WBNS NCAA MULTI-CAST AND HD INFORMATION [Archive] - HD Columbus Forum

fwillson

03-05-2007, 11:55 AM

All,

In addition to our release on 10TV News HD launching in April, I thought I would also post our release on the NCAA Multi-Cast/HD.

New for this year, we are supplying a separate fiber feed of the multi-cast to the cable systems allowing us to use our OTA signal for full HD.

This will allow us to do both full 1080i as well as multi-cast on digital cable. Obviously the downside is OTA and Satellite viewers won't receive the multi-cast but we made the decision, based off of the large number of upset viewers last year, that HDTV was the priority.

You can get more information on our website: Click Here. (http://www.10tv.com/?sec=stationinformation&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200702/740463245.html)

Curious to see the group's feedback.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV/WBNS-DT10

WBNS-DT10 TO MULTI-CAST NCAA TOURNAMENT

New for 2007-Cable subscribers to receive both Multi-casts and HD signals

Contact:
Frank Willson
WBNS-10TV Director of Operations
614-460-3906 / frank.willson@10tv.com

For Immediate Release – Monday, March 05, 2007

Columbus, Ohio – WBNS-DT10 will once again broadcast the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament via “multi-cast” allowing central Ohio viewers to see multiple games at the same time.

New for 2007, WBNS-DT10 will also continue to broadcast selected HDTV games via digital cable. Time Warner, Insight, and WOW customers will be able to see the multi-cast games in standard definition on pre-selected channels and the HD game on the same channel they currently receive HDTV.

In years past, the multi-cast prevented WBNS to broadcast and HDTV game at the same time. WBNS will supply a separate feed to cable systems for the standard definition multi-cast games. Viewers who receive WBNS-DT10 via satellite or over the air will not be able to receive the HDTV games during multi-cast broadcasts.

“In years past we’ve received great feedback on the multicasts but many viewers were disappointed by the lack of HDTV broadcasts,” said WBNS Director of Operations, Frank Willson. “With some great cooperation with our cable partners, we’re able to offer the best of both worlds to the majority of our viewers. This is a great example of what the promise of digital television holds.”

The First and Second rounds of the tournament will be presented via four separate multi-cast feeds. The regional rounds will have both multi-cast and HD broadcast for all viewers. The Final Four News Department NCAA Championship will be broadcast in full HDTV.

WBNS-DT10 offers the multi-casts and HD broadcasts for free to local cable systems and their viewers. The digital broadcasting of the NCAA Tournament is underwritten locally by WBWR, 105.7 “The Brew.”

The Dispatch Broadcast Group includes WBNS-TV, WBNS-AM/FM, Ohio News Network and Radio Sound Network in Columbus, Ohio; WTHR-TV and WALV-LP in Indianapolis, Indiana; Dispatch Interactive Television in Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana.
##

Robbiee19

03-05-2007, 12:23 PM

Well, Frank,

I am not too happy being a D* subscriber with OTA. I guess cable people are more important than Satellite people! Guess I know were I stand with WBNS! Maybe us scum satellite people didn't complain last year because we were happy with OTA multi-casts.

rossl

03-05-2007, 12:56 PM

fwillson

03-05-2007, 12:56 PM

It wasn't a choice to intentially leave satellite subscribers out of the mix. It simply wasn't possible technically.

Have you received multi-cast in subsequent years?

Robbiee19

03-05-2007, 01:37 PM

It wasn't a choice to intentially leave satellite subscribers out of the mix. It simply wasn't possible technically.

Have you received multi-cast in subsequent years?Yes I did. I like the early rounds being OTA multi-casts, but then the later rounds in HD only. Seems eveything was done for the cable people, be it technically or not.

jpdublin

03-05-2007, 02:07 PM

Agree Robbiee19, lucky for me I have the Mega March Madness package with Directv. It does seem that it was done to prevent those with OTA of receiving the multi-cast. :(

TvPat

03-05-2007, 07:21 PM

This was very disappointing news to me also. I am a DirecTV subscriber, so I will now have to pay $69 to see the games where in the past they were free for me. I have 3 OTA digital tuners, so I was able to get all four games at once from WBNS-DT. At least I have the $69 option. Dish Network customers and subscribers to cable companies other than Time Warner, WOW, and Insight are totally screwed.

A better solution would have been to offer the multicast on the OTA signal and provide a fiber feed to the cable companies for the HD signal. I have HD, but to limit the multicast to those three cable companies kinda stinks. It is certainly a coup for the cable companies.

I'm surprised the 10% of viewers that have HDTV won out over the 90% that don't, but I suppose anyone who has an OTA digital tuner also has HD. Last year, only half the sites broadcast in HD because CBS only had 4 HD crews. I don't think that has changed. It wouldn't surprise me if the Ohio State game, which will probably be 1 versus 16, wasn't broadcast in HD anyway.

