View Full Version : Does DTV signal mean 16:9?
mbechak
05-02-2002, 10:28 AM
If stations like HBO are in fact broadcasting digital signals, does that necessarily mean that the picutre ratio is 16:9? That is, if a person has all of their HDTV equipment hooked up properly they will digital broadcasts like WUSA in Washington as a 16:9 picutre without stretching?
Thanks!
sieve11
05-02-2002, 11:24 AM
Quick point: the FCC has dictated that "digital" television will be the norm by 2006 (good luck). They say nothing about HD being on the air. HD is a subset of Digital.
In Detroit, we have many digital channels that are 4x3, but all true HD is 16x9. That said, almost all "HD" channels will run some material in 4x3. It may be digital, but it ain't high def.
The one beautiful exception is HDNet. EVERYTHING on that channel is 16x9 1080i High Definition. Thank you Mark Cuban for your vision. He also plans to add 3 more HDNet channels by the end of the year.
One of my pet peeves about HBO HD is that they also run 4x3 material, mostly their original programs like Sex & the City. This seems to be a disservice to those who only have a few HD sources to waste one of them with non-HD material.
ZeroDegreeK
05-02-2002, 01:56 PM
Originally posted by sieve11
One of my pet peeves about HBO HD is that they also run 4x3 material, mostly their original programs like Sex & the City. This seems to be a disservice to those who only have a few HD sources to waste one of them with non-HD material.
Yea, but the Sopranos, baby, the Sopranos. 16:9 1080i.
sieve11
05-02-2002, 02:25 PM
I'll give you the Sopranos. But, how many times have you had people visiting, who wanted to see High Definition, and all HBO had on was some 4x3 stuff. Plus, the boxing, talk shows, comedy reviews, and other stuff that I would be more than happy to watch in standard def.
I consider myself to be a pretty avid football fan, but it really riles me up to hit 509 on my remote and come up with NFL Today. I can't stand to watch those morons in SD, much less when they're screwing up one of my HD sources. I always thought that HBO Signature would be a better channel for HBO HD to mimic, but that's just my opinion.
That said, thank you, thank you, thank you HBO for having the foresight to provide an HD channel to your subscribers. I doubt that it adds much to your revenue stream, since it does pile a big expense on your tally sheet. It is what we would hope for from the best premium channel available.
kevinw
05-06-2002, 05:19 PM
15 dollars a month for 1 show?
ZeroDegreeK
05-07-2002, 10:04 AM
HBO plays more than just the Sopranos in HD. Almost all of the movies are shown in 1080i. Plus, HBOHD is free if you already have HBO.
