20-03-2017 21:34
I have read on the forums that the latest Now TV Smart Box outputs at 50Hz, which is great as that finally matches with the UK and Europe's broadcast systems, however, I cannot find any answers on whether the device can display broadcasts at 1080i/50. I normally use the web browser-based service for Sky Sports and only receive 720p/25. With many web players such as YouTube and BBC iPlayer now supporting things like 1080p/50-60 and 720p/50-60, I would like to know if I could get at least a 720p/50 stream for Sky Sports as watching sparts at 25 progressive frames is just... wrong. Technical limitations made this the norm for the recent years of internet video streaming but now we can watch things on the internet just like we do on TV (1080i/50 signals converted to 720p/50 signals).
Does the Now TV Smart box play at 50i/50p for:
a) Freview and Freeview HD content (antenna)
...and...
b) Sky bundles (itnernet stream)
or is it locked to 25p?
Thank you for reading. I am considering buying a box before the Australian Grand Prix this coming weekend.
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28-03-2017 11:19
23-03-2017 19:29
23-03-2017 19:39
@Anonymous User i thought it was only the smart box that outputs at 50hz,now it seems since the update last week the now tv black box also outputs at 50hz now?
23-03-2017 20:08 - edited 23-03-2017 20:11
Hi guys and girls
Just so that people are aware, an increasing number of Freeview HD broadcasts are actually 1080p 25FPS. 1080i is still used for sports, and news and quiz shows though.
In fact, if your TV is capable of 1080p you will get 1080p when watching most programs
23-03-2017 20:29 - edited 23-03-2017 20:32
@commanda6 my issue was if the black now tv box now outputs as 50hz now as i thought it was only smartbox. as black box was 60hz before update,so what is true then as black box dont have the freeview,only interested for watching sports channels once the picture quality improves
23-03-2017 20:39
The 'black' box has received a software update that now makes it output video at 50Hz, just like the 'smart' box...
23-03-2017 20:43
@SeeMoreDigital so it should act the same as smart box now regarding watching sports
23-03-2017 20:48 - edited 23-03-2017 20:48
@lockmatt wrote:@SeeMoreDigital so it should act the same as smart box now regarding watching sports
Yes...
And the UK TV catch-up services are also 'rendered' correctly now, ie: at 50Hz
23-03-2017 20:40 - edited 23-03-2017 20:45
@lockmatt wrote:
@commanda6 my issue was if the black now tv box now outputs as 50hz now as i thought it was only smartbox. as black box was 60hz before update,so what is true then as black box dont have the freeview,only interested for watching sports channels once the picture quality improves
@lockmatt my comments above related to preview HD broadcasts.
NowTV's live channels have a maximum resolution of 720p at a frame rate of 25 FPs and all of NowTV's content is shown at 50 Hz frequency. So now that the black box supports 50 Hz. You should see a marked improvement in overall picture quality, especially when watching sports. Prior to the update. The box would convert 50 Hz content to 60 Hz. Which is why people sometimes suffered with a fuzzy picture on the sports channels.
28-03-2017 11:19