I am very disappointed by WBNS's decision. I hope they reconsider.

TvPat

03-05-2007, 07:29 PM

In addition to expressing my disappointment to WBNS, I also sent this message to WBWR:

I was disappointed to see WBNS has taken the NCAA Tournamant multicast off free TV and made it a cable exclusive. I am not a digital cable subscriber so I will now no longer get to see it as I have in the past. Please reconsider sponsoring this move.

Gimpy McFarlan

03-05-2007, 07:35 PM

+1 from another disappointed DirecTV customer. For 1st / 2nd round I would much prefer the multicast on the OTA.

zelig2

03-05-2007, 09:27 PM

I personally enjoy one HD game over four blocky SD games. But that's just me.

bucks17

03-05-2007, 09:39 PM

nakedeye

03-05-2007, 10:22 PM

You can only watch one game at a time anyway...

I say good call on the HD. Every other year people get just as upset about the multicast

Dbailey

03-06-2007, 08:11 AM

i like the hd option also...

Thombil

03-06-2007, 09:42 AM

Good move WBNS. Thanks

Robbiee19

03-06-2007, 10:07 AM

I liked the multicast games in early rounds with HD in the later rounds.

I think that this is one of the times that you are going to have opinions split right down the middle. You can't please everyone.You are right. Look's like a split down the middle. Hey can we get a poll going on this?

rossl

03-06-2007, 10:30 AM

You can't please everyone.

4 games in HD on 4 full-bandwidth OTA channels.

:D

just kidding, Frank

Scott

03-06-2007, 10:46 AM

Being a DirecTV subscriber that pulls in locals OTA, I'm certainly disappointed that I will not be able to use multi-cast this year; however, I feel this is a good move. Coupled with the transition to HD newscasts next month, WBNS is proving to be at the forefront in HDTV and we need initiatives like this by organizations with clout in order to keep HDTV moving forward in Columbus.

gkx10

03-06-2007, 10:57 AM

1: recalling past responses, I feel is a good move.
2: Frank... thanks so much for keeping this group informed

snodgrass23

03-06-2007, 12:44 PM

I'm pretty split on this too. I do like the multiple games OTA, especially for keeping up with my brackets in the early rounds. However, I also like the full HD option, and it is nice to see a decision made to support the HDTV community.

I also appreciate letting us know their reasoning and asking for feedback. Although I can't get the multicast, at least I get a full HD option and many people will be able to get both.

BTW, I added a poll in this same forum to get a running tally.

jpdublin

03-06-2007, 05:35 PM

I am in the same boat as you snodgrass. At first I was pretty upset about the whole thing, then I thought why does this organization exist. That answered my question! Though I did like having the ability in the first couple of weekends to see multiple games, I will welcome the move to HD.

Robbiee19

03-06-2007, 08:20 PM

I like the HD, but cable people get the HD and Multi-cast and us others are left out in the cold! I see other's point of view, but I don't have to like it.

nakedeye

03-07-2007, 09:53 PM

Just to add the Kudos, remember WBNS is one a handfull of stations that show Jepordy and Wheel of Fortune in HD. They are most certainly the most commited to hd. Ohh and they are the only station that gives us the full 19.2 mbs signal.....

Milalwi

03-07-2007, 11:34 PM

New for this year, we are supplying a separate fiber feed of the multi-cast to the cable systems allowing us to use our OTA signal for full HD.

This will allow us to do both full 1080i as well as multi-cast on digital cable. Obviously the downside is OTA and Satellite viewers won't receive the multi-cast but we made the decision, based off of the large number of upset viewers last year, that HDTV was the priority.

As a cable subscriber, my first thought was that is really cool, and great! Having read some of the follow-ups from satellite subscribers, I can see why they might be a bit upset.

However, I remember a couple of years ago, before I had an HD set, I went up to a friends house, thinking I would be able to see the Ohio-Florida game in HD. I was quite disappointed that it was SD, in part because I had imposed myself on my friend and family needlessly. Providing a separate feed so that they can multicast and have an HD OTA and cable is very cool, IMHO.

Milalwi

MeHDTV

03-08-2007, 01:39 AM

Oh freaking fantastic. I have several OTA tuners to watch the tournanment on 4 TV's, been watching OTA since 2000. Now I'm relegated to most likely NOT seeing my team play in the early rounds (Nevada). I have 65 HD channels on my satellite boxes and can't see my team. Maybe it'll be on my HD Seattle feed, unless they multicast and I'm hosed again.

Maybe I'll burn my DT-21 hat from 2000 when I helped as a beta for WBNS.

