PALplus broadcasts in the 1990s

After seeing that Challenge is showing Fifteen to One from the beginning again, I looked up a few episodes on YouTube to see how the show changed over the years. One of the things I noticed about some of the 1995 episodes uploaded is that they are shown in what appears to be a 16:9 frame within presumably an analogue 4:3 Channel 4 broadcast:



It appears as though this happened later in the year as here is an earlier episode with the same graphics but in 4:3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmIOJB_XY7s

One comment pointed out that the show was shot using the obsolete 'PALplus' format. I've heard about it before but didn't realise it was actually used on broadcasts in the 90s. According to Wikipedia, Channel 4 was the only broadcaster that actually used the format, and even then on used them on two shows, Fifteen to One and the Brookside omnibus.

Could anyone shed a light on whether any other programmes were broadcast in the format or even if any other broadcasters experimented with it? I presume the reason it wasn't widely adopted is because it began being used so close the beginning of digital transmissions which offered an improved picture quality over analogue anyway, and of course its many other advantages. Also did anyone complain about the deep letterboxing at the time and did that hinder other shows moving to the format so quickly?

Thanks in advance.

Channel 4 carried PAL Plus programming from September 1994 until October 1998.

As you say 15:1 and Brookside (Saturday omnibus only) were broadcast in the format, along
with one or two feature films every week. I had a PAL Plus TV set, which had a 16:9 tube. For PP
broadcasts, a VBI signal would initiate a 'zoom' of the 16:9 letterbox image, to fill the screen. A helper signal was broadcast in those black bars, to enhance the active picture. Non PP receivers would simply see a deep letterbox image, and if you turned up the brightness, you could spot the helper signal dancing about. At normal brightness/contrast settings it was invisible.

The BBC and C4 carried out test transmissions in 1992, in fact there was an overnight simulcast on BBC2
and C4 to evaluate the system. Some of the BBC's transmitters (that were generally older than C4's) were unable to cope with the helper signal (it contained 'blacker than black' elements, that caused problems (long story in itself). So the Beeb abandoned the idea. C4 pressed ahead. I believe Granada carried
a couple of broadcasts only on their own Winter Hill transmitter, but I don't know anything further.

After Oct 1998, C4 (and the BBC and ITV) adopted anamorphic 16:9 broadcasts via the three digital platforms, and PAL+ was ditched. However, right up to DSO, C4 carried on transmitting the VBI 16:9 Zoom ident on analogue, on programmes that were 'deep letterbox' on that platform.

I remember Fifteen to One in widescreen, the Radio Times billing used to have "shown in widescreen format" in it, but as you say it didn't last very long because for most viewers it was simply an irritation. I guess Fifteen to One was the perfect show to try it out on, though, because you had the big wide shot at the start and then the rest was all talking heads so regular viewers weren't massively put out. I remember around 1997 C4 also showed an Italy match in 16:9, I think before digital telly had begun and might have been in the same format, and everyone complained that it was unwatchable on analogue.

I've probably said this before but there was a Saturday night in early 1998 where the Generation Game, Noel's House Party and the lottery were all shown in 14:9 as an "experiment". Actually on YouTube you can find the Points of View from the following week where they discuss it.

Following the complaints, if nothing else, I reckon the PalPlus experiments were responsible for the implementation of the 14:9 letterbox format for analogue 4:3 viewers, as a compromise.

I well remember the PalPlus experiments going out on Channel 4 and do vaguely recall some showings on Granada too but can't recall what. I think the BBC did PalPlus stuff overnight with various testcards didn't they?

They did yes

European broadcasters used the system a lot more, I installed an Astra 19E dish in 1996, and I was surprised at the amount of PAL+ programming, notably from the Germans. Live shows and studio based stuff. C4 tended towards the end just to settle on feature films.

The European mainlanders didn't seem to have the same hang ups as the Brits over deep letterbox programming

I seem to recall the shows were not actually in widescreen, just blanking out the areas for the purpose of the experiment.

Couple of things to add.

The BBC had major issues with PALPlus. C4 had switched to digital distribution to their transmitters (as had some ITV Companies like Meridian) which made PALPlus much easier to implement (though you had to put a PALPlus encoder at the transmitter). The BBC were using distribution geared to analogue transmitters (though the distribution was high bitrate PAL composite) which used PAL as the distribution standard. PALPlus would have been tricky to integrate into this - and the quality wasn't that great. I remember seeing studio demos of PALPlus and being distinctly underwhelmed.

Granada and a few other ITV companies also used PALPlus for a while, as did broadcasters in other countries.

There was also some money from the Eureka 16:9 action plan that funded 16:9 production before digital broadcasting arrived. I think C4 and others were keen to get their hands on this...

Like how North West Tonight had fake 14:9 black bars - which was made obvious by the split second before they appeared at the start of the bulletin, and how they didn't *quite* stretch to edge of the screen.

We should probably tell poor Geoff who thought he was watching his favourite BBC One shows in "good honest widescreen" in that Points of View clip!

North West Tonight used to do something similar after the national news had gone widescreen but before the local news was available on digital. When it cut to the local opt during the headlines on the Six O'Clock News you'd see the full frame for a second or two before fake 14:9 letterboxing appeared. Can't remember if that extended to the full bulletin or not though.

EDIT: Beaten to it by Phil!

It's so odd thinking back to the crazy old days of regional news existing in 14:9 croporama and nothing ever quite lining up properly.

Of course, not only was C4's national distribution, component digital, (from Jan 1 '93) but they'd just
moved into Horseferry Road, and an all component video infrastructure, so adopting PAL+ was relatively
easy to implement. The BBC's network playout remained composite based up to DVB launch in 98 ?