picture cropping

S

sinbrad

Guest
Has anyone had the same annoying problem as me? when watching mostly sporting channels via sky the picture is cropped at the left and right hand sides of the picture giving a square picture when viewing in widescreen. but when you chop to the same channel on terrestrial it fills the whole picture??? It is also strange that when they finish showing the sporting event and return to the studio to have a discussion the picture reverts to full widescreen mode? Have noticed that they also have fake curtains at the sides of the picture? any ideas? emailed sky and awaiting the reply!
 
Hi,

I think it happens when they are showing pictures from non-widescreen capable cameras. They are still broadcasting the signal in widescreen though. To fill the screen when they are doing this, change your digibox to have "letterbox" off. The analogue terrestrial signal is broadcasting a normal 4:3 picture. Hope this helps.

Steve
 
It's not just Sky...

The problem arises when a normally widescreen programme has to include pictures from a non WS source.

The producer has a choice of sending out the whole programme in either WS or 4.3, or mixing what is available.

One compromise used is to show the studio footage in WS, but - for example - a football match from a non WS source in "pillar box" - ie black bars on either side of the picture.

That saves WS sets needing to switch back and forward between settings during the programme - which would be annoying.

Analogue viewers are not affected as they can't see WS pictures anyway.

It will change when WS footage is universally available - which will be quite soon for most main broadcasters in Europe and later when HDTV is the norm in the US and Japan.
 

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