Early adopters are burned on yet another front. Cable gets HD AND multicast, everyone else got's to a game that may be a lousy blowout.

t2baldwin

03-08-2007, 10:34 AM

Not happy. Cable is not provided in my area and I do not have satellite service. To know that the ability to multi-cast games is an option, but choosing not to do so for OTA viewers is disappointing.

fwillson

03-08-2007, 12:03 PM

Wanted to let you know that I have read all of your comments and I am sorry we can't offer both HD and multi-cast.

I find the poll interesting in that it proves what I've said to many of you that have written me. We're pretty much damned if we do, damned if we don't. However, looking back at the quantity of e-mails we got last year from viewers upset about not getting HD, I think we still need to stick with broadcasting a full 1080i game.

I want to thank Patrick for the idea of possibly multi-casting one game and showing one HD game. I'm not sure if we can do that this year but I'll ask the room. Is the decrease in HD quality worth getting the extra game?

We will have this option for the second round this year and I'm in talks with our Engineering Department about the possibility of doing it for the opening rounds. I just don't want anyone to build false hopes.

I'll keep in touch.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV/WBNS-DT10

Robbiee19

03-08-2007, 02:11 PM

want to thank Patrick for the idea of possibly multi-casting one game and showing one HD game. I'm not sure if we can do that this year but I'll ask the room. Is the decrease in HD quality worth getting the extra game?

To me yes this would work. In the first few rounds there are so many games and its nice to be able to watch the games. Thats were some of the best games happen, but then comes the sweet 16 and I want the full HD quality.

Gimpy McFarlan

03-08-2007, 02:42 PM

In the first few rounds there are so many games and its nice to be able to watch the games. That were some of the best games happen, but then come the sweet 16 then I want the full HD quality.

Ding, ding, ding... We have a winner. In the 1st / 2nd rounds it's all about quantity and not so much about quality. Once we get into the sweet 16 then the number of games per day drop dramatically so quality is more important.

Kudos for WBNS for going HD for the news and listening in on the board. Much appreciated!

TvPat

03-08-2007, 05:58 PM

We are lucky to have a locally owned station like WBNS.

rlw

03-08-2007, 06:11 PM

...Is the decrease in HD quality worth getting the extra game?
I'd have to vote YES on that one...

I'd also like to add my thanks to WBNS for actually caring about what their viewers think. Keep up the good work!

RLW

scottc98

03-08-2007, 08:53 PM

Frank,

What about a compromise:

1st round= Multicast OTA
2nd round=HD and one mc game (if possible)
3rd round on=Full HD.

I would have much rather seen WBNS keep the mc the same on OTA as in years past and fibered the HD feed to the cable co's. The first weekend (especially 1st round) is the ONE time that quantity overrides quality. The small school and upset in the first two rounds is what makes the tourney what it is IMO.

At the very least, if you go full HD, can you at least ensure that the analog channel is a different game?

I BEG YOU.....PLEASE MAKE AS MANY GAMES AS POSSIBLE ON OTA!!!

fwillson

03-08-2007, 10:44 PM

Scott,

Outside of the first round, that is exactly what we're doing.

Based on the feedback we received last year, and the HDColumbus poll, if its a question of multi-cast or full HD on the early rounds, full HD is the choice.

As I say to our Bengals and Browns fans... in a perfect world I'd give you both. Lord knows it would certainly make my life easier. But, unfortunately, I can't.

All I can do is listen, give good customer service, and address concerns when I can. As my friend Pat said, that's the difference of a locally owned company.

I'll keep checking in.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

scottc98

03-08-2007, 11:10 PM

So....is there still a chance for one MC game?

If Thurs and Friday could provide some extra games (any #)...that would be a plus.

Also, will the HD game be the exact game as the analog feed....or is there still a chance to make them different?

Add that choice to a poll and I'll bet you'd get some different results. That would be one way to do full HD and broadcast another game (if it can't be on a sub-channel)

Scott,

Outside of the first round, that is exactly what we're doing.

Based on the feedback we received last year, and the HDColumbus poll, if its a question of multi-cast or full HD on the early rounds, full HD is the choice.

As I say to our Bengals and Browns fans... in a perfect world I'd give you both. Lord knows it would certainly make my life easier. But, unfortunately, I can't.

All I can do is listen, give good customer service, and address concerns when I can. As my friend Pat said, that's the difference of a locally owned company.

I'll keep checking in.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

fwillson

03-08-2007, 11:38 PM

This is where the lawyers and the leagues get involved.

We must air the same game on DT10 that we air on 10TV.

In other words, analog and HD must be simulcast.

