Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Supposedly "HD" Sations Broadcasting In 4:3??? What's Up?

Aug 9, 2005 1:18AM PDT

...Yes, on Time Warner here in NYC the "700" Series channels are all supposed to be HD, yet, with the exception of Discovery and NET, the other "HD" channels look indistinguishable from their "regular bretheren. They are broadcast in 4:3 and don't look any different from the "regular" CBS, NBC and ABC channels. The two true HD channels look absolutely stunning.
Oh, I almost forgot, last night ABC broadcast an NFL preseason game in true HD on the ABC HD channel and it looked amazing. True 16:9, incredible clarity, unmistakably true HD. When they went to commercials, however, it was back to the 4:3 grainy picture crap. And this was on the "HD' version of ABC.
Can anyone help unravel what all this is about? It's very confusing.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
HD Stations broadcasting in HD
Aug 9, 2005 2:15AM PDT

The "700" channels will only broadcast in 16:9 if the content is actually HD. The commercials on ABC HD are the same commercials on ABC. You can't create HD on content when it doesn't exist. Certain shows aren't created in HD yet too. So when you're watching that show, its going to be in 4:3 even though its on your HD channel. I think this fall, when all the new shows come out, there will be a lot more HD programming then in previous years.

- Collapse -
When Technologies Are In Transition It's Frustrating....
Aug 9, 2005 2:31AM PDT

...I can only imagine the frustration and confusion of most people who are not at all technically inclined. I think of myself as someone who has a fair understanding of such things. Others often approach em for advice about technical matters and I'm usually able to help them. I feel terrible for the young housewife who gets an HD set and really has no idea how to use it, set it up, obtain source material for it, etc.

I think the FCC really blew this transition thing. They should just have made a unilateral decision that as of a certain date everything had to be broadcast in HD. I know they've tried an dthere's been a lot of resistance from various camps but someone's got to take a stand to really get the ball rolling.

I'm hoping that once the transition is well underway, this fall or next spring that pretty much everything will switch over. Like I said, these transitional periods are extremely confusing and frustrating.

- Collapse -
I think the FCC really blew this transition thing.
Aug 9, 2005 3:04AM PDT

This is an understatment of how badly the FCC is handling the changover to HDTV.
First the unrealistic changover date and selling of the VHF tv bands to other use.
The broadcast flag about the copy protection which set back the production of TV with HD tuners and settop converter boxes. It is only since the courts threw out the flag in May of this year are we starting get real DHTVs with HD tuners.
About the qualiy of the cable HD channels call them up and complain. My guess is that the cable company is just taking the analod NTSC signal and using a scan converter to upscan it to 480p and putting it on the HD channel. John

- Collapse -
exactly
Aug 10, 2005 10:45AM PDT

I have the same setup as you do, I am just in charlotte nc. On the local hd stations only the actually HD content is in 16:9 HD the rest of their supposed digital cable is nothing more than the analog signal comprassed together to form a clearer picture which is why you get the letter boxing on a widescreen tv even after stretching the picture.