The following quote is from 'Evolution of Wide Screen Broadcasting in the United Kingdom' by Paul Gardiner.
Quote:
Safe areas for television programmes made in the 16:9 wide-screen format:
Shoot-to-protect the compromise 14:9 central zone
Clearly the aspect ratios of 16:9 images and 4:3 displays are mutually incompatible. However, a number of broadcasters consider a 14:9 letter-box presentation provides a good compromise for many programme genres when a 16:9 wide-screen production is viewed on a 4:3 display. The wide-screen pictures must be framed to protect the central 14:9 area. The Action safe area is within the 14:9 zone. However, for the time being, the Graphics safe area should be constrained within the 4:3 central zone to ensure that graphics and captions are adequately protected when viewed under the least favourable conditions.
The original intention was that if someone was watching on digital on a 4:3 TV, and set the aspect ratio to fullscreen (without letterboxes or anamorphism), then 14:9 safe would mean only a minimal loss of action, but no loss of graphics. 14:9 action safe is no longer being applied in favour of 16:9 action safe (see Outside Source), but 14:9 graphics safe is still being applied for reasons discussed above. The following images show the new news and weather graphics, where the shaded area is 14:9 action safe (but not graphics safe) and the unshaded area in the middle is 14:9 graphics safe:
There are some instances where 14:9 graphics safe is not adhered to strictly, however there isn't any situation where you would be watching in 4:3 as opposed to 14:9 or 16:9
I hope they haven't butchered the BBC News at 10 title sequence too much, if it's true that they've shortened it, for some bizarre reason (given they've left all the others untouched).
It's a shame we can't have a nice 16:9 safe layout because BBC World can't and the service shares a graphics package. Also a shame the BBC, a world class broadcaster, can't seem to implement a new font into its system, the weather and some news reports are still showing a mix of Reith and Helvetica.
Reporting Scotland have updated graphics, but the background screen is showing the old Gill Sans lettering. Both on the lunchtime bulletin and on the 6 O'clock insert
Reporting Scotland have updated graphics, but the background screen is showing the old Gill Sans lettering. Both on the lunchtime bulletin and on the 6 O'clock insert
They used the old closing title on the lunchtime bulletin today
