HD conversion

[Bengalsfan]

How are some of the cable channels like TBS and ABC Family getting a 16:9 HD display out of shows that were shot in 4:3 NTSC? How are they converting them?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Some shows from the 80s and 90s were shot in a 16:9 film format and chopped to 4:3 in post-production. Any shows in particular?

 

[Bill_W]

Some shows from the 80s and 90s were shot in a 16:9 film format and chopped to 4:3 in post-production. Any shows in particular?

That's how we're getting Seinfeld in HD. Shot on film and reconverted to HD.

 

[Joe_Capitano]

For that old legacy 4:3 stuff shot on videotape, most often it's called "Stretchovision." Food, History, TBS and TNT are among the biggest offenders.

We could go through all the details, but what's the point. It sucks.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Some shows from the 80s and 90s were shot in a 16:9 film format and chopped to 4:3 in post-production. Any shows in particular?

Some that come to mind are That 70's Show, Grounded for Life, Reba and Frasier. I have seen some "stretch-o-vision" before, but this isn't it. the symmetry on the shots has remained correct. Such as the heads of the actors. They are round, not oval. and the shot does not look stretched out.

 

[KML0224]

I noticed something about The Wizard Of Oz (1939) as it aired on TBS recently. I had it on their HD feed. The movie aired in the traditional 4:3 ratio with no "TBS-HD" logos in the black side bars. I find this to be strange, since the movie was remastered in HD and is available on Blu-Ray. I'm sure the people could air the movie in full HD if they wanted to.

 

[tripinva]

The Wizard of Oz was filmed in 4:3. It's been remastered into 4:3 HD.

- Trip

 

[AlbumOldies]

I have seen Hogan's Heroes in widescreen format without distortion.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

some channels will probably be too lazy or cheap to get HD remastered versions of their programming (assuming it's available) and just use stretch-o-visions and a lot of people will watch because they think anything displayed on their new $1000 52 inch flat screen is automatically HD, these are the same people who demanded full frame DVD for their 4:3 10 years ago, Ted Turner would probably approve of stretch-o-vision, people watched Ted's colorized movies on TBS and watch Married with Children in Stretch-o-Vision on there now

 

[FreddyE1977]

For that old legacy 4:3 stuff shot on videotape, most often it's called "Stretchovision." Food, History, TBS and TNT are among the biggest offenders.

We could go through all the details, but what's the point. It sucks.

Yes, check out Peggy Bundy's hips the next time TBS runs an episode of Married with Children.
Katey Sagal must be mortified.

 

[radiolives]

Not all the shows on Nick At Nite are in HD over on Nick HD same for ABC Family, Boy Meets World is in 4:3 on ABC Family HD.

 

[w00t]

I have yet to see a Gilmore Girls on ABCFamily that is not in HD. Was that show shot in HD or was it shot on film and converted? It ended in 2007 so I find it hard to believe they were HD all that time.

 

[TexasTom]

Some shows from the 80s and 90s were shot in a 16:9 film format and chopped to 4:3 in post-production. Any shows in particular?

Some that come to mind are That 70's Show, Grounded for Life, Reba and Frasier. I have seen some "stretch-o-vision" before, but this isn't it. the symmetry on the shots has remained correct. Such as the heads of the actors. They are round, not oval. and the shot does not look stretched out.

At least one of these shows is from the last decade, and was originally produced in widescreen HD> I'm referring to "Reba", which ran on the WB in HD during most of it's first run.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Some shows from the 80s and 90s were shot in a 16:9 film format and chopped to 4:3 in post-production. Any shows in particular?

Some that come to mind are That 70's Show, Grounded for Life, Reba and Frasier. I have seen some "stretch-o-vision" before, but this isn't it. the symmetry on the shots has remained correct. Such as the heads of the actors. They are round, not oval. and the shot does not look stretched out.

At least one of these shows is from the last decade, and was originally produced in widescreen HD> I'm referring to "Reba", which ran on the WB in HD during most of it's first run.

ABC Family must have just done a recent conversion to HD on the episodes of That 70's Show because they look outstanding. I'm wondering if it was shot on film also.