Annoying semi-letterbox format on main freeview channels

The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

B2003

Boltar wrote:
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

Is there a setting for 4:3 or letterbox on your decoder?

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk www.ebayfaq.co.uk

"Boltar" wrote in message
ups.com...
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?



no,
they expect you to bother to read the manual that came with your freeview
box and switch your box to 4:3 output.



--
Gareth.

That fly... is your magic wand.
http://www.last.fm/user/dsbmusic/

"Boltar" wrote in message
ups.com...
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV?

It is 14:9 - a sort of compromise.

Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

Most receiver boxes allow you to choose the aspect ratio of the output.

RTFM


B2003

"Boltar" wrote in message
ups.com...
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

Press the 'wide' button on your remote (or whatever it's called on yours).
It should cycle between 16:9, 14:9 and 4:3 (assuming your box is configured
for a 4:3 TV - usually it's the default).

--
Max Demian

In article . com,
Boltar wrote:
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

Just think of those poor sods who've paid out good money for widescreen
only to discover older 4:3 stuff is still 4:3.

--
*Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Boltar wrote:
The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

Is there a setting for 4:3 or letterbox on your decoder?

Probably, but the *******ised version of 14:9 is default for
displaying 16:9 on a 4:3 set according to the DTT specs.

My Topfield is running old firmware to enable me to select full
letterbox (which is how I like it) but there is an option to display a
centre cut out of widescreen broadcast on a 4:3 set.

This is from a Humax manual:

A/V Control

3. Screen Ratio
You can set the aspect ratio of your TV.
1. Select Screen Ratio using the button, and press the OK or button.
2. Select one option from 4:3 or 16:9 using the button, and press the
OK button.
Note: If 2 options are provided, you can switch the option at a time
using the OK button. Namely,
Whenever you press the OK button, Screen Ratio is switched between 4:3
and 16:9.

4. Display Format
You can select the Display Format according to TV Screen Ratio.
1. Select Display Format using the button, and press the OK or button.
2. If the Screen Ratio is set to 4:3, you can select one from
Auto/Letter box/Center Mode using the
button, and press the OK button.
3. If the Screen Ratio is set to 16:9, you can select one from
Auto/Pillar box/Full mode using the
button, and press the OK button.



--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

On Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:32:53 +0100, Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:

Just think of those poor sods who've paid out good money for widescreen
only to discover older 4:3 stuff is still 4:3.

If only that were true all the time. Some broadcasters make 16:9 out of
4:3 by unceremoniously chopping off a large lump of the top and bottom of
the original picture thus completely buggering the original shot
composition. They seem to think this is acceptable. Most of the time it
is not.

"Paul Ratcliffe" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:32:53 +0100, Dave Plowman (News)

wrote:

Just think of those poor sods who've paid out good money for widescreen
only to discover older 4:3 stuff is still 4:3.

If only that were true all the time. Some broadcasters make 16:9 out of
4:3 by unceremoniously chopping off a large lump of the top and bottom of
the original picture thus completely buggering the original shot
composition. They seem to think this is acceptable. Most of the time it
is not.

Especially if you have a 4:3 set and chop off the sides as well.

--
Max Demian

On 14 Jul, 18:50, "the dog from that film you saw"
wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message

ups.com...

The other day I bought a Humax freeview box. Seems to work ok.
Something I've noticed though is that the BBC and ITV seem to
broadcast their main channels in a semi letterbox format with fat
black borders at the top and bottom. I'm presuming this is for all
those rich sods with widescreen TVs but what about us lot who still
have a normal TV? Why should we be expected put up with a picture
thats smaller than its analogue equivalent? Fine , for now we can just
switch back to analogue , but what happens when analogue goes? Are the
powers that be in the media expecting us to all buy widescreen TVs now
too?

no,
they expect you to bother to read the manual that came with your freeview
box and switch your box to 4:3 output.

When I do that it either, depending on the option, distorts the
picture or chops the sides off. Hardly ideal. Wouldn't it be better if
the broadcasters broadcast 4:3 on normal TV channels and left the
wannabe cinematic stuff to any HDTV channels that come along?

B2003