High-def TV not ready for Net's prime time

A correction was made to this story. Read below for details.

Fans of video upload sites shouldn't expect to enjoy clips of amateur singers, bikini-clad dancing girls or mouse-eating centipedes streamed in high definition anytime soon.

While Hollywood and the consumer electronics industry are gambling on new high-definition video formats and televisions, there may not be enough room in the Net's pipes or in the servers offering video streams to make HD videos, which can require twice as much broadband capacity as traditional videos, a regular part of the Internet viewing experience.

While that's hardly the end of the world for a site like YouTube.com, which is more concerned with streaming user-created content than anything coming out of Hollywood, it does present a dilemma for an organization like Major League Baseball's MLB.com , which already has more than 800,000 subscribers regularly watching games over the Net.

For now, the Internet-viewing public will have to be satisfied with watching live sporting and news events, or homemade movies presented on streaming sites like YouTube in formats offering slightly grainy images and sometimes-jerky motion. In fact, every industry expert interviewed for this story said that the way things stand now there just isn't enough bandwidth going into the home to stream the more expansive HD video.

"HD files tend to be too large to easily stream or download over typical American broadband connections," said Joe Laszlo, senior broadband analyst for Jupiter Research. "Our 1.5 megabyte connections are great for music, OK for lower-quality video but fairly unacceptable for HD video...I don't think we'll see a lot of HD content."

The typical Internet connection is 2 to 3 megabits per second, says Laszlo. The minimum needed to stream HD-quality video is 5mbps. Laszlo added that even if bandwidth were to be increased, computers with lower graphics processing power may be unable to display the richer details that HD provides.

That could mean a missed opportunity. In a report released Wednesday, the research firm IDC predicted Web video will generate $1.7 billion in annual sales by 2010, a 750 percent jump from sales this year. "Internet video services are on the brink of becoming a mainstream phenomenon in the United States," IDC said in the report.

Clogged pipes
The HD streaming problem is simple to understand. Imagine a pipe with liquid running through it. There is only so much room inside the pipe. In the case of broadband, the liquid is bits of information. The more video streaming over the Net, the more that pipe gets filled up--particularly as the pipe narrows on the final leg into the home.

In part, the "clogged pipe" issue is used by big telecommunications companies as they argue for some sort of tiered structure that would allow them to better control traffic on their networks. Internet companies, on the other hand, argue that so-called Net neutrality laws are needed to ensure that all Internet traffic is treated equally.

"There's no denying it," says Michel Billard, president of Itiva, which is working on improving broadband efficiency. "As more video-on-demand companies continue to gobble up bandwidth, there isn't going to be enough to go around."

 

Correction: This story should have noted that the video clip of "Walk the Line" available on Apple Computer's Quicktime is a movie trailer.

[g4e]

Overview/comparison of 40 online video sites

Comparing Youtube and its competitors:

http://www.mustseeblog.com/?p=68

[g4e]

Overview/comparison of 40 online video sites

Comparing Youtube and its competitors:

http://www.mustseeblog.com/?p=68

[alansegal]

HD Streaming is available today

This news story does not hold true. There are several companies already doing HD quality streaming video over the Internet.

EdgeStream has developed software that enables operators to offer HD streaming - www.edgestream.com

This company seems to be is in stealth mode still.

[J. Blow]

No they don't

The last mile connection is the one that matters and no broadband service in the US today offers enough bandwidth. You really need a minimum of 5mbps and more like 6-9. That is you are using advanced codecs like 264 or VC1 too and not MPEG2.

In addition it is a load on the machine so you have to have very fast hardware to decode.

Right now this isn't possible.

[paulsecic]

HDTV

You're dreaming. Good HD on the net is 5 to 8 years off.

[alansegal]

HD Streaming is available today

This news story does not hold true. There are several companies already doing HD quality streaming video over the Internet.

EdgeStream has developed software that enables operators to offer HD streaming - www.edgestream.com

This company seems to be is in stealth mode still.

[J. Blow]

No they don't

The last mile connection is the one that matters and no broadband service in the US today offers enough bandwidth. You really need a minimum of 5mbps and more like 6-9. That is you are using advanced codecs like 264 or VC1 too and not MPEG2.

In addition it is a load on the machine so you have to have very fast hardware to decode.

Right now this isn't possible.

[paulsecic]

HDTV

You're dreaming. Good HD on the net is 5 to 8 years off.

[graffitivideos.com]

standard definition video clips

It seems premature to start talking about HD streaming video when almost all standard video on the Internet sucks. I would just love to see great standard definition video clips.

[alansegal]

HD demos

well go check out http://www.edgestream.com/corp/demos.htm# for SD and DVD quality streaming

and also
http://www.edgestream.com/corp/demos-HD.htm
for HD streaming

[graffitivideos.com]

standard definition video clips

It seems premature to start talking about HD streaming video when almost all standard video on the Internet sucks. I would just love to see great standard definition video clips.

