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WTXF FOX 29 complaint

J

Jul

Guest
I would like to know why virtually every program is airing in 16.9 format on FOX 29, instead of full screen on the standard definition feed? It doesn't make any sense what they are doing. 17, and 57 are still airing all of their programs in full screen. I don't get it.
 
Welcome to the future, Julius.

Nearly all TV production is now done in 16:9 widescreen. In the early years of 16:9 production, when most viewers were still seeing the shows downconverted to SD on 4:3 screens, it was considered important to produce 16:9 shows in what was called "4:3 safe," with no important visual content outside the center portion of the screen. That's a pain to do, because every shot and every graphic have to be carefully composed to look good on both 16:9 and 4:3 screens, and it means a lot of creative compromises along the way.

Now that the majority of US TV households have at least one 16:9 screen (65% according to one 2010 estimate), producers have decided it's more important to give them a truly fullscreen experience than to continue to cater to a rapidly dwindling number of viewers still watching on older 4:3 screens.

What Fox is doing now, CBS and NBC and ABC will be doing in a year or two as well. Get used to it. It's not going away.
 
I actually like it. I have 2 HD TVs and 3 SD TVs in my house. HD is in the family room and living room. SD is in the kitchen and bedrooms. I actually like the letterboxing on the SD feeds of all the differerent channels. I especially like the letterboxing of sports. I just wish they could sinc up the SD and HD feeds especially when I am watching a football game and have it on the big HD TV in the family room and keep walking into the kitchen where it is on in SD. I am used to the extra 20 yards on the screen.

I have been noticing more and more, especially channel 12, if you are watching in SD 4x3 there is a lot of graphics cut off on the sides which is a pain.
 
You'll probably won't want to watch Fox News Channel, either, Julius - they do the same thing in standard def.
 
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