I have the exact same problem in the YYC area. I upgraded to a 4K TV and for the first time noticed this problem on CNN on the new 4K right away. Had in the past noticed the odd pixelation problem on CNN (and hence considered it an odd/weak signal) but never noticed this effect before.
Description of the problem is: every 1 or 2 seconds it sharpens and focuses, then slowly blurs for a couple of seconds and then sharpens again. Repeats every couple of seconds continuously and is most noticeable on slow background movement and in faces (which have lots of detail).
After noticing it on the new 4K went and verified on another 1080p older HDTV. Much harder to detect/see on the older non-4K TV but the effect is happening there as well. Went and checked on a really crappy 32" 10 year old TV - difficult to see the effect on that one but if you look very closely and carefully, it's definitely there as well. Conclusion: it's not a problem with the new 4K TV - it's just that the new 4K TV is accentuating the issue making it far more noticable.
Additional facts:
- Watching on a Shaw Gateway system.
- Changing output format from 1080p to one of the other options (i.e. 1080i, 720p, etc) makes no difference.
- Confirmed issue on three different Portals on the Gateway system on three different TVs.
- Confirmed issue on both HDMI and Component video connections.
- Is NOT a pixelation problem: it's a focus/fuzz effect which looks quite different to a pixelization/weak digital signal issue.
- Only channel in my package where I can find this behaviour is CNN. Other channels generally look generally great.
- Happens on all CNN shows and the CNN US feed commercials as well.
- Does NOT happen during simsub commercials (i.e. Global commercials are injected on the CNN feed and they look much better). But do see it on CNN US feed commercials (i.e. easy to catch on the "This is life with Lisa Ling" commercial).
- It's constantly happening throughout the day - not time of day or show specific.
- Happens on both live and recorded content (as would be expected).
- CNN's lower third and scroll bar look fine and don't show the issue - it's only in the "camera content" meaning the hosts and their backgrounds.
- First noticed the problem in late October after upgrading the TV. Point being that it hasn't changed or gone away during that time. Likely was happening all along but just didn't notice on the older 1080p TVs where it's much more difficult to detect.
Next step is to see if I can observe the same at someone else's house with a Gateway and/or with a Bluecurve. I think there's a reasonable chance that I might now that I know what to look for.
I'm guessing there's some sort of difference with Shaw's CNN feed with respect to compression algorithm or compression level? And that it's not anything to do with my TV, Gateway, Portals, or the signal. The most compelling evidence to support this is that it happens continuously on CNN including during US commercials but stops only during Shaw added simsub commercials!
Shaw folks: what can you suggest?
Thanks.
