cable the size of a human hair...What the heck do they care about bandwith for???

  • 10 Posted by klacour on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    At first, I wanted to say "unbelivable" ... but being stuck with Comcast for 20 years, it really should not come as a surprise. The real kicker for me? I have four HDTVs in my house, and starting in January Comcast began charging me $6 per TV for HD service!!! So, for $24 a month, I am getting degraded HD service. Verizon, please hurry with that FIOS ...

  • 11 Posted by nmsbea on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Got rid of Comcast cable a couple months ago when my bill took a (another) bump to close to $100 without premium channels or pay per view, paying that much money to watch commercials. Now I watch over the air HDTV via antenna and spend $18 a month to get about 20 movies from Netflix. With a good upscaling DVD player my image is about as good as this HDTV lite. Comcast wasn%

  • 12 Posted by csalt22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is amazing that all the positive comments about fios are on the page with several ads for fios... hum?

  • 13 Posted by stevelibby2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is odd that they have the 'broadband' pipe compared to what they advertise as at&t lightspeed's 'narrowband'. I guess the broadband pipeline doesn't help that much afterall.

  • 14 Posted by bryan.holliday on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a new Comcast customer I noticed inferior signal on several channels. I had Time Warner previously and surprisingly Concast is much worse in quality. With the amount of crap stations they have you would think they could drop some of the less popular ones to reinstate the better quality. So glad this is a temporary thing , I have been very disappointed with comcast in both cable quality and internet "high-speed" access. Where's Verizon!!!

  • 15 Posted by discoduck1977 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have comcast in IL and regular channels make our 60" plasma look like junk..it is so bad sometimes i have to go downstairs to our old 32"tube tv and watch some programs. i called asking for the new line up of hd broadcasts and they only offer 12 channels for $20 bucks more a month a little pricey but i got it and was so dissappointed in quality..wasn't much better than an upconverted standard dvd!! it cut in and out all the time or pixelated up ,so i got rid of it after only 1 month

  • 16 Posted by pencois on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    AT&T's U-Verse and Verizon's FIOS are basically the same service, but work in different areas of the country. I have U-Verse and it's incredible. Most HD is broadcast at 1080i, for the person who asked, but some are lower. Depends upon the channel and what they want to do. Cable is outdated, doesn't have the bandwidth, and once AT&T and Verizon are able to get their fiber more widely installed, cable providers and their crap service will be out of business. Plus my U-Verse is half the price, for the exact same content, compared to what I had with Comcast with no contract and no install fee.

  • 18 Posted by paulsofija on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris Null is spot on with his review on the over-compression of subscriber high-def signals. Off air HD quality is far better than what Comcast is offering. I have hooked up a few friends with a plain ol' set of rabbit ears into their HD TV and the biggest comment is "So, this is free?" Stop drinking the Comcast kool-aid about high def programming.

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