Is your TV widescreen - Are you getting the benefit??

**astral69** · 17-08-2009

Most TV's sold today are Widescreen 16:9 format.
Programmes are made in widescreen format, films in particular.

Isn't it time we demand that satellite service providers transmit the programmes in 16:9 format not the old fashioned 4:3.

I hate seeing the fat bodies of a 4:3 image on my screen, when the black bars, top and bottom, show me that it is really a 16:9 image, manipulated for 4:3

Checking through Hotbird yesterday, there are very few 16:9 signals,
BBC News is one, but not BBC Prime nor any of the entertainment channels.

I have written to the providers that I watch, BBC Prime, ADD Universe and MBC on the subject.
May I suggest you do the same?

Mods please move this message if there is a more appropriate location.
Thanks
Astral69

**HB13DISH** · 17-08-2009

Originally Posted by astral69

Most TV's sold today are Widescreen 16:9 format.
Programmes are made in widescreen format, films in particular.

Isn't it time we demand that satellite service providers transmit the programmes in 16:9 format not the old fashioned 4:3.

I hate seeing the fat bodies of a 4:3 image on my screen, when the black bars, top and bottom, show me that it is really a 16:9 image, manipulated for 4:3

Checking through Hotbird yesterday, there are very few 16:9 signals,
BBC News is one, but not BBC Prime nor any of the entertainment channels.

I have written to the providers that I watch, BBC Prime, ADD Universe and MBC on the subject.
May I suggest you do the same?

Mods please move this message if there is a more appropriate location.
Thanks
Astral69

I disagree that there are very few 16:9 TV format channels on Hot Bird.
Some providers have the option to send content in 16:9 or 4:3, depending on the original film.
You probably based your assumption on FTA channels when you did the search, but if you have subscription to some packages, then you could enjoy the 16:9 content a lot more.
If you look at the Ale Kino program schedule, you would see that they send some films in 16:9 (see bottom of page and 16:9 icon on the left).
_http://www.alekino.pl/program/
The same goes for other channels from the Cyfra+ package.

It would be a waste of time to send the providers any demands, as they would probably need to invest in new equipments or buy more content in 16:9

***2cvbloke*** · 17-08-2009

Our TV's clever, it can switch between displaying 16:9 and 4:3, so you get a correct proportioned picture 90% of the time (the rest is caused by the broadcaster sending out the wrong signal for the image (I.E. 4:3 instead of 16:9 or vice versa), so you do get the odd squishy pic, but again, the TV can be manipulated to show the correct image...

But as for 16:9 programmes/films that have been chopped off at the sides to fit into a 4:3 slot, that's just stupid...

**Topper** · 17-08-2009

I thought BBC Prime transmitted content first transmitted 3 or 4 years ago, so what would be the point currently in transmitting in 16:9 if most of the content has been produced in 4:3?

**Channel Hopper** · 17-08-2009

The majority of US programmes on UK tv today are still sent out in 4:3 as they were originally filmed in 4:3.

As above, there is little point in complaining, you might be better off using the 'wide' or 'aspect' button on your remote.

***2cvbloke*** · 17-08-2009

Originally Posted by Channel Hopper

The majority of US programmes on UK tv today are still sent out in 4:3 as they were originally filmed in 4:3.

As above, there is little point in complaining, you might be better off using the 'wide' or 'aspect' button on your remote.

Or, stop spending thousands on an HD ready TV when there's eff all in HD, and find a nice 4:3 CRT TV and set the STB to Letterbox mode...

Worked for me for several years...

**Channel Hopper** · 17-08-2009

Hey, my Bush IDTV cost me just under 200 sovs some seven years ago. One repair last year involving two or three components and she is still running fine. (just no 'press red' but I can live with that).

**astral69** · 21-08-2009

Originally Posted by Topper

I thought BBC Prime transmitted content first transmitted 3 or 4 years ago, so what would be the point currently in transmitting in 16:9 if most of the content has been produced in 4:3?

Widescreen has been around longer than you think.

