Little OT: US/UK TV 4:3/16:9

[Marty Bonnar]

Since the Tour moved over to Setanta here in Blighty, I've noticed quite a lot of the events are in 4:3. Means I get two big black bars either side of the pic on my widescreen.

Sky, I think, used to stretch the pic so it was distorted. Meant all those flat-bellies looked squished but filled the screen.

Are they broadcasting this/most weeks in 16:9 and undistorted in the US? Or do you guys get the 4:3 coverage too?

FBD.

[Martin Del Vecchio]

CBS's high-definition broadcasts are all 16:9, and all in high-definition.

NBC cheats; their stationary cameras are 16:9 and high-definition, but the hand-helds are 4:3 and standard-definition, then stretched to fit the 16:9 and high-definition formats.

And both networks have a standard definition broadcast that is always 4:3.

[Tim_Cronin]

Thursday-Friday Golf Channel coverage is also 16:9, with a 4:3 version as well for the non-HD equipped.
And NBC's handhelds aren't stretched from 4:3, but blown up - or are 16:9 standard rather than HD - sometimes it's hard to tell. But they sure aren't HD.

[Bob Jenkins]

Martin,

I was shocked when I first saw the title of this thread. Read it very quickly and thought it was somehow related to "Little Britain". I am glad I looked a second time. Can you imagine?

In Canada most of us get it through cable providers picking up the US Networks and generally it is pretty good, so long as it is CBS. NBC tend to rely on the non hi-def remote cameras too much.