BBC News Analogue - in W I D E S C R E E N

Might be me but isn't 16:9 the 'widescreen' ratio? If so, of course it would look fine on a W/S set!

Yes, but in my opinion it looks awful on a 4:3 set. Can't stand letterboxing. I know most widescreen enthusuasts think that all w/s material should be shown in full 16:9 on analogue, but the TV companies don't do this because they know they'd be snowed under by complaints. Even the BBC would tell anyone writing in saying broadcast full widescreen on analogue would just get a reply telling them to go digital. For some people, that's an attraction of digital (for my mum the attraction was being able to remove the bars, not make them bigger).

(Edited by james2001 at 7:25 pm on Feb. 6, 2002)

4:3 on a 4:3 set is horrible I agree! The picture is just too far to the front and then half of the bloody thing isn't shown!

So, james, do you not watch widescreen movies on analogue then?

Personally, I think if you are to watch a programme/film AS THE DIRECTOR INTENDED, then letterbox mode is the only option if not watching on a widescreen set!

No I watch them on digital in 4:3. It's my choice, and the option of being able to watch like this on digital is great. We got a 28' set in 1998, and when we got digital it was the first time in ages we were able to appreciate it without black bars (even 14:9 is big on our TV). If I want to wach in 4:3 on digital I will. I can't stand letterboxing it just looks nasty. If you like letterboxing, that's fine by me, but I don't and it's my personal preference and IMO it looks better than letterbox. You like letterbox, I like full screen- its personal preference. Everyone is different. What would the world be like if everyone liked the same things? They developed the option on digital because they know the majority of the public dislike letterboxing, but some do so everyone can watch by their choice and personal preference.

(Edited by james2001 at 7:37 pm on Feb. 6, 2002)

[quote] james2001 on 7:30 pm on Feb. 6, 2002


Wait a minute - when did I say that? All I said is that IN MY OPINION, the best option to watch a real widescreen programme is in letterbox if you don't have a widescreen TV! I just don't like HUGE images taking over my screen when they are not supposed to be that way!

Just imagine what would happen if Sky News went widescreen! Watching that in 4:3 mode would be truly unbearable!

We've had a 4:3 29inch set in the Lounge since 1994, I still like it. Sometimes I have the digibox in letterbox mode bcos I can't stand the picture loss on 4:3 zoom. I still prefer 4:3 but I hate missing pictures and then again I hate wasting screen space with black bars and they are big on 29inch set. There's nothing wrong with watching a program made in 4:3 and broadcast in it on 4:3 set, you don't see this much now on BBC, ITV, C4 but it's nice to know if you've got a 4:3 set your not wasting your screen space and you're not missing any picture. The funny thing was we got didgital in August 1999, the terrestrial channels went 14:9 shortly after and for a couple of months I didn't think anythink had changed cos the box was automatically set in 4:3, then I looked at the analogue channels and thought, oh their in widescreen.

Good job that people can choose 4:3, 14:9, and 16:9 then, isn't it! :

I'd go for 16:9 whatever telly I'm watching, however

Just thought you might like to know they're still doing this - that's at least 4 hours - and Ceefax on 1 Scotland has disapppeared too... I wonder what's going on?

Very odd - will you post what happens with the news in Scotland today?

And I take it news everywhere else was 14:9 yesterday?

Have you noticed how shops always have widescreen TV's set up wrong so everyone is squashed - no wonder they don't sell as well as expected

I think that's to do with the problem of getting a digital widescreen signal to all of the sets - so it's usually a 4:3 analogue one. They don't want to show black bars at the sides, so they stretch it. You're right, it looks terrible.

Well, tonight on the six we're getting the news in 4:3 (no 14:9). They must've realised but can't fix it, then realised most folk don't have W/S TVs so switched to this or something.

Still no Ceefax.

Also, the BBC One Scotland feed is seriously behind - I'm talking 3 or 4 seconds behind BBC NE&C.

And yes, I checked on Look North last night and it was broadcasting in 14:9 as always.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Oh, and they just put up the wrong name on the Aston at the start of Rep Scot, calling David Robertson 'David Henderson'. Nice.