Presto Is Finally Testing High-Definition Streaming

Presto has a library full of quality content, but the image quality isn’t as good as it should be. At last the service says it will bring HD streaming into its catalogue.

When Foxtel’s Presto service launched, it only had streams up to 720p, which left Netflix and Stan to run rings around it in terms of image quality.

On the Presto community forums, the streaming app has advised that it’s currently testing streams up to 1080p, and that it will roll it out to users shortly:

In the next few weeks, the Presto team will be working through testing in preparation for our HD rollout. As such, we will be starting to introduce some HD content into Presto’s library, so you may start to see some samples of HD programming on a selection of devices in the coming weeks.



We appreciate your patience during this time, and assure you we’ll have more exciting details to announce at our “official” launch stage!

Presto has advised that the HD 1080p content will use more data to the tune of 3GB per hour. Standard definition (720p) content on Presto only uses 1.3GB per hour.

Eventually, Presto says all of its series will be in HD, except of course for the ones that were originally mastered in standard definition. As for why Presto isn’t doing it all at once, the streaming service says that it’s due to time constraints:

Our plan is to progressively upgrade our content to be available in HD (where possible) and to also upgrade the enablement of HD on the devices and applications which Presto is currently available on – this may take some time, especially for some devices. We want to be sure our HD service is up and running before we start shouting about it! This means if you manage to find some of your favourite shows in HD format, we hope this gets you excited about the further news of developments we’ll have to share to you soon!

Presto adds that an announcement regarding 5.1 surround sound audio will also accompany the official launch of the HD content catalogue.


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