Frank

TvPat

03-09-2007, 08:07 AM

This is from the Dispatch this morning. I hope it is true, but I believe they got it backwards.

http://www.dispatch.com/features-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/09/20070309-C9-04.html

WBNS plans NCAA multicast

Friday, March 09, 2007

WBNS-DT10 will again show the NCAA men’s basketball tournament via the "multicast" capability of its high-definition digital signal, allowing viewers to watch several games at the same time.

New for 2007, WBNS-DT10 will also continue to broadcast some HD games via digital cable. Time Warner, Insight and WOW! customers will be able to see the games in standard definition on selected channels and the HD game on the HD channel.

Viewers who receive WBNS-DT10 by satellite or over the air won’t receive the HD games during multicast broadcasts.

The first and second rounds of the tournament will be presented on four separate multicast feeds. The regional rounds will have both multicast and HD broadcasts for all viewers.

The Final Four and NCAA championship will be shown in high definition.

fwillson

03-09-2007, 10:08 AM

The article in the Dispatch was incorrect. It was our fault not theirs. I'll follow-up with Bob Baptist.

Also, we checked with Engineering about offering one multi-cast game in addition to the HD feed. My Chief Engineer tells me "...based on how we are doing things now, I don't see how we would feed an additional game to the HD over the air."

I know our Engineering Department had to really MacGyver a solution out of our Flexicoder to pull this feat off but we will certainly consider it for our planning in subsequent years.

Frank Willson
WBNS-10TV/WBNS-DT10

snodgrass23

03-09-2007, 11:07 AM

I want to just say, that even though you can't make everyone happy, it is really great that you have listened to people and are answering questions. No matter which way I feel about his particular situation, your station has gained alot of respect in my mind.

nakedeye

03-09-2007, 11:49 AM

Frank,

I am certainly not in support of the multi cast, but I do know that you have shown HD in the past with one SD sub channel. It made the HD unbearable and the SD looked like crap. I believe it was when you guys were showing some sort of debates in SD and football in HD.

On another note, Jericho on Wed. seemed to be a little bit starved. There was some macro-blocking during scene changes. It could be just that I am paying more attention now that I am worried of lower rates, but it certainly was there. Have you begun to drop the rate to see if we notice?

festivus

03-09-2007, 01:05 PM

If I had to choose, I would prefer to be able to choose from the multicast of 4(?) games. Of course, when Ohio State is playing, I would like HD but I can get over that.

I like entertaining during March Madness and enjoy being able to split my screen down the middle and show 2 games at once. I won't be able to do that now.

I liked the way that you guys had done it in the past, Frank. Multicast the early rounds, switch to HD when only one or two games are happening at the same time.

Robbiee19

03-09-2007, 01:21 PM

fwillson

03-09-2007, 04:53 PM

Not sure about Jericho. To my knowlege we have changed nothing.

My understanding is that the flexicoder that we're using to multi-cast the games to cable is what we would need to do an additional multi-cast OTA. During the later rounds we won't have seperate multi-casts and HD and will only need a single flexicoder.

Frank Willson
WBNS-10TV

vman41

03-09-2007, 11:28 PM

I was happy with the formula WBNS used last year.

Will the multi-casting on the cable show up as 10.2 - 10.5 in a QAM tuner's virtual channel table or will then be on special digital channels.

MeHDTV

03-10-2007, 01:53 AM

So if the HD feed turns into a blowout will WBNS change to a competitive game or will we change the channel to a Monk rerun?

Timcredible

03-10-2007, 07:13 PM

I haven't been at this site for a while, but saw this thread, wanted to let wbns know that i'm one of the people that will be very happy to be watching all HD games ota. personally, I bought an HDTV so that I can watch HD games, not to watch 4 SD games. thanks!

TvPat

03-10-2007, 07:36 PM

I found this on avsforum.com. If this is true, it means that all games broadcast on WBNS will be in HD except the Ohio State games, because we will receive the "Constant" feed for the Ohio State games.

This is not the fault of WBNS. CBS apparently has a limitation of 4 HD feeds from their master control at one time. When they are doing the NCAA tournament, they have a total of 8 feeds. Four feeds are "Flex", meaning that feed will switch away to a better game during a blowout. Four feeds are "Constant", meaning they may switch away temporarily, but they will carry the game from that site to the end of the game. Constant feeds are only where the game is of local interest, such as Ohio State in Columbus.

I would suspect CBS affiliates will hear some complaints about this.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
From The M8B:

As previously noted, CBS Sports will cover all games in HD.

Typically, Flex Regions cover 80%-90%, while Constant Regions cover 10%-20% of the US.

For each “Window” or Time Slot:
- If the local affiliate is in a Flex Region, they will broadcast the game is HD.
- If the local affiliate is in a Constant Region, they will upconvert the SD Constant Feed.

