Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
| What's an HD channel ?
Given how loosely providers have defined what constitutes an HD channel, you can probably expect the latter. Nowadays, if Lifetime Movie Network wants an HD channel, all they have to do is create a copy of their current broadcast, re-label it "Lifetime Movie Network HD" and it's done. They can show 4:3 programming stretched to 16:9 or show 4:3 programming with black bars on the side, but it's still called "HD". There are no rules or definitions, so they can do whatever they want. Consequently, D* or E* can add this channel and change their marketing info to claim another HD channel added to their lineup. |
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Heterman
Premium
join:2004-02-28
Fayetteville, AR
| said by Hall  : They can show 4:3 programming stretched to 16:9 or show 4:3 programming with black bars on the side, but it's still called "HD". Consequently, D* or E* can add this channel and change their marketing info to claim another HD channel added to their lineup. Which channels are they doing this stretching now? |
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
| Based on comments of people at other websites, other than major league baseball playoffs a couple of months ago, TBS-HD has probably shown NO high-definition programming. It's all 4:3 stretched or with black bars. On Discovery Network channels, i.e. Discovery, TLC, and so on, older shows are stretched. In their defense, most of their newer stuff is filmed in 16:9 HD.
Watch ESPN-HD. By no means is everything on there in HD. |
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Jerm
join:2000-04-10
Richland, WA
| reply to Heterman
Of course a show can only be displayed in HD if the original source of the show was recorded in HD. Otherwise some kind of comprimise has to be made.
A lot of source content is still 4:3. I'd say about 80% of the time the stations I watch get it right - with bars on the side or some kind of intelligent "zoom" which only has smaller bars on the side but may cut a little off the bottom/top. Sometimes they skew the aspect ratio and stretch it all yucky. Fortunatly my TV has some good zoom modes to correct this, but even back to back shows can sometimes be different (ie A&E "The First 48" watched one show just fine, next show was all messed up, third show was HD native and of course looked great... go fig!)
I'd say though from what I can tell, it's the actual stations doing the messed up stretches and what not. DTV just simply broadcasts whatever signal they are given, for better or worse. |
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jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA | reply to Hall
This is exactly why I am much more interested in HD "Content" and not HD "Channels". I can't stand the stretched "Family Guy" episodes they run on the TBS-HD channel. I prefer to watch 4:3 programming in its native format. |
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
| I agree. I'll watch the stretched stuff if it's the only option but try not to. After almost two years, my wife has finally started to notice and comment that things look 'wrong' and has even asked "is that picture stretched ?".
On TNT-HD, they ran the Lord of the Rings trilogy and having watched it on DVD too many times, in 2.35:1 ratio, it's really odd seeing it stretched and zoomed to fill the screen. Most times we start to watch a movie on a channel like this, at the first commercial I always say "let's put in the DVD". |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to Hall
said by Hall :Based on comments of people at other websites, other than major league baseball playoffs a couple of months ago, TBS-HD has probably shown NO high-definition programming. It's all 4:3 stretched or with black bars. On Discovery Network channels, i.e. Discovery, TLC, and so on, older shows are stretched. In their defense, most of their newer stuff is filmed in 16:9 HD. Watch ESPN-HD. By no means is everything on there in HD. A&E HD is also stretch - o - vision.
just because you can fill a 16:9 hdtv screen doesn't make you a HDTV channel!
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH | I agree but the networks and providers (cable and satellite) disagree. |
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andyross
join:2003-05-04
Schaumburg, IL
| reply to dvd536
Of all the recent HD additions (I have Comcast cable), History HD is the biggest disappointment. Given how many programs are letterboxed, I assumed many would be in HD. In fact, my program guide lists many as HD. Despite that, they seem to be inconsistent with the same program from week to week. For the past 2 weeks, 'The Universe' was in HD. Last night, it was Stretch-O-Vision SD, including the letterboxing!!! I ended up watching the SD version as I can ZOOM it on my TV as I cannot alter HD aspect ratios on my TV.
Even if it's not available in true HD, you'd think they could at least ZOOM up letterboxed shows. |
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