Bill Clinton lost weight

[vchimpanzee]

This has happened to me three times. A broadcast network show comes back after a commercial break and for about a second before it returns to normal, everyone looks like that time a new technology was introduced with Bill Clinton walking down a hall looking like his weight was in the normal range. I'm assuming I was seeing the entire picture from a 16:9 screen on my 4:3 screen. Normal means the picture is cut off on the left and right.

 

[brian4]

I watched a clip of a Clinton interview with him discussing ObamaCare and I thought he lost weight

 

[fybush]

Vchimp, was this over-the-air or on cable?

In this brave new world of 16:9 digital TV, stations and networks can send a little piece of data called "automatic format descriptor" or "AFD" along with their video. It tells display devices and distribution systems downstream how to convert a 16:9 image for display on a legacy 4:3 screen. If you're watching standard-def 4:3 cable, and it's configured properly at the cable company's end, AFD can tell the cable company to send along some programming letterboxed, while center-cutting other programming for fullscreen 4:3 display. And it can do it dynamically, so you can go from a live sports broadcast that gets letterboxed to an ad that's center-cut and right back to letterboxing.

When you see the picture jump quickly from "squeezed" to "center-cut," as you did, you're probably seeing AFD being triggered just a little late.

It's not just cable companies that can do this. So can your over-the-air converter box, if you have it on the "Set by Program" setting.

It's my experience that NBC and Fox are the most aggressive users of AFD, especially Fox, since the network no longer tries to make any of its programming 4:3 safe for legacy center-cut viewers.

(And having said that, may I suggest that in a world that is increasingly 16:9, you're only going to get increasingly frustrated trying to make it all fit a 4:3 display. 16:9 TVs have become dirt-cheap at the low end, and most of them come with enough inputs that you can feed one new TV with inputs from all of your various TiVos and VCRs and whatever else you're using these days.)

 

[FRR]

Clinton has lost weight as a result of his surgery.. The only thing that hasn't gotten smaller on Clinton is that giant ego

 

[AKA]

Clinton has lost weight as a result of his surgery.. The only thing that hasn't gotten smaller on Clinton is that giant ego

Clinton lost weight because he completely changed his diet and lifestyle after his heart troubles. To someone who may not know any better, it looks like you're implying he had gastric bypass or something.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Vchimp, was this over-the-air or on cable?

I decided cable would be more reliable than having to spend a lot of money on an antenna. And the TiVo I was told would work for digital TV didn't work with an antenna. I do have one for an antenna now, but given the less than satisfactory results I have with not spending the money for an outdoor one, it's to replace the last VCR that still works before it goes, and to prepare for a possible second DTV transition the cable company denies will happen but people here say will.

(And having said that, may I suggest that in a world that is increasingly 16:9, you're only going to get increasingly frustrated trying to make it all fit a 4:3 display. 16:9 TVs have become dirt-cheap at the low end, and most of them come with enough inputs that you can feed one new TV with inputs from all of your various TiVos and VCRs and whatever else you're using these days.)

I've had to spend so much that it's time to quit spending as long as the TVs work. I have six with VCRs included, but only one where the VCR still works.

 

[LKellerIII]

(And having said that, may I suggest that in a world that is increasingly 16:9, you're only going to get increasingly frustrated trying to make it all fit a 4:3 display. 16:9 TVs have become dirt-cheap at the low end, and most of them come with enough inputs that you can feed one new TV with inputs from all of your various TiVos and VCRs and whatever else you're using these days.)

That is true. I purchased an early 42" 1080p LCD set at Costco for $999 in late 2008 (IIRC), and it was a bargain at the time.They are easy to find now for half that price with more features. Our upstairs TV (not used much) was still and old analog, and I was living with it, but just got sick of seeing people, animals, and cars all compressed, not to mention the low resolution. So I just replaced it with an RCA 32" LCD for $249. A couple of days later, I saw an ad for a 40" LCD for $269 - not a name brand (Sceptre I believe), but probably a perfectly decent TV.

 

[JeeperOne]

Clinton lost weight because he completely changed his diet and lifestyle after his heart troubles. To someone who may not know any better, it looks like you're implying he had gastric bypass or something.

This might get moved to TIO by my saying this BUT I think it's more like another (Albeit subtle) example of Republican voters not liking how past Democrat Presidents injecting themselves into the current political landscape

Except when it comes to Bill Clinton, some Republicans need to be reminded of the person he's married to & the role SHE has had in today's political landscape

Not to point fingers & I hope I'm wrong (But doubt I am)

Cheers & 73

 

[JeeperOne]

Back on topic however - I call this format concept Squish-O-Vision because unlike its counterpart Shrink-O-Vision, everything is letterboxed from the sides to the center as opposed from the top & bottom to the center

Either way, it doesn't make for a very good picture

Example -

Here in Denver, KCDO 3 (Ind) uses Shrink-O-Vision for its HD feed on Channel 649. Because of this, I prefer to watch it in 480i 16:9 SD because at least THAT fills the screen. Until KCDO 3 starts broadcasting without letterboxing for HDTVs, I'll NEVER watch that station in HD as the picture is THAT bad

Cheers & 73

 

[vchimpanzee]

I think that on CBS this is happening at least once during every show as they come back from the commercial. Normal, then the entire screen in a smaller space, than normal again after about a second.