Nice to see this... http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/10/digital-radio-radio
2008/10/21 Brian Butterworth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2008/10/21 Ant Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Having said that, and my earlier point about low bit rates actually >> being better for reaching the audiences they're tyring to get to, the >> higher bit rates do exist. If anyone in backstage would like to >> suggest something we could do with better quality streams at low cost >> (i.e. none!) then fire away! > > > > The UK audience's bitrate doesn't need to be the same as for other areas, > and there are lots of different services worldwide... > > *BUT* my DAB rescue plan: > > - BBC given 'national commercial multiplex 2' on five-year loan > - BBC doubles up all it's DAB TX sites to do this mux > - BBC emits DAB+ version of all services -> boost audio quality for all > services > - Restricted national commercial bandwidth drives up DAB slot values > - BBC promotes upgrade to DAB+ for all existing users! > - After five years, BBC moves it's national mux to DAB+, returns com mux 2. > - Com Mux 2 for new DAB+ services > - Then Com Mux 1 moves to DAB+ > > Then the BBC can promote the "true CD quality DAB+ get it now" service, > people have five years to upgrade all their DAB sets. > > >> >> >> a >> >> On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 10:39 AM, Brian Butterworth >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > 2008/10/21 Christopher Woods <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >> >> This one's a late night, in-the-kitchen thought. I turned the radio on >> >> while >> >> I was making a cup of tea and of course, after R4 closedown the WS is >> >> simulcast. On FM, you get a wonderful, crisp stereo feed. On DAB, the >> WS >> >> feed is fine when listening to the Radio 4 simulcast, 128kbps stereo, >> but >> >> its own dedicated slot is naff: a 64kbps mono stream. On the web, it's >> >> even >> >> worse - only streamed at 32kbps WMA/RA. AsianNetwork is 64kbps mono on >> DAB >> >> - >> >> even 5Live has a better bitrate (80kbps mono). >> > >> > It is probably worth pointing out that the World Service, unlike all >> other >> > BBC services is paid for out of direct taxation. Thus the service has >> an >> > even more limited budget than License Fee services, it is down to the >> FCO >> > >> http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/what-we-do/funding-programmes/public-diplomacy/world-service >> > >> >> >> >> While I'm not a big Asian Network listener, I do live in Brum so take a >> >> bit >> >> of an interest in Asian community goings on. However, I'd quite like to >> >> listen to the WS during the daytime, either via the web or via DAB - >> how >> >> come the bitrates haven't been upped for these stations on the web >> >> streams? >> >> They're dragging behind the other BBC radio stations' online streams. >> Are >> >> there any plans to ever up the bandwidth of these neglected stations, >> >> either >> >> on DAB, on the web or both? I'm under the impression that the maximum >> >> bitrate for the multiplex is 1184kbps useable. According to >> >> DigitalRadioTech >> >> [1], the pre2002 bitrates were significantly higher (which I remember), >> >> and >> >> I can understand the reasons for lowering the bitrates to fit in the >> newer >> >> channels. The web's a different matter entirely though. What's stopping >> >> the >> >> Beeb from upping the bitrates for all the online streams to the same >> >> bitrate? >> >> >> >> (and will the bitrates ever go above 128kbps? I'd love a 192kbps or >> >> 256kbps >> >> stream, particularly for... Well, all of the radio stations!) >> >> >> >> >> >> And also, as a final question - how come the iPlayer pages for *all* of >> >> the >> >> radio stations are currently reporting each one as being currently >> >> off-air? >> >> Have the boxes doing the encoding and streaming been taken offline for >> >> work >> >> overnight or something? If someone aboard the HMS Sceptre is browsing >> the >> >> Radio 4 iPlayer site and sees that it's currently offair, they might >> think >> >> Britain is under attack and launch some Tridents at the Soviets. >> Wouldn't >> >> *that* be an interesting one for Gordon Brown to try and explain! >> >> >> >> - >> >> Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, >> please >> >> visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. >> >> Unofficial list archive: >> >> http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > >> > Brian Butterworth >> > >> > http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover >> advice, >> > since 2002 >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Ant Miller >> >> tel: 07709 265961 >> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> - >> Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, >> please visit >> http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. >> Unofficial list archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ >> > > > > -- > > Brian Butterworth > > follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist > web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover > advice, since 2002 > -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