[alansegal]

HD demos

well go check out http://www.edgestream.com/corp/demos.htm# for SD and DVD quality streaming

and also
http://www.edgestream.com/corp/demos-HD.htm
for HD streaming

[turnherematt]

Not shooting HD

"Fans of video upload sites shouldn't expect to enjoy clips of amateur singers, bikini-clad dancing girls or mouse-eating centipedes streamed in high definition anytime soon."

Well, it's hard to argue with that. The folks who are making these clips are more likely to be shooting them with a cell phone than an HD camera. And thank God. The Internet would be brought to its knees if everything coming and going from YouTube was HD.

[turnherematt]

Not shooting HD

"Fans of video upload sites shouldn't expect to enjoy clips of amateur singers, bikini-clad dancing girls or mouse-eating centipedes streamed in high definition anytime soon."

Well, it's hard to argue with that. The folks who are making these clips are more likely to be shooting them with a cell phone than an HD camera. And thank God. The Internet would be brought to its knees if everything coming and going from YouTube was HD.

[th8]

HD movies are larger than noted

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[th8]

HD movies are larger than noted

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[th8]

HD movies are larger than noted

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[sandonet]

You are correct

Thanks for this Tom. You make a great point. The clip on Quicktime is a movie trailer. We used that example, however, to just show the differences in sizes between standard definition and high def files. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

[th8]

HD movies are larger than noted

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[sandonet]

You are correct

Thanks for this Tom. You make a great point. The clip on Quicktime is a movie trailer. We used that example, however, to just show the differences in sizes between standard definition and high def files. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

[th8]

HD downloads are larger

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[th8]

HD downloads are larger

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[th8]

HD downloads are large

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[th8]

HD downloads are large

Your article implies that "Walk the Line" on Apple's Quicktime site is
an entire movie download which it is NOT. It is only a 1:53 minute
trailer for the movie. The trailer is 112 mb in HD resolution. If the
entire movie were available as an HD download it would weigh in at
8-10 GB. A download that size could easily take 20 hrs to
download using todays average connection speeds.

[200mbpsBPL]

got hi-speed, Symmetrical Broadband over Power Line upload/download speed?

BPL claimed to offer alternative to VERY EXPENSIVE Fiber-to-the -home connections which could support HI-DEFINITION TV streaming via online !!!

read more: http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/

[200mbpsBPL]

got hi-speed, Symmetrical Broadband over Power Line upload/download speed?

read more from: http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/03/networking-over-power-lines-coming.html

re: http://www.ds2.es/

[Jackson Cracker]

"claimed to offer", yes

But too bad they haven't delivered.

[Earl Benser]

At the moment.....

.... power line technology is just smoke without the mirrors. Many
claims, no actual delivery. Somebody needs to accomplish
something before I would consider believing the claims.

[200mbpsBPL]

DS2 demonstrated HDTV streaming via Powerlines

fyi: see the pics of multiple TV connected to a BPL modem via electric power outlets

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=48963883

[200mbpsBPL]

got hi-speed, Symmetrical Broadband over Power Line upload/download speed?

BPL claimed to offer alternative to VERY EXPENSIVE Fiber-to-the -home connections which could support HI-DEFINITION TV streaming via online !!!

read more: http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/

[200mbpsBPL]

got hi-speed, Symmetrical Broadband over Power Line upload/download speed?

read more from: http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/03/networking-over-power-lines-coming.html

re: http://www.ds2.es/

[Jackson Cracker]

"claimed to offer", yes

But too bad they haven't delivered.

[Earl Benser]

At the moment.....

.... power line technology is just smoke without the mirrors. Many
claims, no actual delivery. Somebody needs to accomplish
something before I would consider believing the claims.

[200mbpsBPL]

DS2 demonstrated HDTV streaming via Powerlines

fyi: see the pics of multiple TV connected to a BPL modem via electric power outlets

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=48963883

[jdbwar07]

The real reason

why this is such an issue in the US is because we're being screwed by the telecom companies. We have nearly the worst internet access in the developed world, which is why we're kind of a laughinstock since we developed the internet. Places like South Korea, for example, have 1000 mbps connections.

In the 90s the government gave the telecoms about $200 billion in exchange for them rewiring america so we had super-fast fiber optic connections. However they kept the money and didn't keep their promise. If they did, we probably would be able to use the internet for video, and watch HD whenever we wanted to. Computers also would be a lot faster as technology would have had to improve to process HD video.

To learn more about how the Bells and verizon stole the country's digital future, please visit www.teletruth.org .

[jdbwar07]

The real reason

why this is such an issue in the US is because we're being screwed by the telecom companies. We have nearly the worst internet access in the developed world, which is why we're kind of a laughinstock since we developed the internet. Places like South Korea, for example, have 1000 mbps connections.

In the 90s the government gave the telecoms about $200 billion in exchange for them rewiring america so we had super-fast fiber optic connections. However they kept the money and didn't keep their promise. If they did, we probably would be able to use the internet for video, and watch HD whenever we wanted to. Computers also would be a lot faster as technology would have had to improve to process HD video.

To learn more about how the Bells and verizon stole the country's digital future, please visit www.teletruth.org .