RTE Widecreen

10000maniacs

Is there any technical reason why RTE and TV3 cannot broadcast in Widescreen
on analogue terrestrial?
I know that most of the TV's out there are still 4:3. But is that the only reason?

culabula

It is my understading that true widescreen can only be broadcast properly over digital which is why we in the north flocked to by Freeview digiboxes on release.

Sparky

what could be an idea is if RTE broadcasted 2 seperate feeds for each channel one feed would be 4.3 and another feed would be 16.9

But most people who have widescreen tvs who want WS broadcasting go and get digital tv like sky or NTL.

Ozzie

Breaking News.....(?)......

I think that RTE ONE (Shortland Street) and RTE TWO (Hi 5) both broadcasting in widescreen at 12.15pm. The channel logos are aligned correctly, so maybe they've finally done it! Suits me as I finally bought a widescreen TV last month!

Sparky

Yea the dog's are correct when in widescreen mode but when the prog. is in 4.3 the logos still stay at there 16.9 positions

Widescreen

RTE should ditch the DOGS. The Irish channels are the only ones in the UK/Ireland that feel they need them.We all know where RTE is. They only serve to screw up the picture at certain times.

Widescreen

RTE should ditch the DOGS. The Irish channels are the only terrestrial ones in the UK/Ireland that feel they need them.We all know where RTE is. They only serve to screw up the picture at certain times.

Mossy Monk

for a while there i thought that thats what they did

no DOG's on One or Two on Satellite but still there on analogue. alas they came back and that DEN dog looks horrific

then i noticed on eastenders it was still 14:9 even on satellite so what gives RTÉ

Valentia

RTE 1 is widescreen anamorphic as we type.

TVDX

Let's start an RTE widescreen check list.

When you see a program in widescreen, mention it here.

I have so far seen, "Shortland Street" and some wildlife documentary.

Can you add to this list?.

Scottish paddy

The first thing to spot is a widescreen RTÉ studio production. That will show how serious they are about widescreen. Most of the 16:9 programmes people have mentioned on this thread, and others, are bought in, or shot single camera (ie on location.)

Round Cable

TVDX wrote:

Let's start an RTE widescreen check list.

When you see a program in widescreen, mention it here.

I have so far seen, "Shortland Street" and some wildlife documentary.

Can you add to this list?.

Nothing, I'm afraid.

JBoyle4eva

The program Showrooms on RTÉ1 broadcasting in anamorphic 16:9 between 8:30-9 PM! Along with tonight's eastenders episode @ 7:30PM.

Oh, This was via Sky+!

Round Cable

On NTL, both were broadcast in 14:9.

Mossy Monk

/me wonders how long before RTÉ's own programs, idents, ads will jump on the 16:9 bandwagon

Scottish paddy

What is the BBC playing at on the coverage of the Popes funeral! They have zoomed a clearly 4:3 picture from Rome to 16:9 thereby half cutting off heads on speakers. At least RTÉ have never tried that stunt!

Widescreen

there was a programme on RTE 1 last night about Weddings 10.15 . It was a RTE brand new home produced programme. It was in Widescreen. Surely its only a matter of time before the likes of Fair City,the news and Prime time will be in w/s. oh and Eastenders on RTE is now in widescreen...

Round Cable

So when are they going widescreen on Cable? I thought Fair City was shot in 4:3, same for the news.

DMC

Round Cable wrote:

So when are they going widescreen on Cable? I thought Fair City was shot in 4:3, same for the news.

RTÉ studio production is still 4:3. I think Studio 4 (Late Late Show) has widescreen suite, but have not been seen to be used yet.

You will find that some programmes like the Brides of Franc are made by indies and not in-house.

Tony

West wing was 16:9 with automatic switching last night

radiospan

I've seen another home-produced show (I think) in widescreen. It was hosted by the Irish guy who's on BBC sports shows sometimes (he hosted the Olympics on BBC, can't think of his name, Colin something?). Anyway, he has a show on RTE and it was in 16:9 a few nights ago.

JohnC.

The ad for Proof 2 was 16:9, so I assume the show itself will be too.

Richard

plazzTT wrote:

I've seen another home-produced show (I think) in widescreen. It was hosted by the Irish guy who's on BBC sports shows sometimes (he hosted the Olympics on BBC, can't think of his name, Colin something?). Anyway, he has a show on RTE and it was in 16:9 a few nights ago.

Craig Doyle?

culabula

I haven't seen a single thing yet on RTE transmitted in true widescreen. Every single so-called WS broadcast has been 'stretched' and looks completely wrong. Nor has there been any auto switching on my system (which does work properly otherwise on DTT Freeview and my Sky Ireland package.

Bummer

chorus techy

culabula wrote:

I haven't seen a single thing yet on RTE transmitted in true widescreen. Every single so-called WS broadcast has been 'stretched' and looks completely wrong. Nor has there been any auto switching on my system (which does work properly otherwise on DTT Freeview and my Sky Ireland package.

Bummer

What are you watching RTE through? Digital or terrestrial (terrestrial is ALWAYS 4:3 Pan & Scan versions of programmes)?

lensman

culabula wrote:

It is my understading that true widescreen can only be broadcast properly over digital which is why we in the north flocked to by Freeview digiboxes on release.

I recall watching top movies on TV1000 & PREMIER from the Thor satellite 10yrs ago !!! real 16:9 transmissions using the far superior D2Mac system, I had a
28" 4:3 Blaupunkt TV which had a widescreen mode so I could watch in style,
Technically, D2MAC signal gives better performance than the PAL signal and the sound is digital based on Nicam, if Sky Tv had lost the sales battle with BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting) in 1992 we might all have been enjoying widescreen tv for years now.
D2mac info

marksi

chorus techy wrote:

What are you watching RTE through? Digital or terrestrial (terrestrial is ALWAYS 4:3 Pan & Scan versions of programmes)?

