The “Break it Down” Blog

bfdtv, a user on AVS Forum took the time to do a competitive analysis if the new re-compression Comcast is doing in order to fit more HD channels on the same network without chopping out a significant number of analog channels to compensate. The end result is that your once gloriously untouched HD channels are now going to look about 10-20% shittier and there is nothing you can do about it, bfdtv explains:

Until recently, most Comcast systems passed all HD as is from the content provider, without any added compression or quality reduction. In response to competitive pressures from DirecTV and Verizon FiOS, Comcast recently decided to sacrifice some quality to improve quantity. By early April, most Comcast systems will recompress and degrade their HD, much like DirecTV and Dish Network do on their MPEG-2 channels. This creates room for new HD channels without the need to eliminate a significant number of analog channels.

He also posted a table of the average bitrate of the same channel on both Comcast and Verizon, with Comcast’s showing a 1-4mb/sec difference in some cases.

The best part is the comparisons he posted showing the difference between Comcast HD and Verizon FIOS HD, the same channel, the same moment.

All the original shots are in his post, but I overlayed these and split the screen so it was easier to see the difference.

LEFT: Verizon FIOS, RIGHT: Comcast

(Click to see a larger image)

LEFT: Verizon FIOS, RIGHT: Comcast

(Click to see a larger image)

LEFT: Verizon FIOS, RIGHT: Comcast

(Click to see a larger image)

That last image is like “Welcome to motion artifacting-land…”, it’s nice to know that Comcast is making extra sure your $4k TV will look the same as your 27″ CRT… nice.