Comcast broadcasting NBC in 1080p?

[joelkirzner]

I was just watching NBC live from the plex app on my tablet and noticed that the original feed said 1080p. I thought that's impossible since I have Comcast and they changed all their channels to 720p this year.
I immediately went onto WMC, hit the trusty 411 Information, and BAM... 1080p! 1920 X 1080 @ 59.94.
Not sure what other channels have the higher resolution and frame rate, but this is a pleasant surprise.
I thought the standard signal from the networks was still 1080i. So is this a true 1080p picture, or 1080i60 encoded with MPEG-2?
I'm in the northern VA market.

[RyC]

The broadcast networks remain in their original encoding on Comcast. It's really 1080i even if it says 1080p. CBS should be 1080i as well. All four networks should be mpeg-2.

[joelkirzner]

The broadcast networks remain in their original encoding on Comcast. It's really 1080i even if it says 1080p. CBS should be 1080i as well. All four networks should be mpeg-2.

That was my assumption as well.
Thanks for confirming!

I suppose if were still stuck at 720p/1080i in 2017, 4K broadcast delivery will appear around 2021... LOL.

[adam1991]

ATSC 3.0 is right around the corner, with 4K. A few stations are already doing it.

[DavidinCT]

ATSC 3.0 is right around the corner, with 4K. A few stations are already doing it.

I work at a major TV station in CT... ATSC 3.0 is a way out... It's till not 100% with the FCC and MOST stations wont spend millions to upgrade UNLESS it's final spec.