RTE Goes Widescreen from Sunday

spockety

RTÉ Television

RTÉ brings W I D E S C R E E N to The Sunday Game

GAA lovers can enjoy their matches in widescreen from
this Sunday, when RTÉ's Sunday Game Live and The Sunday
Game will be broadcast in the 16:9 format on RTÉ Two.

Part of a phased introduction of widescreen production
and transmission by RTÉ, the public service broadcaster
plans to have all RTÉ-originated and commissioned
material broadcast in widescreen by the year-end.

John Hunt, Director of Operations, RTÉ, who is heading
up the project, said: "Widescreen adds great value to
sports production and we are delighted to be able to
bring GAA coverage to the viewer in the this format
from Sunday. It will enhance the viewing experience for
sports fans. Broadcasters throughout Europe have been
moving towards widescreen production and transmission
over the past decade. Many of our competitors - the BBC
and UTV, for example - are already transmitting
widescreen and it is important that RTÉ maintains and
consolidates its competitive position."

Widescreen pictures are shown in a way that widens the
viewing angle so that it more closely matches the
natural human visual field. The vast majority of new
programmes purchased by RTÉ are made in widescreen, as
are all advertisements. The format is particularly
relevant to movies as they can be viewed more closely
to their full video resolution so improving the
experience for the viewer.

Initially, the true widescreen picture will only be
available to viewers on Sky Digital who have a
widescreen set. It is expected that other digital
platforms will follow suit shortly. Viewers using the
terrestrial analogue service provided by RTÉNL (RTÉ
Network Ltd) will receive their pictures in a
compromise format, which means that their picture will
be framed by a small amount of black at the top and
bottom of the screen. As the project evolves, and more
and more programmes are produced in the widescreen
format, the output will always be protected for non-
widescreen television viewers.

The traditional television picture in Ireland has been
displayed in a 4:3 ratio - which reflects the
horizontal and vertical characteristics of the picture.
True widescreen is in a 16:9 format, but the protected
format seen on non-Sky Digital receivers will be in
14:9. These formats allow all viewers, including those
with 4:3 sets, to continue to receive and enjoy all of
RTE’s television services.


Issued: Friday 13 May, 2005

icdg

Thread Closed. Please don't start multiple threads.