Aspect ratios of RTE broadcasts on Sky Digital

nlgbbbblth

Just watching some archive programmes on RTE One recently [Disasters and Home] and no matter what way I change the aspect ratio on my widescreen television (Fullscreen - Widescreen - 14:9 - 16:9 - Superwide - Subtitle zoom or plain old 4:3) the logo is not fully visible and some letters from onscreen captions are not visible.

When I go into system setup I see the aspect ratio for progammes is set at 4:3.

This suits almost all the other channels apart from RTE.

If I change this to 16:9 and go back to watching the programme on RTE, the logo is visible.

Obviously it is a nuisance to keep changing this back and forth.
Programmes / footage originally shot in 4:3 are being broadcast in widescreen. Why?

Anyone else notice this / find ways around it?

I would be interested to read what other Sky users have their aspect ratio as on system set up

JDxtra

I've not had any problems with RTE and aspect ratios on Sky. I notice that they put the DOG in an unusual place sometimes on 4:3 programs which makes it looks like your TV is set wrong, apart from that - no problems.

Mossy Monk

Leave your Sky box at 16:9 if you have a widescreen tv.

lucernarian

I've found that problem when trying to watch Sky on 4:3 televisions in various places. They seem to full up the full vertical height of the screen at the expense of the sides of the viewable picture.

It's not very good when trying to follow GAA matches.

Mossy Monk

It is really annoying for the GAA coverage when you can't see the time properly.

watty

I put ALL my boxes at 16:9
All my 4:3 TVs (even 120 Eur model) do 16:9 and 16:9 mode setting should have no effect on 4:3 content.

musa

I think I am right in saying that some movies are transmitted,or on DVD with a ratio of 21.9.This means you will still have letterboxing having spent all that money on your new widescreen products?
I recall a few manufactures will sell you a television with a radio of 21.9.
And then there is HD!

seinstein

The problem with RTE is that they broadcast at 14:9 letterbox on a 4:3 background. This means that the signal coming in is 4:3, but the 14:9 box is setup within this. If you change your TV, you just change the background from 4:3 to 16:9 and so on - this has no correct relative bearing on the aspect ratio of the active 14:9 area. If your TV is 4:3, the image displays ok as long as your receiver box is setup to display either 4:3 or 16:9, because it knows how to correct for it. But if your TV is a widescreen TV, you will have unforseeable problems with this program; there is not really any other option than changing your box to 16:9 to get it to display correctly (if this is what you did, kind of a bit lost myself with the whole thing!).

Mossy Monk

musa wrote:

This means you will still have letterboxing having spent all that money on your new widescreen products?

So? I would rather watch a movie correctly that have a full screen.

fat-tony

seinstein wrote:

The problem with RTE is that they broadcast at 14:9 letterbox on a 4:3 background. This means that the signal coming in is 4:3, but the 14:9 box is setup within this. If you change your TV, you just change the background from 4:3 to 16:9 and so on - this has no correct relative bearing on the aspect ratio of the active 14:9 area. If your TV is 4:3, the image displays ok as long as your receiver box is setup to display either 4:3 or 16:9, because it knows how to correct for it. But if your TV is a widescreen TV, you will have unforseeable problems with this program; there is not really any other option than changing your box to 16:9 to get it to display correctly (if this is what you did, kind of a bit lost myself with the whole thing!).

That's not correct. RTE broadcast widescreen (16:9) on the SKY platform. You should have your TV set to 16:9 (and the SKY box set to SCART control ON). TG4 have used the 14:9 ratio on SKY but this is used mostly on terrestrial TV as a stop-gap between 4:3 and true widescreen.

seinstein

fat-tony wrote:

That's not correct. RTE broadcast widescreen (16:9) on the SKY platform. You should have your TV set to 16:9 (and the SKY box set to SCART control ON). TG4 have used the 14:9 ratio on SKY but this is used mostly on terrestrial TV as a stop-gap between 4:3 and true widescreen.

Ah well, it is correct seeing as I was talking about a terrestrial broadcast, and just assumed they'd broadcast it the same way on Sky. Now you've upset me because I just realise all the action I've been missing out on...:eek:

fat-tony

seinstein wrote:

Ah well, it is correct seeing as I was talking about a terrestrial broadcast, and just assumed they'd broadcast it the same way on Sky. Now you've upset me because I just realise all the action I've been missing out on...:eek:

But this is a satellite forum - not terrestrial

nlgbbbblth

fat-tony wrote:

That's not correct. RTE broadcast widescreen (16:9) on the SKY platform. You should have your TV set to 16:9 (and the SKY box set to SCART control ON). TG4 have used the 14:9 ratio on SKY but this is used mostly on terrestrial TV as a stop-gap between 4:3 and true widescreen.

how do I set Sky box to scart control on?

ethernet

nlgbbbblth wrote:

how do I set Sky box to scart control on?

If pressing 'Sky' on your remote makes the digibox come on and the channel changes, then it's turned on.

Do: Services --> System Setup --> Picture Settings. It's listed there. Set it to on and remember to do to the end of the screen and save your settings. Hit Sky or backup to exit.

ob

With normal Sky, I could never see the edges of the screen i.e. the score/time wouldn't be fully viewable.

When I got Sky+, RTE was perfect, on the same TV.

It must be a setting on the sky box, but I tried changing it when I had the ordinary sky, but it never worked.

nlgbbbblth

Thanks ethernet

radiospan

musa wrote:

I think I am right in saying that some movies are transmitted,or on DVD with a ratio of 21.9.This means you will still have letterboxing having spent all that money on your new widescreen products?
I recall a few manufactures will sell you a television with a radio of 21.9.
And then there is HD!

Yeah 2.35:1

It still looks ok on a 16:9 TV but I think it's unwatchable on a 4:3.

musa

ethernet wrote:

If pressing 'Sky' on your remote makes the digibox come on and the channel changes, then it's turned on.

Do: Services --> System Setup --> Picture Settings. It's listed there. Set it to on and remember to do to the end of the screen and save your settings. Hit Sky or backup to exit.

Only the bottom scart socket on the box will give you RGB,and only one scart on the TV will accept RGB,go find.

watty

There is no fixed ratio for Cinema.

Dr Strangelove uses multiple ratios

Pre Color TV in US they only had academy format, close to 4:3.

Widescreen TV is 16:9, close to 1.78:1, never used by cinema. Closest is 1.85:1 WS
1.66:1, 2.35:1 and 2.7:1 are also used.

Get used to black bars someplace.