The bigger shows seem to have the full screen, like the Today show, or Jay Leno. Other shows like our local news have a more square picture, with black screen on each side. Shows from the network when they have the smaller picture will have a filler on each side, with a logo or something, so it is not just black. I have the tv's aspect ratio set as wide as it goes, so it seems like the picture size comes from the transmitting station , or the network. Why do they do this? if a person buys a hi-def set, we would like a full sized picture!
2007-12-11 06:31:11 · 4 answers · asked by Charles B 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
Just because a channel broadcasts in HD doesn't mean the programming has been recorded in HD. And, if a non-HD program is broadcast in HD, it retains the non-HD aspect ratio of 4:3 (the picture is 4 parts wide by 3 parts high).
The aspect ratio of an HD picture is 16:9 (16 units wide by 9 units high). So, when a non-HD program is shown on an HD screen, the picture is not as wide as the screen and it shows black bars on the sides of the picture where there is no video information.
This happens a lot when watching an HD program (like a sporting event) when the commercials are not recorded in HD. During the commercials, the black bars appear. And, when the programming goes back to the HD picture, the screen is now full again.
2007-12-11 06:41:44 · answer #1 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now I'm weird. I can put up with a 4:3 picture filling a 16:9 screen because the black lines do my head in. However - I can't stand a 16:9 picture squashed up on a 4:3 screen - I have to have the black lines at the top and bottom to make it look normal. :-D
2016-05-23 02:11:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are seeing is how the shows are being broadcast. The square pictures are old style analog broadcasts, while the full screen ones are HD.
Yes, you may still get a square picture on an HD station, simply because they are broadcasting an analog show on that HD channel.
Look in your TV's picture settings for something like Zoom or Wide Zoom. They will zoom into the picture and/or stretch it so it fills the whole screen.
I have to warn you though, many people including myself hate to watch wide zoom. It makes people look all distorted. I much prefer to have the black bars on the side and watch it in it's original format. Of course, I always prefer watching true HD when available.
2007-12-11 09:19:48 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not only does your tv have aspect ratio's, but television shows are brodcasted in certain ratio's as well. most of the older stuff is brodcasted in 4:3, wich fit most tube tv's. but newer tv's tend to have a 16:9 ratio, and some show's are brodcasted like that now.
2007-12-11 06:35:55 · answer #4 · answered by pyro 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