NOS decides against showing World Cup in widescreen format

Analoguesat

TV viewers in the Netherlands with a widescreen (16:9) receiver will not be able to take advantage of the widescreen format to watch the World Cup finals, which kick off in Germany in a month's time. Public broadcaster NOS has decided that it will broadcast all the matches in 4:3 format. This astonishing decision was made, according to NOS, because there are still a lot more TV sets with 4:3 screens than widescreen sets (about 2 million according to NOS). NOS says it believes that most viewers with a 4:3 set won't be happy viewing a 16:9 picture with a black band at the top and bottom, even though the BBC and the German public networks, which are available on cable here, have been doing that for years.

The lucky few who will be watching the World Cup in High Definition via cable will be able to see all the matches in 16:9 format. Other viewers will probably choose to watch some matches on the BBC.

Andy Sennitt comments: Experience in the UK has shown that people will upgrade if you offer them something better. If NOS had decided to show the World Cup in 16:9 format, and announced it weeks ago, sales of widescreen sets in the Netherlands would have mushroomed. Instead, all the hype has been about High Definition TV, and I suspect many members of the public (and probably more than a few journalists) are confusing this with widescreen. I have had a widescreen set for several years, and it's far better for watching things like football because you can see more of the surrounding players, and get a better feel for what's likely to happen. But if I choose to watch a match on the 4:3 set in my bedroom, the fact that the picture doesn't fill the entire screen is hardly noticeable. It's just something you get used to. I find the NOS decision curious and backward-looking. It means that TV here is lagging further and further behind what's considered state of the art in neighbouring countries.

source - Media network Weblog

JTA

yes, well, most cable networks in Holland will show the world cup matches in widescreen, only thing is that you need a subscription to see the matches.
Cable networks will get the widescreen signal from ....... NOS

so it all comes down to a matter of money and politics.

BarMoo

Most ridiculously pragmatic decision I've heard all week. Because its true. I used to switch the SKY decoder to 4:3 for all the footy shown in the pub (sic). Makes me think of a couple of things.

Is the BBC shown in true widescreen in the Benelux countries (not that 14:9 format developed by the Beeb 'coz people complained about black bars').??

Surely Dutch satellite viewers can select 4:3 or 16:9 themselves ????

I am guesing this has to do with analogue terrestrial, correct??

Have Fun, Moo.

PaulR

I've modified your quote but the answer is yes. AFAIK 14:9 is only used on analogue terrestrial for some (most? nearly all??) widescreen programmes.

PaulR As I get older I find myself thinking about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

BarMoo

Don't know what you modified Paul - doesn't matter - now I am a little dazed and confuzed? Your profile says Wirral?

I am aware that UK analogue viewers have to put-up with 14:9 when there is a 16.9 programme on 'normal' telly. For a while BBC World here in Berlin (cable) was the same way. I remember them changing - but I cannot recall which way: i.e., 4:3 cut-out or letterbox 16:9??

Of course, in Germany, when there is a 16:9 presentation - it is presented in 16.9 - and they have done that for over a decade (probably harks back to those PAL+ days).

Maybe JTA has more to tell.

Have Fun, Moo.

JTA

not really, no. just that the 4:3 decision of NOS is indeed for terrestrial tv. And yes, we receive the BBC in 16:9 by cable, so widescreen tv owners can use the BBC signal to watch the matches in widescreen (if they don't mind the english commentators, otherwise they can still listen to dutch radio while watching the BBC signal )
silly, isn't it ?

BarMoo

Well, at least that is cleared up

Not really That's the way I will be watching the Eurovision Song Contest. ARD on the telly, BBC Radio 2 on the Speakers (and some kit inbetween so its all in sync).

Makes me think of the last World Cup. My local bar had DVB-T and a neighbouring bar had cable. There was a minimum 2sec delay on DVB-T. So, naturally, every time there was a 'positive' goal, the other bar would scream - while we still watching the ball in play Had to be the funniest thing.

Have Fun, Moo.

Koen C

BBC TV signals in the Benelux used to be picked up from the south coast, using the analogue terrestrial signal, so that was in 14.9. Unfortunately this frequently caused ghosting and about three years ago cable companies switched to satellite reception. The BBC is now transmitted here in Antwerp in 16.9, but I've known some Dutch cable companies to throw out a 4.3 picture.