Official DHC SimSub Discussion (What, Why, How, etc.)

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westmanguy

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Many people don't know this, but there is a CBC Vancouver~HD.

None of the satellite providers or cable providers carry this channel.

Only Shaw digital cable, in the lower mainland, carries that HD channel.

BUT, Shaw doesn't simsub, to my knowledge...
 
Which brings up an interesting question that you may not care about. Rogers in Toronto carries Buffalo and Seattle versions of the main four US networks. Why don't they carry CBC Vancouver HD? Shouldn't they carry that before any of the west coast US networks? Sure the HD content is 100% the same as CBC Toronto but that is pretty much the case with the US networks as well, with the exception of sports.

Yet - it is only a matter of time.
 
Its not just Rogers, only Shaw in Vancouver carries CBC Vancouver~HD.

I think HD simsubs will come to Shaw/SC once they add Global Toronto~HD.

Global is persistent in getting their shows simsubbed.
 
Especially the Superbowl. It doesn't matter to me - I can get all Buffalo stations OTA and also Rochester if I adjust my antenna. But other than the Superbow, and simsub errors like last night, I don't really mind simsubs.
 
The Faulty simsub log is designed to be just that - a log.

Discussion is to be done elsewhere, hence the split.
 
Ok, so I understand this.

The fault simsub log, is JUST for reporting it, nothing else.

The purpose of this thread will be to discuss things that relate to it.

Ok, understand, and good idea!

A question I do have:

Ok the HD channels, if they are showing a SD program does that get simsubbed.

For example, If I watch a HD channel that has an SD program on does the HD channel get a SD simsub too. Or is it just the digital SD channel that gets the simsub.

What I am saying is, could I escape SD simsubs by going to a US net HD channel?
 
Strangely enough, I think I've only ever seen one simsub of an SD show on the HD channels, and that was for a well-hyped episode of The Simpsons on FOX/Global. For whatever reason, SD programming on the HD channels seems to run under the simsub radar. So far.
 
In the same way that most SD programmes on the major US channels are currently simsubbed by (most) service providers, the same thing will happen on the HD channels and has already happened on some BEV and Rogers channels.

It is only a matter of time which HD channels will get the subbing treatment by which providers.

It is not yet known what will happen to the HD timeshift channels and it would be pure speculation to discuss it.
 
I sure hope Global doesn't simsub the western feeds.

My feelings are, if they don't have a Vancouver HD feed, then you shouldn't have the rights to simsub the west nets, unless they have a sporting event or special event on at the same time as the East coast (eg. Super Bowl).

Question: How long till we see a Global Vancouver HD, and a CH HD (Hamilton probably), and even further down the line CH victoria HD.

Does Canwest have ANY HD plans...?
 
I've been reading up on simsubbing on the forum here but haven't really seen an explanation of how it's done. I'm only asking because I'm curious as to what's happening when say Global is able to put in new commercials. Is there a human sitting there pushing a button to determine when to start commercials? Is Global intercepting the entire feed/signal and doing whatever they want to it? It seems that they must be doing something along those lines based on the number of complaints regarding picture quality and DD5.1 issues. Aren't commercials tagged at some point in the stream so that the broadcasters know where to stick this stuff in?

I don't think we need any more rants on the evils of simsubbing but I am curious as to the technology involved and how Global or CTV are doing it.

ihdtv
 
It's not Global or CTV who do the actual switching.

The networks submit a list to the sat & cable providers every week with their list of shows that are airing at the same time as the US network. The cable and sat providers are required to switch the feed from the US network affiliate (eg. KING TV in Seattle) to the Canadian affiliate (eg. GlobalBC). Commercials aren't substituted, the entire NBC feed is replaced with the entire Global feed.

It is only to be done where the programming is identical or almost identical.
 
Thanks for that JohnnyCanuck. That would explain the discrepancies with PQ and audio but I'm curious then as to what's happening when Global comes back from commercial say during a football game but misses a play or two. If they have complete control over the feed then how does this "mistiming" occur? It seems as if they're trying to drop commercials into a feed that already has commercials placed??

ihdtv
 
Global has complete control over its feed. Shaw (for example) is required to substitute the entire Fox or CBS feed with th Global feed. So, if Global's late coming back, then it's late coming back on both stations.

Since you have a 6412, if you watch in HD you get the native Fox/CBS feed because Global doesn't have HD OTA in Calgary so there is no simsub requirement.
 
That makes sense to me but then why are they late coming back? What mechanism are Global/CTV using to ensure that they get the "timing" correct? I mean if they have control of the feed then they should have control of commercial breaks as well. As you stated I don't see it right now on the HD channels but I have seen it for years on the SD channels from Global.

I won't hammer this much more ... I'm just curious. I'll do some googling as well and look into it and see what I can learn. Thanks for your input.

ihdtv
 
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