# How much data space would be needed to hold a true HDTV quality 2 hr motion picture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480 "2004-04-11T18:56:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/1 "2004-04-11T18:56:02Z")
Just curious. I imagine (perhaps incorrectly) that it’s beyond the capacity of a single DVD without unacceptable levels of compression being required. ---
**Author:** ![Toblerone2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toblerone2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toblerone2000)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/2 "2004-04-11T20:45:02Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Just curious. I imagine (perhaps incorrectly) that it’s beyond the capacity of a single DVD without unacceptable levels of compression being required. According to [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray) , it would be 25 GB at 36 Mbps. It would obvioulsy not fit on a DVD, but it would fit on a Blu-ray disc, which is what the article describes. Blu-ray discs are the most likely candidates for HD-DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/3 "2004-04-11T21:27:29Z")
[Here](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/content_provider/film/T2DVD.aspx) is, AFAIK, the world’s only currently available HDTV movie in a DVD format, which I have here at home. It fits comfortably on a single disc. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/4 "2004-04-11T21:56:18Z")
> [@Boyo Jim](#): > > [Here](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/content_provider/film/T2DVD.aspx) is, AFAIK, the world’s only currently available HDTV movie in a DVD format, which I have here at home. It fits comfortably on a single disc. Yes, but (as far as I can tell) given that that movie is basically a windows media file on a DVD, and is only intended to be played on home computers and PC monitor screens with MS media player 9, it’s not really a “cinematic” HDTV DVD intended to be played on large HDTV home theatre systems. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/5 "2004-04-11T22:09:17Z")
I think there’s a decent chance of movies switching format before then. Likely to MPG4 or some derivative thereof. Better compression means more will fit on a standard 9 gig DVD. My hunch would be that HD movies will NOT be using MPG2 encoding. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/6 "2004-04-11T22:38:09Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Yes, but (as far as I can tell) given that that movie is basically a windows media file on a DVD, and is only intended to be played on home computers and PC monitor screens with MS media player 9, it’s not really a “cinematic” HDTV DVD intended to be played on large HDTV home theatre systems. It has an output video resolution of 1080i, and a digital audio output of Dolby 5.1 Surround. The computer’s vidwo card has a DVI output, and my TV (a 57" DLP rear screen model) has a DVI input. I get a phemomenally sharp picture on my screen. It looks like a duck and quacks like a duck. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/7 "2004-04-11T22:53:42Z")
> [@Boyo Jim](#): > > It has an output video resolution of 1080i, and a digital audio output of Dolby 5.1 Surround. The computer’s vidwo card has a DVI output, and my TV (a 57" DLP rear screen model) has a DVI input. I get a phemomenally sharp picture on my screen. > > It looks like a duck and quacks like a duck. Does it echo? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/8 "2004-04-11T23:27:24Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Better compression means more will fit on a standard 9 gig DVD. My hunch would be that HD movies will NOT be using MPG2 encoding. True, but given that HDTV is a full 10x the uncompressed data rate of NTSC (1.485Gbps vs. 145ishMbps), I don’t think compression technology is going to take up all the slack. Regarding the Terminator 2 DVD, the linked FAQ had this to say: > [@](#): > > Disc 2: A bonus DVD that contains a full length theatrical, high-definition WM9S version of the movie for PC playback in 5.1 channel WM9 surround sound (not compatible with Dolby® Digital). > > The resolution of the Windows Media version of the film is 1920x816. By comparison, standard DVD video formatted for NTSC televisions is 720x480. > The total file size is 6.5 GB. > Total running time is 152 minutes. > The bit-rate is CBR 6.8 Mbps. Full HDTV resolution is actually a bit up on that, at 1920x1080. The resolution is also somewhat independent of the compression rate - it’s possible to compress files of the same resolution to different levels. You can still decode to the same res, but blocking and other artifacts increase, particularly in fast-moving scenes. Interestingly, the bitrate given, at 6.8 Mbps, is pretty much in the middle of the standard DVD [range](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD), and well below what **Toblerone2000** ’s wikipedia entry estimates for compressed HDTV. At least some of this will be down to WM9 being a better compression technology than MPEG2, as **Kinthalis says** - I’d guess that what you have probably looks a lot better than the average DVD, but not quite as spiffy as HD-DVD will, as and when it ever arrives. Of course, I’ve not seen either so you should probably take this opinion with a mound of salt. All that said, I have no doubt it looks and sounds ace :). _is jealous_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/9 "2004-04-11T23:32:37Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Does it echo? No, you have to go onto the Windows “Dosplay” settings and redirect the monitor output and resolution. . ---
**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-data-space-would-be-needed-to-hold-a-true-hdtv-quality-2-hr-motion-picture/239480/10 "2004-04-11T23:41:01Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Does it echo? > [@Boyo Jim](#): > > No, you have to go onto the Windows “Dosplay” settings and redirect the monitor output and resolution. . _… and no one knows why!!_ 😃