What is Channel 84?

Holden Caulfield said :

Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime is death.

Maybe we should suggest a logo for the channel. Preferably a face looking out, or something to do with a boot…

Grrrr said :

bd84 said :

Another useless channel which is a waste of bandwidth. But I suppose they’re just using their remaining spectrum with very poor quality pictures on both 64 and 84

They’re not using “remaining spectrum.” The digital TV transmission is one data-stream shared (muxed) between all that broadcaster’s channels.

These informercial channels are using bandwidth in that broadcaster’s mux that was previously spread between their other channels. So while the bitrate allocated to the infomercial channels may be low, it still means that their other less-crappy channels now look and/or sound worse.

What’s worse is being stuck with MPEG-2 rather than the far more bitrate efficient h264.

bd84 said :

Another useless channel which is a waste of bandwidth. But I suppose they’re just using their remaining spectrum with very poor quality pictures on both 64 and 84 and making money from the idiots who watch and buy stuff from those channels.

How much is sold through these channels?

oh, I didn’t actually mention the important bit – the total bitrate for the broadcaster is fixed. The programs (channels) share it, and do so dynamically. Here’s a graphical illustration of the bandwidth-per-program (prior to eXtra going live):
http://igorfuna.com/images/dvb-t/aus/mux_nine_network/mux_usage.png

taken from:
http://igorfuna.com/dvb-t/australia/nine-network-multiplex-transport-stream-analysis

bd84 said :

Another useless channel which is a waste of bandwidth. But I suppose they’re just using their remaining spectrum with very poor quality pictures on both 64 and 84

They’re not using “remaining spectrum.” The digital TV transmission is one data-stream shared (muxed) between all that broadcaster’s channels.

These informercial channels are using bandwidth in that broadcaster’s mux that was previously spread between their other channels. So while the bitrate allocated to the infomercial channels may be low, it still means that their other less-crappy channels now look and/or sound worse.

Another useless channel which is a waste of bandwidth. But I suppose they’re just using their remaining spectrum with very poor quality pictures on both 64 and 84 and making money from the idiots who watch and buy stuff from those channels.

Keijidosha said :

I don’t mean any offence, but you rang WIN before consulting google?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_(TV_channel)
Infomercials ahoy!

Has anyone else caught “Channel Vision” on 64 (4ME)? It is a locally produced show that highlights events/products/services in the Capital region. Obviously there’s a commercial slant to most of the content, but with the exception of the coaching segment it isn’t half bad.

Channelvision is superb and we should support it more. Reminds me of the commercial channels (ok, channel singular in Canberra) of my youth, with local news, views, sport, drama, music — just content in general.

I had a weird experience in the Illawarra on Thursday night. Not being a big fan of TV, I do go into the cave occasionally and surf the remote, especially when sick and fatigued. I booked a hotel and made the TV a stipulation, only to get an analogue set with three working channels. I only managed to tune in SBS on Friday morning in time for Europa League.

#firstworldproblems

taninaus said :

I haven’t come across channel 84 yet (and Win wouldn’t know anything unless it is a ch9 channell)

Mumbrella published a story a few weeks back saying that Channel 84 is run by Channel Nine as their version of Channel Seven’s advertorial channel.

qbngeek said :

That would be Extra. Apparently it is 24/7 infomercials/infotainment. Basically it is biased tv shows paid for and produced by advertisers.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/03/extra-nines-new-channel-arrives-tomorrow/

What a waste of spectrum. On the other hand, Prime7’s channel 4ME (Television 4) at least has some good shows like Max’s Muscle TV as long as you don’t mind the constant spruiking of Max’s supplements during the workouts and dietary information.

Count yourself lucky – you could be paying Foxtel $90 a month for three of them.

(Full disclosure: I pay Foxtel $90 a month for three of them).