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Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum
I live in Philadelphia, TV ABC6. Sound of Music movie was broadcast last night on ABC network, on 12/28/08. The broadcast here (as shown by DirecTV) was not right--the picture on the screen 'cut off' the sides of the film and broadcast--including part of the little abc logo on the bottom corner of the picture. The cable company (Comcast) got it right with the correct broadcast ratio, but DirecTV got it wrong. It seemed what they did was take the middle of the picture of a 16:9 (or whatever ratio), blew it up to fit the top-bottom of the screen, and left the sides in the wind.

The interesting thing, though, is that all other broadcasts on CBS, NBC, TNT, etc were correct and the commercials on ABC were correctly sized, even with the little black bars on top and bottom of the screen for letterbox.

Therefore, I lost about 20-30% of the visualized picture. I called D* to complain and question them, and they claimed that it was not them. They had no idea what I was talking about. They said it was ABC and that I should call them. I told them the cable company was broadcasting a complete picture, and that my settings for D* were set for 4:3 TV and not to enlarge the picture (in the DirecTV settings on my box), and the DirecTV customer support was useless.

Anyone have similar problems and how do you solve them? I have noticed this come up from time to time in ABC only.
8 Replies · 1561 views
Bob Nielsen
I thought the picture looked like ABC had used a low-resolution source. It is fairly old and possibly the only available prints aren't of the best quality.
C
I live in Philadelphia, TV ABC6. Sound of Music movie was broadcast last night on ABC network, on 12/28/08. The broadcast here (as shown by DirecTV) was not right--the picture on the screen 'cut off' the sides of the film and broadcast--including part of the little abc logo on the bottom corner of the picture.

You didn't accidentally hit the zoom button on your TV, or the "format" button on the D* remote? That's what it sounds like to me.
E
I thought the picture looked like ABC had used a low-resolution source. It is fairly old and possibly the only available prints aren't of the best quality.

Then how do you explain the wonderfully restored version that Fox put out on DVD a few years ago. Are you suggesting that DVD purchasers get better quality "prints" than a major TV network?
M
Then how do you explain the wonderfully restored version that Fox put out on DVD a few years ago. Are you suggesting that DVD purchasers get better quality "prints" than a major TV network?

Having worked for many years in television programming, I can assure you that sometimes they do. Just because a newer version comes out it doesn't mean the older one will be withdrawn. Many times, the distributor will sit on the newer version until the current contracts are about to expire and then put the new version up for bid as a way to increase the licensing fee.

As for ABC's broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, my wife and I watched it (don't ask me why, I have the restored DVD sitting on the shelf 6 feet away) and I didn't notice any problem. We were watching the ABC station in Syracuse, NY.
D
sound of music

Well, I don't have a zoom function on my remote. I have 2 direcTV boxes on two different 4:3 TVs, and on both TVs, the picture was not right. Incidentally, last night, Pirates of the Carribean had the same problem, but again, not the commercials, not the news or local broadcast, and not on cable. Interestingly, on the local cable, at 9 PM, the little abc icon in the corner had a channel 6 icon next to it appear over it (for station ID, I guess), and on the dish, that did not appear. It makes me wonder where the directv folks are getting their signal. also makes me wonder what will happen if there is local breaking news and how I'd get it.

My boxes are somewhat old boxes--one is a 9 year old RCA box and one is a 4.5 year old RCA box--with Tivo built in. They have menu functions where I can indicate what size TV I Have (4:3 or 16:9); if I choose 4:3, i can then choose whether I want the picture "zoomed up" or "shrink to fit"--and I choose "shrink to fit, letterbox" or whatever.

I hope that football games don't have this because if it does, direcTV will be getting exited from my house.

Anyone else in the Phila market out there?

And by the way, the ABC broadcast has nothing to do with low res or high res--it is actually cutting off part of the picture vs not cutting it off. It could be hand drawn black and white 1950s footage, and the problem would be the same.

And another--you watched Sound of Music because you, like me, are a sap and love that good old movie. It is a wonderful movie, despite the sappiness.
Foxbat
Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
Apple has finally released their Apple TV 4K with built-in Siri and a microphone so it can respond to your queries even if you don't have the remote. It also increases in price, to $299. I had been planning on updating my current Apple TV 4K streamers, but that's $600 for the two of them, and that's a pass at this point.

At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
17 Replies · 234 views
Ronnie-
Meh. The 4Ks I have will do everything that these do that I need them to do.


Which that's most tech these days for anything released the last four to five years.


It's honestly a testament to how good the previous gen Apple TVs were and are.
navychop
It's honestly a testament to how good the previous gen Apple TVs were and are.

