Annoying semi-letterbox format on main freeview channels

Boltar wrote:
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

Why should everyone else put up with 4:3 just to suit you?

In article . com,
Boltar
wrote:
On 14 Jul, 18:50, "the dog from that film you saw"
wrote:


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?

Since you asked for my opinion: No, it wouldn't. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html

Boltar wrote:
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?

Hell no.
I prefered a widescreen image where every part of the scene is visible even
back when I had a 4:3 set , and while I don't have any figures I'd be
surprised if the majority of households don't have a widescreen set for at
least their main TV.

If there was bandwidth available it would probably make sense to have a 4:3
version of some channels available but as there isn't , it doesn't


--
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...


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?




of course it chops the sides off - the shows are filmed in widescreen so if
you dont want them that way how else are they supposed to make them 4:3.
just try finding a 4:3 tv on sale in the shops - digital tv has been
widescreen for years.



--
Gareth.

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

"Dr Zoidberg" wrote in message
...


Hell no.
I prefered a widescreen image where every part of the scene is visible
even back when I had a 4:3 set , and while I don't have any figures I'd be
surprised if the majority of households don't have a widescreen set for at
least their main TV.

If there was bandwidth available it would probably make sense to have a
4:3 version of some channels available but as there isn't , it doesn't



and even if they did broadcast a 4:3 channel, it would still be the
'chopped' version.



--
Gareth.

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

On 15 Jul, 16:39, "Adrian A" wrote:
Why should everyone else put up with 4:3 just to suit you?

Who's everyone else? That tiny tiny percentage of people who have
widescreen compared to the vast majority of the population who have
standard TVs?

B2003

On 15 Jul, 17:30, "Dr Zoidberg"
wrote:
surprised if the majority of households don't have a widescreen set for at
least their main TV.

Are you for real? I don't know a single person who owns a widescreen
TV. Where do you live , Sloane Square?

B2003

On 15 Jul, 17:35, "the dog from that film you saw"
wrote:
of course it chops the sides off - the shows are filmed in widescreen so if
you dont want them that way how else are they supposed to make them 4:3.

They could broadcast 4:3 signals or was that too obvious a solution?

just try finding a 4:3 tv on sale in the shops - digital tv has been
widescreen for years.

Well that'll be ****ing useful when analogue switches off. Are we all
supposed to fork out for a widescreen set or just watch a picture that
effectively reduces the size of our screens by a third? Oh , but
wait , I forgot the digital switchover is all about money and the
people who have it and has sod all to do with making life better for
most of the population.

B2003

"Boltar" wrote in message
oups.com...
On 15 Jul, 16:39, "Adrian A" wrote:
Why should everyone else put up with 4:3 just to suit you?

Who's everyone else? That tiny tiny percentage of people who have
widescreen compared to the vast majority of the population who have
standard TVs?




and then everyone realised it was the emperor/whatsisface guy with a new
username.



--
Gareth.

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

Boltar wrote:
On 15 Jul, 17:30, "Dr Zoidberg"
wrote:
surprised if the majority of households don't have a widescreen set
for at least their main TV.

Are you for real? I don't know a single person who owns a widescreen
TV. Where do you live , Sloane Square?

Hello Half-wit.

I only know two people that don't have a widescreen


--
Alex

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

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