This provides the most HD possible, while keeping the programming “Correct” regarding locality.

The decisions as to which games go where remain as in the past with HD exactly following the SD network. (As always, local affiliates may deviate from this.)

Everything from the Regionals on will be 100% HD, Flex and Constant as it
was last year.

festivus

03-11-2007, 09:26 AM

Frank, I think that you're last proposal is the one to pick. Sacrificing just a bit of HD quality to be able to multicast a second game is worth it to me.

Thanks for presenting us with the options and communicating well. You guys really seem to care.

fwillson

03-12-2007, 01:09 AM

Latest answers to questions/concerns....

VMAN: Check out the Multi-cast graphic on the left side of our website: www.10tv.com. Will have all of the channel assignments as we get them.

MeHDTV: We're at the mercy of CBS on the scheduling. We're given one satellite feed. What they put on that feed is at their discretion.

Timcredible: Thank you... but I assume that once I scroll down from your post, someone will disagree. ENJOY THE GAMES!

TVPat: Yet to be assured which games will be constant, but you can be assured that we will fight for OSU.

festivus: Not possible. Multicast games on cable have tied up the equipment necessary to offer multi-cast on OTA.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

MeHDTV

03-12-2007, 05:07 AM

Latest answers to questions/concerns....

festivus: Not possible. Multicast games on cable have tied up the equipment necessary to offer multi-cast on OTA.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

So the "Late to the party" cable companies take precidence over early adopters and all those integrated tv's with basic cable.

Wonderful

vman41

03-12-2007, 07:51 AM

VMAN: Check out the Multi-cast graphic on the left side of our website: www.10tv.com (http://www.10tv.com). Will have all of the channel assignments as we get them.

That's not the question I asked. I don't have a converter box or cablecard so those Time-Warner channel numbers don't mean anything. For the local digital stations TW is retransmitting, it provides PSIP data so a QAM tuner can map them as 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, etc.

festivus

03-12-2007, 10:08 AM

TvPat wrote: I found this on avsforum.com. If this is true, it means that all games broadcast on WBNS will be in HD except the Ohio State games, because we will receive the "Constant" feed for the Ohio State games.

This is unbelievable. I don't really understand the explanation but the result really stinks. Is this the same issue that prevents CBS from airing every NFL game in HD?

So, since I have dish and get wbns HD OTA, here's what I'll get:

1) One game in HD, no multicast during the entire tournament.
2) When my team plays, at least in the early rounds, no HD.

Who out there thinks that this is a good deal? If Ohio State can't be in HD, why would I care so much about HD in the early rounds? Sure, not everyone in Columbus is an Ohio State fan but there are a lot of us.

I switched from TWC because of the lack of HD content, including the Sinclair channels. Now in this situation it really does appear that cable subscribers are getting preference. Yes, it's a current infrastructure issue. But the fact is that cable got the infrastructure while OTA did not.

I wasn't upset and could live the wbns decision before. But if OSU is not in HD...:mad: :mad: :mad: :( :( :(

fwillson

03-12-2007, 10:23 AM

We will make every effort to keep OSU in HD.

To correct one point. We will be multi-casting the regional games beginning 3/22. Since it's only one additional game, we can offer one game in HD (at lower bandwidth) and another in SD on 10.2.

vman, e-mail me directly at frank.willson@10tv.com and I'll try and address your question. I'm still not quite following you.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

nakedeye

03-12-2007, 03:06 PM

Please turn off the multicast and up the bandwith when not showing the games. I know in the past you guys have not.

It's gonna hose the HD for the rest of us who dont care about BB and want to see, ohh lets say your HD debut of news, with out it looking like garbage.

nakedeye

03-12-2007, 03:07 PM

Ohh and the other thing is that weer gonna get a whole bunch of "thats not the right game you should be showing" posts now.

Duck for cover.

fwillson

03-12-2007, 06:58 PM

The bandwidth will only be done during the HD/Multi-casts of 3/22-25 and then will go back to full strength.

In regards to "That's not the right game..." we're at the mercy of CBS on that one. You can contact them here (mailto:audsvcs@cbs.com).

By the way, we also found out today that HD games are "Flex scheduling" only. Which means that they can take the HD feed of the OSU game on Thursday night and switch to another game. There's nothing we can do about it.

We're not happy about it because, assuming Thursday night will be a blow out, CBS will probably switch to another game. We'll manage it as best we can.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

MeHDTV

03-12-2007, 08:04 PM

Robbiee19

03-12-2007, 08:30 PM

Well, Frank I think you guys are doing a heck of a job! It is hard to try to please everyone, but I think you guys try and thats all we can ask for.

fwillson

03-12-2007, 08:53 PM

Thanks Robbiee... We can't please everyone but we try not to duck and cover when it starts to hit the fan.

