Discussion Should all SD channels adopt 16:9 ratio broadcast?

[satyajeet]

As we all are aware majority of household today have LED TV which has 16:9 ratio screen. But majority of Channels are in SD format with 4:3 aspect ratio. This causes stretched video on LED screen. When 16:9 content is broadcast in 4:3 ratio, black strip on top and bottom edges are added, which waste almost 20-30% screen area/space. It also causes stretching in LED TV. This is not at all a pleasing experience.
Currently only few SD channels channels are using 16:9 ratio. I hope more & more broadcasters adopt this.
I also want to know if there is any technical issue in adopting 16:9 ratio except old content which are in 4:3 format.
What are your views on this? comment & participate in poll above..

 

[iDJ]

Most : Yes
All : No

Broadcasters gives less priority to old content. Old content will look bad on 16:9.

 

[satyajeet]

Old content will look bad on 16:9.

Not at all. Old content with 4:3 ratio can be broadcast stretched at broadcaster end in 16:9 ratio. We already see them stretched in our 16:9 AR TV currently. Old content are less seen on TV any way.

We already see 4:3 ratio becoz black strips added on top/bottom most of time for 16:9 content. It is stretched too.

 

[iDJ]

Not at all. Old content with 4:3 ratio can be broadcast in 16:9 ratio with vertical black strips on bothsides. DD National HD does this for its old content. Old content are less seen on TV any way.

It would look bad. If most content has black bars with no option to turn off. 16:9 should be exclusive to HD channels.

 

[satyajeet]

It would look bad. If most content has black bars with no option to turn off. 16:9 should be exclusive to HD channels.

How most content? Black strips looks bad even now in 4:3 ratio. My guess is most of content available in 16:9. Exclusive classic channels can continue 4:3 ratio.

 

[iDJ]

How most content? Black strips looks bad even now in 4:3 ratio. My guess is most of content available in 16:9. Exclusive classic channels can continue 4:3 ratio.

Those with proper content already has HD feed. Plus 16:9 on SD channels discourages viewers from buying HD channels. We need more HD channels less dated SD garbage, period.

 

[satyajeet]

16:9 on SD channels discourages viewers from buying HD channels.

This is already done by broadcasters by making HD channels upto 5 times costly than SD. What is done to encourage HD channels? Most of channels are in SD without HD option. You dont need to cut something short(keep stunted) to make ur fav look bigger.

 

[Maheswar]

Still there are many people using old CRT sets. 16:9 AR curtails the picture left and right sides.

 

[satyajeet]

16:9 AR curtails the picture left and right sides.

Not really. True only for old 4:3 content. That can be stretched. Currently most SD channels appear stretched.

 

[Elvin Paul]

If total HD tv users > total SD tv users then broadcasters should adopt 16:9 transmission.