I read an article this weekend about the issues surrounding the delivery of HD broadcast signals to subscribers of cable and satellite.  It seems that in order to feed the HD appetite of owners of plasma and LCD screens, the providers of HD signal to your home are having to compress the signals to allow room for more HD channels.  That stinks!  If you have spent $1000 or more on your dream television, you want to see every game or episode of your favorite show in full HD.  But, many viewers are getting a compressed signal that shows up as pixelated, distorted or otherwise not pristine. 

Rest assured that the delivery system operators are working on the solution, hardware upgrades.  That is expensive and time consuming, and may result in higher monthly fees for you.

What does that mean for corporate video users?  Well, if you are using your project strictly for in-house or web use, nothing.  But, if you are talking about a television commercial, be aware that your spot may end up compressed on air.  Check with your placement firm or the traffic department at your local TV station to see if they are compressing the signal to accomodate the required band width.

Have a great week.

Ed