I realize most new TVs offered are a widescreen format, however, most standard programs (sitcoms, the news, etc.) are NOT in widescreen. This means I must either stretch the picture (which I hate), cut of parts of it (zoom), or have big black bars along the sides of the picture.
My question is, when most programming switches to HDTV (by 2009, right?) does that mean that it will be in a widescreen format?
I have yet to find a sales person or anyone else at a TV store to answer this question, so please help me!! :) Thank you!
2007-07-16 15:56:17 · 4 answers · asked by misty75r 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
No, they won't... think about it. All the old shows can't be converted to wide aspect ratio.... it ain't gonna happen. So, when the old 4:3 NTSC shows are converted to HD, something is going to have to be put on the sides or cut off the top and bottom to get the 16:9 format. You see what I'm saying?
2007-07-16 16:22:25 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Peachy® 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bigger issue is your last sentence. Most high end HD sets have switching that allows "letter boxing" of non-HD signals. You need to push to speak to someone in the store who understands this, or buy the product from a different store.
The only other question I have is, "What is wrong with the "big black bars along the sides of the picture"? If you did not have an HD screen, those "black bars" would simply be the walls showing around the sides of your dinky "standard" screen TV. That would not bother you, so why would the letter-boxing. You are not being gypped out of anything, there just isn't any picture contained in the signal to put there.
It is better to have the screen and not need it for the low quality "standard" format, than to be freaky about it and not have enough screen for the HD format.
2007-07-16 16:31:16 · answer #2 · answered by Moose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the DIGITAL broadcasts I have seen that are truly HD (some digital broadcasts will NOT BE HD) have been wide screen.
Here are the shows that will be in HD
ABC
Prime-time shows: According to Jim; Boston Legal; Brothers & Sisters; Day Break; Desperate Housewives; George Lopez; Grey's Anatomy; Help Me Help You; Knights of Prosperity; Lost; Men in Trees; The Nine; Six Degrees; Ugly Betty; What About Brian; made-for-TV movies; theatrical films
News, reality, and late night: Dancing With the Stars; Good Morning America
Sports: Select NBA games, select NCAA football
Specials: 2007 Academy Awards
Resolution: 720p
CBS
Prime-time shows: The Class; Close to Home; Cold Case; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; CSI: Miami; CSI: NY; Criminal Minds; Ghost Whisperer; How I Met Your Mother; Jericho; The King of Queens; NCIS; The New Adventures of Old Christine; Numb3rs; Out of Practice; Shark; Smith; Two and a Half Men; The Unit; Without a Trace; The Young and the Restless (daytime); made-for-TV movies; theatrical films
News, reality, and late night: The Late Show with David Letterman
Specials: The Grammys
Sports: NFL (AFC), NCAA Final Four, select NCAA football, U.S Open tennis, golf
Resolution: 1080i
Fox
Prime-time shows: 24; Bones; Celebrity Duets; Happy Hour; House; Justice; The Loop; The O.C.; Prison Break; Stacked; Standoff; Til' Death; Vanished; The War at Home
News, reality, and late night: American Idol, Fox News Sunday
Sports: NFL, MLB, NASCAR
Resolution: 720p
NBC
Prime-time shows: 30 Rock; Crossing Jordan; ER; Friday Night Lights; Heroes; Kidnapped; Las Vegas; Law & Order; Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Medium; My Name Is Earl; The Office; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; Twenty Good Years; My Name is Earl
Specials: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
News, reality, and late night: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; Saturday Night Live
Sports: Sunday Night Football, NHL, NASCAR racing, Olympics
Resolution: 1080i
PBS
Shows: Highlights include American Masters; Austin City Limits; Frontline; Tracks Ahead; Chefs A'Field; Soundstage; American Experience; Nova
Sports and specials: N/A
Resolution: 1080i
2007-07-17 07:13:01 · answer #3 · answered by gkk_72 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they will be. all HDTV is in wide screen format. now the commercials during programs on some channels are not so you still get the black bars but by that won't last long i bet
2007-07-16 16:00:39 · answer #4 · answered by Fighting Racoon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