Why is ESPN now letter-boxed all the time?!

bigwillieb

SatelliteGuys Family
Oct 26, 2010
61
0
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
I believe seeing in a thread a week ago or so, they where talking about how ESPN was getting rid of the SD feeds and just having HD feeds. So, I am guessing that is why, it is a HD Feed that is down converted to SD for non HD channels. So, it will keep the HD format. That is just a thought.
 

handiman876

Well-Known SatelliteGuys Member
May 14, 2009
26
7
IL
Fox Sports channels now do the same thing. It's a double insult by Dish when you can only watch a letterboxed SD broadcast of Cardinals vs Cubs on FSMW while the HD broadcast on TBS is blocked. :(
 

JosephB

SatelliteGuys Pro
Dec 21, 2004
1,255
160
Atlanta
Personally, I'm glad. There may be some pain in the interim while DISH or other providers only have the SD versions of certain channels, but the sooner we get to a world of one aspect ratio, the better.
 

SaltiDawg

SatelliteGuys Pro
Sep 1, 2004
1,032
44
... It's a double insult by Dish when you can only watch a letterboxed SD broadcast of Cardinals vs Cubs on FSMW while the HD broadcast on TBS is blocked. :(
Exactly what did Dish do? lol

ESPN changes its feed and MLB blocks out the TBS broadcast.
 

AntiMoz

Livin' the Dream
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Oct 11, 2005
429
194
Western NY
Time Warner in WNY does the same thing....not exclusive to Dish and has been for several weeks now. Id rather have the extra view.
 

sjvirchow

SatelliteGuys Pro
Jan 15, 2011
251
0
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
It also blows that on most SD tube TV's, you can't zoom the picture, unless you like messing in cryptic hard to understand one wrong move and you've got yourself a paperweight service menu's.
 

dangue

Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Dec 29, 2007
4,888
1,231
SF Bay Area
sjvirchow said:
It also blows that on most SD tube TV's, you can't zoom the picture, unless you like messing in cryptic hard to understand one wrong move and you've got yourself a paperweight service menu's.

Use the aspect ratio ("format") * button on your Dish remote to zoom in and you're all set. No need to mess with tv menu settings.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys
 

eurosport

In Dave Grohl We Trust!
Supporting Founder
Mar 31, 2008
6,862
311
North Florida
They could take the HD feed and crop off both SIDES leaving the top and bottom alone and have the exact same SD picture as always. Simple. :rolleyes:

Sent from my DROIDX using SatelliteGuys
 

DodgerKing

SatelliteGuys Master
Nov 14, 2007
16,776
27
SoCal
LOL; who still owns 4:3 aspect ratio TV's and then complains about the displayed image ??? Upgrade time is long overdue.
I do in one of my rooms. I have an HD receiver connected to it mainly so I can watch the HD only channels that are not available on an SD receiver. I have it letter boxed so all of the programming is in its proper aspect ratio. The only issue is when you get a pillar boxed program on the HD channel, then you end up getting a very small picture framed image in the middle of the screen. I know to expect that because I am choosing to use a 4:3 TV
 

charper1

Bourbon Tester
Supporting Founder
May 18, 2004
18,442
6
I'm Nationwide
I do in one of my rooms. I have an HD receiver connected to it mainly so I can watch the HD only channels that are not available on an SD receiver. I have it letter boxed so all of the programming is in its proper aspect ratio. The only issue is when you get a pillar boxed program on the HD channel, then you end up getting a very small picture framed image in the middle of the screen. I know to expect that because I am choosing to use a 4:3 TV


I was being facetious in regards to who still owns 4:3 but rather this "and then complains about the displayed image" ??
 

handiman876

Well-Known SatelliteGuys Member
May 14, 2009
26
7
IL
Because Dish is not providing the HD broadcast option for him on FSMW

Thank you for the assist. Listen, I understand that every game, with Dish, can't be in HD. What I don't understand is why this particular series wasn't in HD. The Cardinals vs Cubs is a big-time rivalry and I would think gets high ratings. On a side note, the Cardinals and Cubs game was on FSMW in SD while being on WGN in HD at the same time yesterday. It confuses me as to what the difference is.
 

whatchel1

SatelliteGuys Master
Sep 30, 2006
9,098
51
Great High Plains
They could take the HD feed and crop off both SIDES leaving the top and bottom alone and have the exact same SD picture as always. Simple. :rolleyes:

Sent from my DROIDX using SatelliteGuys
I believe that that would not be allowed. The providers don't allow carriers alterations to the programming unless it is an add on to the contract. To do that they would then allow them to advertise other shows (that may be competing with them) on the system over top or around the sides of the shows. This is something that I'm not understanding as to why the banner at the start of tuning to Epix is allowed. Then there may be an agreement in place.
 

Mr Tony

SatelliteGuys Pro
Supporting Founder
Nov 17, 2003
2,077
8,405
Mankato, MN
Exactly. Dish, like DirecTV, Comcast etc, have to abide by the ridiculous rules, set forth by the almighty program providers!

but the post above had nothing to do with ESPN. The person was blacked out on TBS because it was on his local RSN...and Dish did what they do best and give him the game in glorious SD with no HD available to him
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)

Latest posts