Frank Willson
Director of Operations
WBNS-10TV

festivus

03-12-2007, 09:10 PM

Yeah, Frank. You can't win. Maybe one of these days the bandwidth will be available to do it all. But by then you'll be broadcasting in 1080p and still running low on bandwidth! I know, I'm cynical.

Keep up the good work. If only we could get the NFL and others to change their idiotic rules...

Scott

03-12-2007, 10:24 PM

Frank,

When will the multi-cast (for cable subs) and OTA schedules be announced for WBNS (this weekend)? I think the Buckeyes game is on for 19:10 on Thursday, but I'm not sure.

snodgrass23

03-13-2007, 08:29 AM

Frank,

When will the multi-cast (for cable subs) and OTA schedules be announced for WBNS (this weekend)? I think the Buckeyes game is on for 19:10 on Thursday, but I'm not sure.

I checked the TV schedule yesterday on their site and it shows up. It does show the Buckeyes on at 7:10pm.

Scott

03-13-2007, 10:44 AM

I checked the TV schedule yesterday on their site and it shows up. It does show the Buckeyes on at 7:10pm.

I see only 10 and 10.1 schedules. Assuming that 10/10.1 is the OTA schedule, I guess I was looking for the WBNS multi-cast schedule.

TvPat

03-13-2007, 08:54 PM

Time........Teams................................. ......Site...........TV....HD

Thursday,.March.15

12:20.PM....Maryland.vs..Davidson................. ......Buffalo........705...709
12:25.PM....Boston.College.vs..Texas.Tech......... ......Winston-Salem..706...710
12:40.PM....Louisville.vs..Stanford............... ......Lexington......10....10-1

2:40.PM.....Washington.St..vs..Oral.Roberts....... ......Sacramento.....708...712
2:50.PM.....Butler.vs..Old.Dominion............... ......Buffalo........10....10-1
2:55.PM.....Georgetown.vs..Belmont................ ......Winston-Salem..706...710
3:10.PM.....Texas.A&M.vs..Penn..........................Lexington..... .707...711

5:10.PM.....Vanderbilt.vs..George.Washington...... ......Sacramento.....CSTV..712

7:10.PM.....Ohio.State.vs..Central.Conn.State..... ......Lexington......10....10-1
7:10.PM.....Duke.vs..VA.Commonwealth.............. ......Buffalo........705...709
7:20.PM.....Marquette.vs..Michigan.State.......... ......Winston-Salem..706...710
7:25.PM.....UCLA.vs..Weber.State.................. ......Sacramento.....708...712

9:40.PM.....Pittsburgh.vs..Wright.State........... ......Buffalo........705...709
9:40.PM.....BYU.vs..Xavier........................ ......Lexington......10....10-1
9:50.PM.....North.Carolina.vs..Eastern.Kentucky... ......Winston-Salem..706...710
9:55.PM.....Indiana.vs..Gonzaga................... ......Sacramento.....708...712

Friday,.March.16

12:15.PM....Virginia.vs..Albany................... ......Columbus.......CSTV..709
12:25.PM....UNLV.vs..Georgia.Tech................. ......Chicago........10....10-1
12:30.PM....Memphis.vs..North.Texas............... ......New.Orleans....707...711

2:35.PM.....Notre.Dame.vs..Winthrop............... ......Spokane........10....10-1
2:45.PM.....Tennessee.vs..Long.Beach.State........ ......Columbus.......705...709
2:55.PM.....Wisconsin.vs..Texas.A&M.CC..................Chicago........706...710
3:00.PM.....Nevada.vs..Creighton.................. ......New.Orleans....707...711

5:05.PM.....Oregon.vs..Miami.(Ohio)............... ......Spokane........708...712

7:10.PM.....Virginia.Tech.vs..Illinois............ ......Columbus.......10....10-1
7:10.PM.....Kansas.vs..Florida.A&M/Niagara..............Chicago........706...710
7:20.PM.....Arizona.vs..Purdue.................... ......New.Orleans....707...711
7:25.PM.....Texas.vs..New.Mexico.St............... ......Spokane........708...712

9:40.PM.....Southern.Ill..vs..Holy.Cross.......... ......Columbus.......705...709
9:40.PM.....Kentucky.vs..Villanova................ ......Chicago........10....10-1
9:50.PM.....Florida.vs..Jackson.State............. ......New.Orleans....707...711
9:55.PM.....USC.vs..Arkansas...................... ......Spokane........708...712

Scott

03-13-2007, 10:26 PM

Schweet. Thanks Pat! I'm probably going to steal this for an announcement tomorrow.

Which provider are the other games listed for other than 10?

