Unit 8 Task 4 - Article

Analogue vs Digital on TV's

Signal: Analogue's TV signal continues which represents quite physical measurements. Whereas the signal on a Digital TV it is generated digitally and is a desecrate time signal. The big difference from Analogue and Digital TV signal waves is that Analogue signal waves much smoother and continuous than Digital signal waves. Not only that but Digital signal waves are much more stepping and discrete than Analogue's signal waves. Also one of the big disadvantages of Digitals TV signal, is that it can disconnect from really bad weather.

Satellite: Digital satellite TV basically means more channels, much better quality on all channels and much more choice. Sky TV is much better to use on a Digital TV, because Sky offers the highest number of complete Digital TV channels. Also Sky is run by satellite and Digital TV is connected to satellite, so you will have much better programmes and quality on Sky.

Cable: A system called 'Cable Television', delivers television programming to paying subscribers via radio frequency. CATV is quite often used for, 'Cable Television'. The abbreviation CATV originally stood in 1948 from the Community Antenna Television or the Community Access Television.

Film-based:

Interactive: On Sky TV you can interact by pressing the red button or the TV guide and more. On certain channels while your watching, there will be red button that pops up on the screen. By pressing the red button it will bring you to a certain programme about the programme you were just watching. For example, if you watching on a kids show (Nickelodeon, Disney channel), you can press the red button if it comes up and then you can play games and stuff for kids. If it was on a ports channel (Sky Sports), by pressing the red button if shown, you can look at scores or matches that are going to happen, such as Football, Rugby, Tennis, Cricket and other sports.

It is good that you can look at earlier games scores, just in case you missed the game or you forgot to record it. Recording is good to interact with. not only you can record a show you want to record, but if it's a series that's continuous and when you press record; it will say "Record Episode" or "Record Series". If you press "Record Series" every time a new episode is streamed it will automatically record for you or who else wants to watch it. This command can also be disabled.

Internet/Streaming: Netflix is an example for internet/streaming. On Netflix you can watch it on Virgin Media, a certain watching box, Phone, Laptop/Computer and more. To watch Netflix you need to pay for subscription, the subscription is £5.99 a month. If you were to watch a movie or a TV series episode on your phone, it wouldn't be the same as on a Laptop/Computer and TV, meaning the quality will not be as good and since the phones screen is wider than a Laptop/Computer and TV, the video on the phone will look odd. Since Netflix is getting popular and popular one of the reasons could be that, there is a new movie or a new TV series that is been Streamed on Netflix and no where else. This will then make people subscribe to a monthly subscription on Netflix.

High Definition: High Definition means better quality and better experience. When you buy Virgin Media, you can buy extra for High Definition. It is good to pay for this, since it makes the most popular channels that you like have much better quality on a separate channel, for example when you go to 'All Channels' on the main menu screen it has:

101 - BBC ONE

102 - BBC TWO

103 - ITV

104 - Channel 4

105 - Five

and more below. If you further down and go to channel 108, it has the channel name as, 'BBC ONE HD'. BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD plays the exact same programmes at the exact same time, but BBC ONE HD is in much better quality because it is in High Definition.

Consumer Products: For example, 'Amazon Fire TV Stick' . The Amazon Fire TV Stick is only used if people want to turn there TV into a smart TV, but you will have to pay at least £35. For the money you have spent over the streaming stick, they will offer you a 30 day trial just from buying it. When your Amazon Fire 30 day trial has ran out and you haven't decided to pay on the Amazon Service, the whole experience sterile without prime.

On-Demand Viewing: On-demand viewing is viewing programmes that were on sometime ago and you can watch it if you haven't recorded or missed it. For example on Virgin Media, if there is a new episode of EastEnders, Coronation Street or Emmerdale that was streamed a day, or a few days ago, you can go on Demand Viewing and watch it if you missed it or you if forgot to record the episode, from the start to the end.

Digital Recorders: 

Pay Per View: Pay per view is where you buy a certain movie or other once for the whole day. On Sky and Virgin Media you can buy a movie for the whole day for, £3.99 or £5.99 in HD. You can watch it as many times as you want for the whole 24 hours.