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General discussion

aspect ratio and subtitles

Sep 23, 2005 10:24AM PDT

A few months ago, I purchased a Sony LCD/RP HDTV. Currently, all my HDTV comes from OTA, and the TV aspect ratio adjusts automatically between 16:9 and 4:3 when I have digital signals. All the TV stations in LA currently transmit digitally. I also have satellite Directv, but have not subscribed yet to HDTV, since they are in the process of putting up new satellites and changing out hardware. I like to watch the standard satellite picture zoomed to the entire screen. The does not distort the picture as stretch mode does, but does cut some off the bottom and top of a 4:3 picture. This is usually acceptable EXCEPT when subtitles and credits are used, as in "info" supratitles for directv , and any subtitle in the program itself. In order to see it, I have to turn off the zoom.

Seems to me that enough people watch their TV (4:3 format) zoomed, that the programmers would consider this and move their subtiles and supratitles up or down a bit to allow for this. Of course it would be helpful that all transmisions be in a 16:9 ratio, since they are trying to SELL the new format to the public, and fewer and fewer people will have a 4:3 formatted TV.

Just a grip.

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