No it isn't. It's either 4:3 centre-cut-out (12F12) which involves no panning or scanning, or 14:9 letterbox (14L12).

For reference, the 4 formats used for BBC services are:

12F12 4:3 (all platforms)
16F16A 16:9 digital, 16:9 deep letterbox analogue
16F16B 16:9 digital, 14:9 letterbox analogue
16F16C 16:9 digital, 4:3 centre-cut-out analogue

and I would assume RTÉ will use the same.

culabula

I am referring to the test transmissions over SKY that are happening at the moment.

None of them are in proper widescreen (i am specifically referring to the shows that you guys and the lads over on digital spy are getting so excited about).

The picture might fill the screen, the DOG might be in the correct position but the images are all wrong.

culabula

I too used to have a Philips D2MAC system with which I used to watch French domestic telly, one of the first (IIRC) to broadcast in proper 16:9. I used to enjoy widescreen in 1992 from France 2 (and TF1, again IIRC).

Ah.....betamax, D2MAC, Minidisc, vinyl......when will the great unwashed learn? :-)

culabula

chorus techy wrote:

What are you watching RTE through? Digital or terrestrial (terrestrial is ALWAYS 4:3 Pan & Scan versions of programmes)?

My SKY Ireland package, as mentioned.

Scottish paddy

culabula wrote:

The picture might fill the screen, the DOG might be in the correct position but the images are all wrong.

I am sorry culabula but they are 16:9. They come up as such on my 16:9 tv with no distortion.........your digibox must not be set up right.

culabula

Please read my above posts: I have been watching WS broadcasts via Freeview and SKY for years and of course my digiboxes and TV are set up correctly for vision and audio. This is my point. It is crystal clear to the eye that the so-called widescreen broadcasts now emanating from Montrose are *not* (yet) WS as *I* understand it.

Furthermore, while other channels on the EPG switch back and forth from 4:3 to 14:9 to 16:9 depending on the channel being watched, no such automatic switching is occuring on the test channel.

ShaneOC

Whatever about the test channel, on 101 and 102 the widescreen switching is happening properly and the correct image is being shown (i.e. you can see extra stuff at the edges of the screen).

culabula

Correct!! the switching is (and has been) happening on 101/102 -for some time now. It usually jumps between 4:3 and 14:9.

I have yet to see a 16:9 transmission on it and those that were claimed to be just were not right.

Charles Slane

culabula wrote:

It is crystal clear to the eye that the so-called widescreen broadcasts now emanating from Montrose are *not* (yet) WS as *I* understand it.

Hi culabula, I'm very confused at this stage. What IS widescreen as you understand it. For instance, did you see "Other Voices" last night on RTE Two ? Was that not widescreen ? There were also a couple of programmes this morning on both RTE One and Two which switched to widescreen and didn't appear to be in any way distorted or cropped. Am I missing something ?

By the way, isn't S@titude just about the WORST example of programming ever to escape from Montrose ??

culabula

I would need to swap notes with you on the very next alleged WS broadcast on RTE One or Two in real-time. Nothing I have seen has been a 'natural'-looking picture in the widescreen mode.

culabula

Is there anything on now that you would accept as widescreen?

culabula

By the way, isn't S@titude just about the WORST example of programming ever to escape from Montrose ??[/QUOTE]

Gimme Cula Pop any day :-)

culabula

I've got better widescreen broadcasts right now on my VAIO from lci.fr!!!!!!!

Charles Slane

Nothing in widescreen at the moment, but I think Aussie Animal Rescue was earlier. - it switched to 16:9 (the 14:9 switching never worked on satellite for me, only on cable), and it looked fine.

Do you reckon they're stretching the picture ?

Round Cable

Could someone upload a screenshot, to see what's going on?

DMC

Charles Slane

Ah .. just looking at his face makes me laugh !!

culabula

RTE Two is on widescreen right now (Scope? or something). (13:00)
Strangely, it is in genuine widescreen, following on foot of our exchanges this morning.
Odd. They must have heard us.
And, switching to the test channel, it reverted to 4:3 straight away -this is also, for the first time, in my experience.

Happy days!!

Charles Slane

culabula wrote:

Is there anything on now that you would accept as widescreen?

"Scope" is in widescreen on RTE Two at the moment. Have a look and tell me what you think.

Charles Slane

Ah ! Crossed posts ! Glad you're happy culabula !

culabula

Agreed!
Jesus, at last! Can hardly believe my eyes!

:-)

culabula

Despite this landmark day, am being forced to watch Home Alone with my son for 9th time.....ah well, at least it's in widescreen and 5.1!

marksi

culabula wrote:

Furthermore, while other channels on the EPG switch back and forth from 4:3 to 14:9 to 16:9 depending on the channel being watched, no such automatic switching is occuring on the test channel.

Which channels do you suggest are doing such switching? There is no such thing as a 14:9 switching signal.

culabula

Huh? There always has been in RTE One and Two-land.
Why else would there be such a facility on TVs?
It's a horrible solution, nonetheless.

Charles Slane

marksi wrote:

Which channels do you suggest are doing such switching? There is no such thing as a 14:9 switching signal.

There is on analogue. RTE One, Two and Channel 4 automatically switch to 14:9 sometimes when I watch them through NTL analogue. ER, for example, switches to 14:9 on a Sunday night on RTE One.

I've also heard that the 14:9 switching worked for some people watching on Sky digital, but my TV never changed aspect ratio automatically to 14:9 on Sky.

culabula is quite right when he says it's a horrible solution.