It is known that you can increase the range of HDMI cables by including active signal boosters in the run although this would appear at first glance to achieve significantly better results.
Also, it is the rising and falling edges of the digital signal (the high frequiencies) that suffer and can lead to failed transition recognition at the receiving end) I have heard that equipment manufacturers are "pre-emphasising" the signal which "overshoots" the edges to increase the transmission range before signal loss is noticed.
Generally speaking, you aren't learning much if your lips are moving.