A quick check yesterday showed that the following programmes are already in 16:9 format:
EastEnders
Holby City
Holby Blue
Casualty
Doctors
Cash in the Attic
Weakest Link
Dalzial & Pascoe

judging from the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

I disagree that there are very few 16:9 TV format channels on Hot Bird.

Well, none that I want to watch, except BBC news!!

**astral69** · 21-08-2009

Originally Posted by 2cvbloke

Our TV's clever, it can switch between displaying 16:9 and 4:3, so you get a correct proportioned picture 90% of the time (the rest is caused by the broadcaster sending out the wrong signal for the image (I.E. 4:3 instead of 16:9 or vice versa), so you do get the odd squishy pic, but again, the TV can be manipulated to show the correct image...

But as for 16:9 programmes/films that have been chopped off at the sides to fit into a 4:3 slot, that's just stupid...

The TV can only cope if the transmission is 16:9 to start with, it then adjusts when told the material is 4:3.

This can be seen on the BBC news channel.

Otherwise everyone is very fat, when the 4:3 stream is expanded to the full screen or black bars down both sides for all 4:3 streams.
Both will be further compromised by the black bars top and bottom where a 16:9 programme has been butchered to fit a 4:3 stream.

**kerrywez** · 21-08-2009

Originally Posted by Channel Hopper

The majority of US programmes on UK tv today are still sent out in 4:3 as they were originally filmed in 4:3.

As above, there is little point in complaining, you might be better off using the 'wide' or 'aspect' button on your remote.

I fully agree, when the BBC news goes to the USA news, 01:30 I think, the screen is showing the black sides. The same applies to Sly nws, when they go to the USA news.

The yanks must not have the same urgency to change to the 16:9 ratio that we have. I suppose they will come round to it some time, but they are not broadcasting to us so we have no say in the matter.

Regards Wez

**astral69** · 24-08-2009

This shows what happens if I set up for the TV to recognise 16:9 or 4:3

The butchered image comes as a silly box in the middle.
Sorry about the flash, but it was the best way to get the black bars on the
screen to show up

**PaulR** · 24-08-2009

That isn't a full widescreen picture of 16:9 proportion.

It's a compromise format of 14:9 that is transmitted (in the UK) on analogue terrestrial TV. It's the 16:9 picture with a bit chopped off either side so that fits a little better on an old style 4:3 TV. It's actually transmitted as a 4:3 picture with black bars at the top as part of the picture.

This 14:9 ratio isn't used very much on satellite TV channels but there are some who do and BBC Prime is a case in point. Virgin 1 used to and UK History (or whatever stupid name it has nowadays) still does that I know of.

What you have there is a 4:3 picture showing on your 16:9 TV in 4:3 mode. This gives you the black bars at the sides and the black bars at the top are, as I say, part of the transmitted picture because it's actually a 14:9 picture.

A genuine 4:3 picture will just give the wide bars at the side.

**astral69** · 29-08-2009

Originally Posted by PaulR

That isn't a full widescreen picture of 16:9 proportion.

Agreed.
It is a totally butchered .

It's a compromise format of 14:9 that is transmitted (in the UK) on analogue terrestrial TV. It's the 16:9 picture with a bit chopped off either side so that fits a little better on an old style 4:3 TV. It's actually transmitted as a 4:3 picture with black bars at the top as part of the picture.

Thank you

That explanation rather makes my point, it is a compromised format......
Not acceptable in this day and age.

Are you sure the 14:9 format is only used on the "analogue terrestrial TV"?
What format are they using on the UK digital (freeview/freesat) systems?

**hoggy** · 31-08-2009

put my samsung on wide-screen not auto
all my receivers on 16:9 full
not ever had bars on the top/bottom and the sides at the same time
yes if it is broadcasted in 14:3 the picture is fatter or has side bars
but not both top and side bar together on any receiver i have had even on other tvs
but i can make it do it if i set it up incorrectly

**PaulR** · 01-09-2009

The 14:9 is mostly used on terrestrial analogue but cheapskate satellite broadcasters also use it because it's cheap.

It's not a real picture format really as it's just a 4:3 picture with black bars at the top and bottom, sort of a half-way letterbox if you will.

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