TvPat

03-13-2007, 11:20 PM

The other channels are DirecTV. The Thursday channels just showed up today. Up until now there was no indication that all of the games would be in HD. The channels on Friday are guesses, but they're probably correct.

I attached a nicer schedule.

snodgrass23

03-13-2007, 11:24 PM

Cool, thanks Pat. I'm going to print that out.

Scott

03-13-2007, 11:31 PM

Scott

03-15-2007, 09:41 PM

No HD for the OSU game OTA. Did you guys switch to a constant feed?

fwillson

03-15-2007, 09:43 PM

CBS switched to another game.

Scott

03-15-2007, 09:49 PM

CBS switched to another game.

DirecTV turned the blackout off for the OSU game and it's in SD too.

rlw

03-16-2007, 02:00 AM

No HD for the OSU game OTA. Did you guys switch to a constant feed?

Hmmmm... I watched the whole evening on OTA, and it looked like HD to me. The commercials were letter-boxed, but the games filled my 55" screen and looked pretty sharp.

RLW

MeHDTV

03-16-2007, 03:05 AM

CBS switched to another game.

So the lack of multi-cast left OSU fans in the dark?

You've got balls, I respect that.

Let's multicast this weekend!

Scott

03-16-2007, 08:49 AM

Hmmmm... I watched the whole evening on OTA, and it looked like HD to me. The commercials were letter-boxed, but the games filled my 55" screen and looked pretty sharp.

RLW

CBS switched to the Duke game so WBNS switched to the constant feed of the OSU game, which was SD. Apparently, all of the constant feeds are in SD. The Mega March Madness package, which includes all of the games in HD, switches to SD (or the constant feed/no commercials/etc.) when CBS decides to go another game.

Scott

03-16-2007, 08:50 AM

So the lack of multi-cast left OSU fans in the dark?

You've got balls, I respect that.

Let's multicast this weekend!

Actually, WBNS switched to the constant feed of OSU (see my post before this) and made OSU fans happy.

Robbiee19

03-16-2007, 09:15 AM

This was not WBNS's problem, but one with CBS. I donot fault WBNS at all.

TvPat

03-16-2007, 09:25 AM

In a thread on AVS Forum, apparently some affiliates are carrying the constant feed in its entirety and telling viewers that CBS told them they had to. In reality, they are too lazy to have someone sit there and watch the game to be ready to flip a switch.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=819927

No problem with the flex/constant thing on Saturday. OSU/Xavier is the only game in its time slot.

festivus

03-16-2007, 09:32 AM

This whole conversation is insane. Why, in Columbus, shouldn't we be able to watch OSU in HD for the whole game? The bottom line for OTA people, no matter who is to blame, is that we get only part-time HD and no multicast. Doesn't sound like a good deal at all to me.

And what's up with the game updates while the OSU game is going on? If I want game updates I'll look at the scores on the screen. CBS is dropping the ball both with NCAA coverage and with NFL coverage. If FOX were airing the tournament every game would most likely be in HD. Updates would take place only during halftime. Or they would be quick during timeouts.

Sorry, Frank. I know that most of these issues are those of CBS and not WBNS but the bottom line is that I'm not too happy about the coverage so far.

Thombil

03-16-2007, 10:51 AM

I want to say "great job Frank and WBNS!"

You have to work with what CBS gives you and you did great. Keep up the good work.

festivus

03-16-2007, 02:52 PM

One game in SD most of the second half(?) with no multicast. good work? I thought that our choice was HD or multicast. I didn't think we would get neither. If we can't get HD in a reliable way, do multicast.

fwillson

03-16-2007, 04:46 PM

TVPat,

That's actually true. CBS mandated that you carry the constant, upconverted feed for all constant games.

We made it clear that we were going to air the OSU game in HD where we can. Once they switched off the game we figured upconverted OSU was better than no OSU at all.

Despite Festivus' comments, we truly are trying our best.

Frank Willson

MeHDTV

03-16-2007, 05:13 PM

Then show games that are interesting! Wisconsin is geting killed, ND is getting killed, why no coverage of the Creighton game that is nip and tuck?

What an incredibly boring afternoon of blowouts.

edit: I know it's not toally your fault since I am watching Seattle and Boston feeds while monitoring WBNS.

Message to CBS, this is poop, we want shineola!

TvPat

03-16-2007, 05:22 PM

Frank,

If it's true that CBS mandated the constant feed for the whole game, thanks for being a "rebel" on that one. 90 minutes of HD was 90 minutes more than I expected.

I think festivus is just mad about not getting extra games. I would be too. At least I had the $69 option. He has nothing.

Next year, consider doing what WRAL in Raleigh does. They multicast 4 SD games OTA and send TWO separate HD feeds to the cable companies via fiber. I think that would make many more people happy, especially considering that there will be a lot more digital standard definition TV's by this time next year.