Don't tell them that. They'll adopt planned obsolescence.
navychop
Outside of gaming, would Joe Sixpack notice any difference?
KAB
KAB
Outside of gaming, would Joe Sixpack notice any difference?
Not a bit. IMO, Apple's are slow to boot up. Time is about the same with 1st gen and 3rd. Roku runs rings around them in that department. I only reason I stuck, is the Apple infrastructure, which has it's definite advantages. But $300 is a deal breaker. Later, Apple!
S
Don't tell them that. They'll adopt planned obsolescence.
they all do that anyways.. ever notice your cell phone slows down when you come up for an upgrade.. :what. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
ncted
ever notice your cell phone slows down when you come up for an upgrade
No. Makes me wonder if that is Apple or the carrier. I am on pre-paid, so I never get "an upgrade." I still have my old iPhone 11 Pro as a second line, and it runs iOS 27 just fine. My iPhone Air, which is still a current model, doesn't really seem that much faster in regular use. It is better in other ways, and worse in some ways than the 11 Pro (size), but performance really isn't a big differentiator, especially since I replaced the battery in the 11 Pro. If I had gotten enough storage when I originally bought the 11 Pro, it could still be my primary device with no issues.
ncted
Not a bit. IMO, Apple's are slow to boot up. Time is about the same with 1st gen and 3rd. Roku runs rings around them in that department. I only reason I stuck, is the Apple infrastructure, which has it's definite advantages. But $300 is a deal breaker. Later, Apple!
Yeah, they boot up a bit slower than Roku, but the OS does a lot more, so it makes sense. How often are you booting them up that is a differentiator? Aside from OS updates, mine are on all the time. I will say the ATV4K is generally quicker than the Roku Ultras I have, when it comes to launching apps and responsiveness, not that the Roku is sluggish.
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navychop
apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while

What software? For iPhones? I tried to buy some image s/w IN THE APPLE STORE! They had none, and could not offer ANY s/w for iPhones
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 2 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 2 views
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
2 Replies · 57 views
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Howard Simmons

Another Tulsa King spin off.🙄
dishstaller
Another Tulsa King spin off.🙄
But.....if you like Tulsa King....looks like you would probably like this as well. I don't mind spin-offs as long as they don't involve a sassy niece who moves from the big city :rolleyes:
T
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
3 Replies · 59 views
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Juan
Not alot of dish customers any more
Foxbat
I'm not a big fan of the new layout, especially on my Apple TV. It used to look like the old Guide layout on the Hopper 3, but they changed parts of that, too.
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dishstaller
I really dislike change for the sake of change
TheRatPatrol
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
Anyone else watch this show? Any guesses as to what was in the box Gibbs gave to Abby that was on her desk? It look liked it was glowing.

I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
2132 Replies · 214686 views
Jimbo

Howard ...
You don't like Tony, or Tony as the Director (he's only been there for 30 seconds now) or you don't like NCIS ?
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Howard Simmons
Howard ...
You don't like Tony, or Tony as the Director (he's only been there for 30 seconds now) or you don't like NCIS ?
Tony as the director.🙄
Jimbo
Tony as the director.🙄
Would you rather have LaRoche ???
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dfergie
I liked this episode and a toned down Tony...
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Howard Simmons
Would you rather have LaRoche ???
No. Bring in someone new.🤔 Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
Jimbo
No. Bring in someone new.🤔 Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
I don't think Tim and Tony are that far apart in Age ...

Remember what Tony said to Tim when they first got back together ...
Tony said: I am the New Tony, Tim .... (something to that effect)

Tony has changed, he's been running his Security Business ... I'm sure he has grown up.

Give it time ... your judging the New Tony from the old Tony.

It sounds like Tim won't be around the Team much longer either.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
Might be worth a watch when it comes out. Looks like typical big corp against the little guy movie BUT....there is a reason this plot type is so oft repeated, it draws audiences.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f9OGsKHd4
1 Replies · 13 views
dishstaller
BTW, I noticed right after I posted this that someone else had already mentioned it....sorry for the duplicate thread. Still looking forward to seeing the movie.
meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
If you're going try to read / listen to the book (can't recommend the audio book enough) before this comes out, I'd avoid trailers.

Trailer below, spoiling it to make sure you read the above bold message first. The book / audio book are fantastic. Go into this blind if you can IMO!




Kind of disappointed at how much they show. A lot still to see, but man, some good reveals in the book that are just served up here.
21 Replies · 717 views
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meStevo
I've seen it twice. Can't recommend the audio book enough, Ray Porter's performance is amazing and there's so much more in the book than the movie.
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Foxbat
"Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
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K
Forgot to comment. I did watch when it first came out on MGM. I enjoyed it a lot. I think reading the book made it easier to watch. Several friends commented it was a little hard to follow.
TRG
TRG
"astrophage". I read the book but didn't see the film yet.
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Howard Simmons
"Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
That's what I will be watching this weekend.🤗
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K
Kindle book on sale for $2.99 today at Amazon.
dishstaller
.........there's so much more in the book than the movie.
I agree. That can go for pretty much any book vs movie. Back when I was single I would read any Stephen King or John Grisham book I could get my hands on. When you read a book you make up the scenes and characters in your mind.....the movie version always disappoints.