A&E Hd?

[JH1949]

Scott,

Is this where the transmissions are coming from ?

Ascent Media Network Services
250 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 965-6000

 

[TNGTony]

I *have* to stretch the screen on my tv; as with many Plasma owners, I have a CRT RPTV and if I don't stretch 4:3 material, I'll get burn-in from the bars on the sides. I've already had this problem and it cost $700 to fix. Just one compromise for owning this type of display but I have become accostomed to it.

Gray bars. Partial zoom (not stretch) are options.

See ya
Tony

 

[wonko]

Are A&E and History still re-transmitting their SD content on the HD channels? The logo bugs and ratings appear to be normally proportioned, but the picture is still stretched. History is even stretching/letterboxing 16:9 content with their logo overlaying the lower bar.

If there's not a problem, do they really believe that people think this looks good? Do they think that this is what people want to watch on their HD sets? Personally, it drives me nuts. I just end up switching to the SD channel rather than have my brain try to compensate for the screwed-up aspect ratio.

 

[TNGTony]

It looks like both A&E and History Channel HD channels are back HOWEVER the SD content is in the stretch-o-vision mode a la TNT. I saw a couple of real HD programs on A&E but then the commercials and upconverted programs were stretch-o-vision. So, no more Dog for me. Less History for me too. It's a shame if this is the way it's going to stay. I already fired off a few nastygrams along with a snail-mail complaint about the stretch-o-vision to A&E Networks for whatever good that will do.

See ya
Tony

 

[nlk10010]

The thing I don't get is why HistoryHD is stretching 16:9. There were a couple of shows last night that were supposedly new and DID have the bars over and under but were STILL stretched. Why?

This happens way too often for it to be simply a "mistake". I still can't help wondering if it costs more to broadcast in HD or if somehow D* is making HistoryHD hold off showing too much actual HD(-lite) until they start carrying the channel.

If this just started happening after the fire I might think it's temporary, but it was happening even before.

=NLK=

 

[TNGTony]

No vast conspirasy theories... It's simple, the 16x9 content that is stretched would have been shown in the "window box" since it is SD 16x9 not HD 16x9 programming. All they do is get rid of the black bars on the sides (not zoom) which blows! But that's what they do. The actual HD programs are being shown in HD now.

See ya
Tony

 

[nlk10010]

No vast conspirasy theories... It's simple, the 16x9 content that is stretched would have been shown in the "window box" since it is SD 16x9 not HD 16x9 programming. All they do is get rid of the black bars on the sides (not zoom) which blows! But that's what they do. The actual HD programs are being shown in HD now.

See ya
Tony

Oh, OK, thanks. It was a bit surprising as I don't recall A&E-HD doing anything similar.

However, IRT, IIRC, was trumpeted as being shot in HD and I could swear they pulled the same cr*p with that. If what you're saying is accurate (I'm assuming it is, just the normal disclaimer) then the really disappointing thing is that a lot of these new shows, many of which could really benefit a great deal from higher resolution, are NOT being shot in HD.

IAC the stretch-o-vision, IMHO, is garbage.

Thanks for taking the time to post and clear that up.


=NLK=

 

[wonko]

All they do is get rid of the black bars on the sides (not zoom) which blows! But that's what they do. The actual HD programs are being shown in HD now.

That's what I was afraid of. Let me know if you hear back from them as to why they won't pillarbox their 4:3 stuff on the HD channels (like most everyone else does). I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying it that way. And I don't think anyone has an HD set that will squeeze it back to normal.

 

[tigerfan33]

No vast conspirasy theories... It's simple, the 16x9 content that is stretched would have been shown in the "window box" since it is SD 16x9 not HD 16x9 programming. All they do is get rid of the black bars on the sides (not zoom) which blows! But that's what they do. The actual HD programs are being shown in HD now.

See ya
Tony

Some programs that are hd are still stretched on the history channel. The Universe was hd Saturday and was stretched yesterday. Seems they are alternating between a&e and history hd of which does telecast in hd.

 

[RobMeyer1]

Try this

That's what I was afraid of. Let me know if you hear back from them as to why they won't pillarbox their 4:3 stuff on the HD channels (like most everyone else does). I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying it that way. And I don't think anyone has an HD set that will squeeze it back to normal.

I hate stretched SD also. I have a 722 and it was set at 480P when I received it. That setting had the effect of compressing the picture from 16:9 to 4:3. I just avoid the channels that do the stretched SD. Theres' plenty of good programming on channels delivering real HD.

 

[ehren]

the discovery networks are a joke for stretching 4:3 content as well.

 

[TNGTony]

The discovery networks DO NOT stretch the 4x3 SD content. They use a zoom without distortion. They end up with a 9x14 picture and very thin lines on the sides. They end up cutting off some off the top and bottom of the original (mostly bottom) but it is better IMHO than distoring the image to useless dimension.

Once again folks, for those that did not live through the B&W / Color transition... IT TAKES TIME. In the case of color v B&W, "I Love Lucy" and pre 1965 "Beverlyhillbillies" are STILL airing in black and white!!!!

Upcoversion will be around for DECADES! Live with it!

Now the question is, will the providers RUIN the program by stretching the picture to fool morons who have no idea what they are looking at into thinking it's and HD picture with very fat, short people; or will they upconvert with pillar box an allow the moron (or people who will make an excuse because they don't want to see the bars) to stretch on their own TV and allow those that want to see programs as intended? There is no "UN-stretch" feature on ANY TV out there!

See ya
Tony

 

[TNGTony]

A little representation

Here is a graphic for those that have a hard time visualizing.

Almost all new TVs can make a pillarboxed 4x3 program, zomm it one of several ways, stretch it, or stretch proportionately (nearly no stretching in the middle. As you go further from the center the picture is stretched more and more. If some one's head is on the side of the pix it will look like an egg!). There is no TV on the planet that can "undo" a stretch or zoom that is done by the TV network.

 

[wonko]

Here is a graphic for those that have a hard time visualizing.

Excellent picture. You should email that to A&E networks with a big, red X over the stretched portion.

 

[JH1949]

Please mail it to History HD also.

 

[Sean Mota]

I have yet to watch an HD program in History HD since the fire. Everything I have recorded so far has been stretch-o-vision (of course, they all went to the trash). Either they have cut back on their HD programming or I am just passing them by without even looking.

 

[wonko]

There's supposedly some HD coming on both A&E and History. I'm going to see what it looks like.

 

[dfergie]

Csi Miami is back although must be very low bitrate from the archive options...

 

[digiblur]

Csi Miami is back although must be very low bitrate from the archive options...

Excellent bit rate for 720p MPEG4. This is from 129.

 

[dfergie]

damn... used to mpeg2 bitrates I guess Lol...