It looks like ABC is going to switch from 720P to 1080i,however, this only includes their primetime dramas, comedies, etc. Sports will continue to be broadcast in 720P. This is really good news, because I believe that progressive format is best for sports and interlaced best for movies and tv shows. Its going to be interesting to see who ends up being the HDTV king this coming fall, my bet is on ABC. We should do a poll asking which channel would you watch the most of in HD, assuming that this fall we will have all local HDTV at full power.
Note from HiDefSooner: The article quoted is mistaken ABC only send a 720p broadcast to its affiliates. Some affilaites do convert the 720p to 1080i but that is only 3 affiliates in the entire nation.
7 Comments
If this proves to be true, I’d be interested in seeing ABC’s rationale for now taking the position that 1080i is the way to go when they’ve previously been fairly insistent (based on the things I’ve read) that 780p is the HD format of choice. Interesting.
wbcollegekid,
Where did you get this information so I can check with my sources?
Kevin
For those who are looking for a good HD magazine to read, this is the one for you. There is more to this article but you have to be a subscriber to be able to read the rest on their website or you can buy the june issue (has Tears of the Sun on the cover, http://www.widescreenreview.com)
Disney To Embrace HD
By Paul Sweeting
Are you ready for some high-def?
This fall, ABC will begin broadcasting Monday Night Football in HD. The move comes on the heels of ABC’s HD presentation of the World Series, along with the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association finals. All of ABC’s scripted (i.e. non-reality) prime time series are now offered in full 1080i HD with Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound.
Speaking at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas in April, Michael Eisner, the chairman of ABC’s parent company, Disney, said the network expects that Monday Night Football will play a “critical role†in the acceptance of HDTV, much as Disney’s Wonderful World of Disney played an important role in selling people on color in the 1960s.
“We are now positioning ourselves to be on the leading edge of the next technological wave in entertainment,†Eisner said. “We are once again at the beginning of a vast and exciting period of opportunity. What we expect will be a digital decade for us at Disney.â€
You will find this complete article in our "Subscriber Site" or in issue 73 of Widescreen Review Magazine. Subscribe Now
Sounds like a typo to me. Just cause it’s in print doesn’t mean it’s right.
A switch of this magnitude would have far more written about it.
Mark
I agree it has to be a typo.
I disagree. While it could be a typo, it would appear not to be. ABC has been broadcasting everything in 720p. The announcement refers to "scripted (i.e. non-reality) prime time series" being shown at 1080i. The fact that scripted shows are separately identified would seem to indicate that those shows are going to be recorded at 1080i while the sports, etc. will remain at 720p. Otherwise, there would be no reason to separate the two in the announcement. ABC could simply have said that all ABC programming will be shown in 720p.
You have point rstokc, I re-read statement and this struck me.
“All of ABC’s scripted (i.e. non-reality) prime time series are now offered in full 1080i HD with Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound.”
Currently ABC broadcasts all ABC’s scripted primte time series are now in 720p with Dolby Digital 5.1.