BBC [incorrect] aspect ratios of programmes

[jelockwood]

It seems (from my own experiences) that the BBC are transmitting many of their programmes in the 'wrong' aspect ratio.

That is, a 4:3 recording is transmitted in a 16:9 frame, and often the reverse is also true. For example recently on BBC4 some old Star Trek and Dr Who episodes were broadcast and both were 4:3 recordings. However they were transmitted in a 16:9 frame! This example relates to Freeview but the BBC are equally guilty regarding analogue transmissions. Furthermore the BBC also fail to send the switch aspect ratio signal in the VBL signal.

Note: while viewing a 4:3 programme in a 16:9 frame on a 16:9 TV is ok, viewing it on a 4:3 set results in black borders on all sides, it also results in black borders on a 16:10 computer screen. Equally the reverse applies, viewing a 16:9 programme in a 4:3 frame is ok on a 4:3 set, but results in black borders on a 16:9 set. Yes you can manually 'zoom' most modern TVs but this should not be necessary.

While the BBC are probably the worst offenders, ITV are not much better, on the otherhand Channel4 do an excellent job of transmitting programmes in their correct aspect ratio AND also sending the change ratio signal in the VBL. You can even record a Channel4 programme to ye olde video tape, play it back and the aspect ratio (including auto switching) is still handled correctly.

If anyone has access to an appropriate contact at the Beeb, could you beat them with a stick until they agree to fix this?

PS. There is one example where this mistake might be justifiable. The BBC when broadcasting Football (in widescreen 16:9) sometimes have the half-time commentary in the studio in 4:3. To avoid switching ratios multiple times during a programme, the BBC runs the whole programme in a fixed frame (no matter what the content is). However this does not apply to the examples I gave or many other programmes including widescreen movies shown by the BBC.

[Pincho Paxton]

Well... today a few programs on UKTV Gold were smaller than 4:3. A bit unusual to see borders all around the picture, but the picture quality was very crisp. I liked it!

[dsw182]

(in layman's terms....) Do you mean they stretched a 4:3 picture to a 16:9 frame, or when they put a 16:9 border around a 4:3 picture?

[jelockwood]

Originally Posted by dsw182

(in layman's terms....) Do you mean they stretched a 4:3 picture to a 16:9 frame, or when they put a 16:9 border around a 4:3 picture?

They put a 16:9 border around a 4:3 picture (and sometimes the reverse).

[soundstory]

Yes very annoying,

The dr who's on BBC4 are like looking into a square tunnel !!

[jelockwood]

Originally Posted by soundstory

Yes very annoying,

The dr who's on BBC4 are like looking into a square tunnel !!

Thanks for the reply, its good to hear its not just me. Still looking for someone to beat the BBC with a stick to get it fixed though

I believe Star Trek (the original series) on BBC 2 tomorrow morning (Saturday) will be similarly afflicted.

[mastermax]

but as I have a widescreen tv the 16:9 ratio is always the best, otherwise big objects on the screen are just stretched with a zoom.

[jelockwood]

Originally Posted by mastermax

but as I have a widescreen tv the 16:9 ratio is always the best, otherwise big objects on the screen are just stretched with a zoom.

If the BBC transmitted these 4:3 programmes in a 4:3 frame, your 16:9 TV would still show them correctly as a 4:3 programme (as long as you have not manually zoomed your TV). As I indicated, Channel4 get this right.

The BBC are doing the adjustment at their end instead of letting the device at our end do it, and frankly the BBC's judgement is plain wrong. With the BBCs approach, yes if you view it on a 16:9 TV it looks ok, if you record it and play it on a 4:3 TV (or iPod, or Zune) it will be a tiny picture in the middle of the screen, if you play it on a 16:10 computer screen will waste some space top and bottom.

Channel4 transmit 4:3 programmes in 4:3 frames, this means that on a 16:9 screen it is shown as 4:3 (because the screen knows this), on a 4:3 screen (including iPod) it is shown as 4:3, and on a 16:10 computer screen it is also shown as 4:3 but fills the full vertical height.

(I just zapped through a few channels, BBC1 & 2 are currently showing 16:9 programmes so there is no problem, so is ITV1, Channel4, Five, SkyThree, and E4 are showing 4:3 programmes IN 4:3 FRAMES, this means my computer has been able to fill the screen vertically on its 16:10 display while still maintaining the 4:3 ratio. If this had been the BBC it would have wasted 10% roughly of the screen height.)

The reverse also applies, many music videos on the net are shot in 16:9 but the video is often mutilated by having a 4:3 frame and therefore black borders top and bottom. On a 4:3 screen it still looks ok but on a 16:9 screen, even though the video is shot in wide-screen it results in black borders top, bottom and both sides.

Not to mention, that even black binary bits still use up bandwidth to send (and space to store).

[mastermax]

what tv you got mate?