BBC Trailers In Widescreen

Hi, I recently asked the beeb why they don't transmit all their trailers and idents in widescreen, here is my e-mail and their reply


Hi,

I was wondering why you don't show the idents and trailers on BBC TV in 14:9 widescreen like ITV/C4 does.

I think they look far more professional and show more of the picture when shown like this and as most of your programmes are now in widescreen it seems logical to change your presentation aswell.

Regards
Peter Hewitt


Dear Mr Hewitt,

Thanks for your email.

You make a very fair comment and I will pass along your thoughts to the powers that be. The problem is that the folks who put together the trailers do so on 4/3 equipment. All I can say is that we are moving more and more towards widescreen and out equipment is still catching up.

Best wishes

Andrew Estabrook
Reception Advice

Very informal letter, isn't it? Probably because you started the letter 'Hi...'

i've noticed the replys to BBC e-mails are getting less formal recently.

Maybe they're on formal strinke about the buscuits

Except to say, as every digital viewer with a widescreen telly will tell you - trails and idents are 16:9 widescreen.

14:9 is not a widescreen format, it's just a way (compromise) of displaying widescreen programmes for a non-widescreen audience (which is by far the majority).

Trails are normally cut on on-line Avid's, and can work in either 4:3 or 16:9, then output to digibeta.

(Edited by andyrew at 9:12 pm on Aug. 2, 2001)

Good old BBC. There usual trick of getting someone to reply who knows nothing about the output.

As far as I know two versions of all promos are made. One in 4:3 and one in 16:9. The former goes out on analogue and the latter on digital.

The idents on digital depend on the format of the programme following it. So the aspect ration is changed at the start of the ident rather than the start of the programme.