Surround sound

[Guest]

In investigating the information given in the thread on Austrian Radio on the CD Review board, I found out that Austrian Radio broadcasts in surround sound (5-1 Dolby) over digital satellite.

I am not aware that the BBC does this. Or does it? - Where?

Can anyone tell me about this matter or future possibilities? I should dearly love to hear Radio 3 (and the Proms when they come out on TV) in surround sound, which I am convinced is a distinct improvement on stereo. (I have SACD and DVD surround sound.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The BBC did once tinker with quadraphonic sound, using their "Matrix H" coding. It was designed to work well with mono (as was/is their stereo FM). But this was yet another 4-channel system to complicate a market that soon fizzled out.

[Stunsworth]

The BBC could do it, but it would have to be on an HD 'TV' channel, and they seem rather slow in rolling out those for TV, let alone radio. Also the source material would need to be in 5.1 which might limit its usefulness outside of live concerts.

Who knows, perhaps there are plans to televise proms concerts on the BBC HD channel in 5.1 as that seems to 'Hoover up' bits and bobs from BBC 2.

[Bryn]

The BBC did run a 5.1 surround version of their HHGTTG series 3, 4 and 5 via the Internet. I did not listen to them but I think the currently absent wilf did.