Weird loop of HD clips on PBS

[B.J.]

Just tuned in 12150H on AMC21

They have a weird loop of 1 or 2 minute clips of PBS programs running. Each has "HD AFD Code ####" (####= 4 digit number between 1000-1011) printed in the center of the upper left quadrant. Each clip is not complete, but ends abruptly.

They've been cycling between the same 6 or so clips, over and over and over. The printing ruins the video for any on air use.

I can't figure out any possible use for these clips.

 

[Mr Tony]

that channel is just a feed channel so you'll see things like that

 

[goaliebob99]

Yep they could also be doing some sort of HD video feed test to their affiliates.

 

[skysurfer]

It seems like a straightforward test of the AFD code system - to make sure the AFD code that PBS sends out makes it properly through the affiliates' chain of processing and to your monitors or stb converters.

 

[B.J.]

It seems like a straightforward test of the AFD code system - to make sure the AFD code that PBS sends out makes it properly through the affiliates' chain of processing and to your monitors or stb converters.

Yes, this agrees with the answers I got over on Satforums. It clearly wasn't a regular feed, but some kind of test, but it didn't occur to me what was being tested, despite them printing it on the screen. duh They had about 5 documents all about AFD and all the various video format implications on that ngis web page, but I guess I wasn't paying attention when I skimmed through them.