Channel 4 and 16:9

Tonight i've just watched "The top 100 selling artists" or whatever it's called, and noticed it was in 4:3 even though it was made in 2004.

Why was this? Is this probably because they realise that 90% of the footage in this program will be in 4:3 and so cropping it would be pointless?

If so why can't ITV1 realise that, why do they insist on cropping their 4:3 programs all of the time?

Have you noticed how better at handling the widescreen issue Channel 4 are. They treat it properly, and only use it when necessary and use it properly whereas other broadcasters don't seem to do that. They should take a lesson from Four I think.

It's a pity more compilation shows aren't made in 4:3 - or if they are made wide, why can't the pictures be pillarboxed instead of cropped?? That way people can choose for themselves how they view the picture!

All their 100 greatest (and 50 greatest as this was) have been except the annual 'TV bits if the year' where most of the source material is widescreen

Really? That's odd. I've watched quite a few of them recently and this is the only one i've noticed in 4:3. Maybe i'm just unobservant.

I believe C4's best musicvideos a few weeks ago was in widescreen?

Sadly, most of the recent top 100 things have been 16:9 with all 4:3 footage butchered. The show that was on last night was made by a different team to the top 100 shows. The one that was one last night was made by the same people that used to make the Top Ten & Top Ten TV series (which sadly ended in 2002) who seem to have the right idea of how to make these shows.

YTV make most of the Top 100 shows now. The contract was awarded to Tyne Tees, but YTV started taking part of the production over in late 2001/early 2002. I belive Tyne Tees always made them in 4:3, they went 16:9 once YTV took over the the editing. I think it's a completely YTV affair now.

Tyne Tees used to make them 4:3 when they needed to be but made them 16:9 otherwise iirc. The film one was brilliantly done in 16:9 with a whole variety of pillar/letterboxes in addtion. That was Tyne Tees too wasn't it?