BBC1 Grandstand

fi · 04-10-2003 2:00pm #1

Im going to appologise if this thred is in the wrong forum but it is to do with Sky..... also appologies if it has been covered already but i couldnt find it.

Now, My dad is here and he is watching Grandstand on BBC1, but the screen is black on the sides during many of the interviews. i also noticed this when they were showing the rugby i had to watch it on TV3 as it was the same problem, anyone know why this is happening?

thanks in Advance

fi

ShaneOC · 04-10-2003 2:09pm

Is your dad wathing it on a widescreen TV?

Most of the BBCs sporting output is widescreen, but the pictures that they receive are regular 4:3. The BBC put bars on the side to keep the aspect correct.

If he is watching on a normal TV make sure the settings are correct. Press Services - Picture options and then set the options according to his TV.

fi · 04-10-2003 2:15pm

thanks Shane, i am watching on one of thoese wide screen tv's. and set it to widescreen but still have the black lines. went to services too ... but changeing the settings there made it worse. doest everyone see it like i do?

Mossy Monk · 04-10-2003 6:23pm

Originally posted by fi
set it to widescreen but still have the black lines. went to services too ... but changeing the settings there made it worse. doest everyone see it like i do?

they are supposed to be there if the digibox is set to 16:9 or 4:3 letterbox. i would prefer if they broadcast games like that in a 4:3 frame and leave my telly sort out the bars. better picture quality that way i think. i hate it when those black bars are animated :mad:

Lennoxschips · 05-10-2003 12:11am

They broadcasted the whole World Cup like that.

It's madness.

fi · 05-10-2003 10:33am

well im glad its not just me, but i dont like the TV3 commentators. but i just cant watch it on BBC the way it is, isnt there something they can do? or sky can do?

Lennoxschips · 05-10-2003 1:48pm

The BBC are obsessed with widescreen. This can be a good thing, because it means that many of their programmes are broadcasted in digital widescreen, which makes the most of modern technology and equipment.

When broadcasting older 4:3 shows such as the Simpsons and Star Trek, they switch over to old-style 4:3 broadcasting, which makes sense.

However, when showing matches where the only available feed is 4:3 (usually due it being a foreign feed) they insist on broadcasting it inside a widescreen picture, even though it doesn't fit. This compromises picture quality because they are not making full use of all the pixels available. The reason they do this is so that they can show the half-time punditry and match analysis in widescreen. I think 99% of viewers would be willing to sacrifice this luxury for the sake of a watchable match picture! That or they could switch between 4:3 and widescreen at half-time when going back to the studio.

Write to the BBC and complain, that's my advice.

ShaneOC · 05-10-2003 2:12pm

You can always set the digibox to output a 4:3 picture while the match is on. This will fill the screen.

fi · 05-10-2003 2:35pm

Originally posted by Lennoxschips
Write to the BBC and complain, that's my advice. [/B]

with the 6 nations coming up i might just do that!!

thanks very imformative, surprised this issue hasnt been address ed before now

Mossy Monk · 05-10-2003 3:49pm

Originally posted by fi
with the 6 nations coming up i might just do that!!

the 6 nations is all in widescreen. no black bars

Jip · 06-10-2003 9:10am

Are you sure it's not an issue with the T.V. ? Can you set the aspect ration on your t.v. ? If so try leaving it on auto and that way the T.V. should adjust the picture automatically.

ShaneOC · 06-10-2003 10:20am

Originally posted by fi
with the 6 nations coming up i might just do that!!

Next February? :rolleyes:

fi · 06-10-2003 10:46am

The last time the 6 nations were on i had black lines, and my tv settings jump from one to the other.... for example yesterday the racing was on bbc2, and it was in full screen, they went to Mr little and Ms very tall women comentators and it shrunk on me to the bars......

have tried all you sugested and no luck.

Mossy Monk · 06-10-2003 12:57pm

Originally posted by fi
The last time the 6 nations were on i had black lines,

for the last 6 Nations every game was in widescreen on BBC. no black vertical bars in sight

fi · 06-10-2003 3:05pm

must deffinatly be my set up then, thanks

marksi · 08-10-2003 11:34am

God forbid people should watch 4:3 programmes the correct shape on 16:9 televisions, eh?

The reason sport feeds within Grandstand are transmitted 12P16 (ie with black bars either side) is because the studio gallery which is producing the show is widescreen. Widescreen switching is carried out by Presentation during junctions and aspect ratios cannot be changed within programmes.

It means you are watching the programme in the correct format, and the only people is should annoy are those watching 16:9 programmes in deep letterbox on 4:3 televisions. They would have black all round the picture in that situation. Those of you watching on widescreen tv's have no reason to complain - the picture is the correct shape.

As to whether the picture has less lines available than a programme transmitted as 4:3 (12F12) - it has not. It has exactly the same. The only difference is that your box recieves a signal to chop the black side bars off. The picture occupies the same number of lines.

BBC1 Grandstand

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