A Question about Safe Areas

Might seem like a stupid question, but is there such a thing as Safe Areas when it comes to Plasma TVs, LCD TVs etc? Basically TVs/VDUs or whatever that aren't tubes. I am under the impression that Safe areas only apply to tube TVs because of the hidden picture on the inside of the tube. Am i right in thinking that?

Not quite, Ben.

If you watch analogue television on a plasma, you'll still only get the 4:3 that the broadcaster puts out.

So, safe areas still apply.

Oh? Does analogue TV actually cut off the safe area on transmission? Is that why when i capture off Analogue the picture is never quite right.

So does digital have the full picture?

Yes, in general, digital will be the "full monty", as it were. If the picture's 16:9, then that'll be what they put out.

On analogue, yes, they'll chop it down because 4:3 is all they can put out.

I'm giving you the "how it happens" answers here. I'm sure a purist will come along and say it's possible to send 16:9 on analogue, which is true, it's just that in this country (and the islands), we don't.

I'd personally prefer letterboxed 16:9 as opposed to the pants 14:9 we have now. But that's another thread.

What comes over analogue, as long as it was 4:3 in the first place, is the whole picture, safe areas included. Some capture cards might leave the extra pixel strips that are used in digital TV on the left and right edges though, which if you capture at the standard 720x576, requires a stretch to 788x576 to get the right shape back on your computer. You can then chop to 768x576 before any re-sizing you want to do.