MeHDTV

03-16-2007, 05:49 PM

Frank's screwed at this point. Those of us who have been OTA and watching the multicast for years are upset that it was taken away. Those with digital cable that have it this year are going to expect it in the future. Hate to say but doing it this way this year has created a much bigger problem for WBNS than they thought they had going into this tournament.

All those with basic cable are clueless, but as they get TV's with OTA tuners the balance will be tipped back to the OTA only, SAT w/OTA, abd basic cable customers /OTA vs. digital cable cuatomers.

It's going to get uglier.

festivus

03-16-2007, 11:05 PM

I have an option! We all could:

1) Subscribe to TWC to get the best NCAA tournament coverage and get ONN for HS football. AND
2) Subscribe to Direct TV to get the best NFL coverage (for a huge fee). AND
3) Subscribe to Dish to get the best HD movies. AND
4) Pay $300/month to watch TV.

By the way, I'm watching Kentucky/Villanova in SD on 10.1 right now. It's like watching ESPN Plus coverage of Northwestern vs Indiana football.

atom

03-16-2007, 11:43 PM

i have TWC and so far I am very pleased with the feeds WBNS has been providing. there are some issues, which are mentioned in the rant thread, but most can probably be attributed to organizations other than WBNS. for example, i get annoyed when all the channels i am watching are showing the same exact game. it kind of negates the reason for doing the multicast in the first place as suddenly i'm watching the same game on three screens. on the other hand, i understand most of the times when this occurs there is a reason. :)

i do love the WBNS schedules i found here (http://www.timewarnercable.com/midohio/programming/bball.html)

also, what happened to the HD feed on 10.1? it has been standard def for at least an hour tonight.

i set up the following for the tournament:

main screen is OTA fed through media center extender
right screen is SA 8300HD from TWC
left screen is standard def Pioneer box from TWC

atom

03-17-2007, 12:04 AM

looks like 10.1 is back to HD.

MeHDTV

03-17-2007, 12:13 AM

I'm watching KIRO Seattle for the last 2 days, I have watched Boston CBS HD from time to time, but now it's Hockey time!

TvPat

03-17-2007, 09:29 AM

WBNS has done a good job on the tournament this year. There are only about a dozen CBS stations in the country that provide the extra games to their viewers, and about 200 that don't. We're lucky we have one that does.

They have also done an excellent job once again communicating their schedule. I think we may take for granted the "Weekly Viewer Services Information" page, but try finding something like that on other station's web sites. (The advance information always gives me an extra few days to complain to WBNS about the Bengals not being shown that week.;) )

I had a feeling there would be some complaints about the multicast moving to cable. Even though the opinions seem to be split 50-50, I would think the viewers that want to see all of the games would be far more passionate about the tournament than the ones that want one game in HD. After having all of the games the last few years, I think I'd go crazy if I didn't anymore.

I still appreciate the effort. That company that begins with "Sin" certainly wouldn't do this.

festivus

03-17-2007, 09:54 AM

TvPat wrote: "WBNS has done a good job on the tournament this year. There are only about a dozen CBS stations in the country that provide the extra games to their viewers, and about 200 that don't. We're lucky we have one that does."

Only if you're "lucky" enough to have cable. As noted by me at least a few times, I often get stuck with one SD game. If I don't care for the teams, too bad. I ended up watching 20/20 since all that I had was Villanova/UK in SD.

WBNS made the decision that I think that it had to make. It doesn't mean that I'm going to like it. I'm too selfish for that!:D

Clint

03-19-2007, 04:29 PM

WBNS DT is the only Columbus station that does not multi-cast on a regular basis. Since multi-casting noticeably degrades the quality of the HD picture, I don't want it to get any more of a foot hold than it already has.

fwillson

03-20-2007, 06:08 PM

Sorry I've been away for a couple of days.

TVPat... I'll run your suggestion of multi-cast as our OTA distribution but I still think we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Everyone's quick to armchair quarterback this one but I promise you, if we had said we were going to multi-cast on OTA and do HD/Multi-cast on cable, we'd be in the same boat. The issue is distribution. Cable provides us additional distribution channels that OTA doesn't.

We will take everyone's feedback into account for next year.

Thursday & Friday will be one HD game and one SD game for both cable and OTA. Keep in mind we'll have to lower the bit-rate for HD to facilitate this.

See you all on 3/29.

Frank Willson
WBNS-10TV

TvPat

03-20-2007, 07:08 PM

Frank,

Thanks for keeping the lines of communication open. Thanks especially for taking your lumps in this forum over this divisive issue. It is very much appreciated.

Scott

03-20-2007, 08:25 PM