For reference, here is what it looks like on analogue.
That's only an issue for another few months
I doubt the three people watching QVC during The Zone on analogue during the next few months give a monkeys. It's no worse than SuperCasino on Channel 5.
I think QVC/ITV need to be very careful with analogue viewers - can you imagine if a price on-screen has a digit cropped, or an important bit of legalese isn't visible?
ITV playout need to switch their analogue feeds to a 16L12 ARC rather than 14L12 if QVC continue with this - as the QVC feed is no longer 14:9 safe and thus shouldn't be broadcast in 14:9.
I have no problems with unsafe graphics on digital-only outlets - where viewers have a choice as to how to view on a 4:3 display.
I DO have a problem if you are broadcasting unsafe graphics on an analogue 4:3 platform and the viewer doesn't have a choice - and what you give them is wrong and cropped... EIther you are broadcasting on analogue or you aren't - you can't ignore it...
But then presumably the same applies to those watching digitally in 4:3 and there's little they can do about that
Indeed, anyone watching Freeview with AFD enabled (which I imagine is most people) on a 4:3 TV will see the same as analogue. The same applies on Cable I believe, and possibly Freesat. Therefore ITV should adjust their ARC/AFD to 16L12 to ensure all the information can be seen.
As for the pioneering thing, I'm not sure QVC could be considered to be doing that these days. BBC and Channel 4 now place their DOGs as 16:9 safe, plus the Sky entertainment channels and Sky Sports News now place all their presentation and promos 16:9 safe. It would seem the shift from 4:3/14:9 safe to 16:9 safe is already taking place across the large broadcasters.
But then presumably the same applies to those watching digitally in 4:3 and there's little they can do about that
Indeed, anyone watching Freeview with AFD enabled (which I imagine is most people) on a 4:3 TV will see the same as analogue. The same applies on Cable I believe, and possibly Freesat. Therefore ITV should adjust their ARC/AFD to 16L12 to ensure all the information can be seen.
As for the pioneering thing, I'm not sure QVC could be considered to be doing that these days. BBC and Channel 4 now place their DOGs as 16:9 safe, plus the Sky entertainment channels and Sky Sports News now place all their presentation and promos 16:9 safe. It would seem the shift from 4:3/14:9 safe to 16:9 safe is already taking place across the large broadcasters.
Take a look right now at BBC 2 analogue (if you are able to !)
Sky Sunday, with 16:9 graphics being cropped, and some invisible owing to 4:3 centre crop pres (12F12)
The Beeb should be presenting it as 16L12 on there, but obviously don't care/can't be arsed etc ?
I don't know where this myth of 4:3 safe areas being redundant after the digital switchover has come from. For instance, I have a portable, flat screen but not widescreen television which is about seven years old. It works perfectly fine so why should I replace it? I have a Freeview box hooked up to it. I suspect I'm far from the minority in this country.
Some may argue that people need to move with the times but there are people who simply cannot afford to replace all their non-widescreen televisions. Why should they have to suffer?
Yes, some things can be acceptable outside the safe area. For instance, when the News 24 clock went outside the safe areas for a brief time in 2007. There are clocks everywhere, including on EPGs. That doesn't hinder your ability to catch up on the news. Extending the graphics outside of the safe areas however would.
I don't know where this myth of 4:3 safe areas being redundant after the digital switchover has come from. For instance, I have a portable, flat screen but not widescreen television which is about seven years old. It works perfectly fine so why should I replace it? I have a Freeview box hooked up to it. I suspect I'm far from the minority in this country.
Some may argue that people need to move with the times but there are people who simply cannot afford to replace all their non-widescreen televisions. Why should they have to suffer?
4:3/14:9 safe areas are redundant after switchover because everyone is watching digitally and can therefore watch the channel in full 16:9, even on a a 4:3 set. Every digital receiver has that option in the menu or on the remote, but in the analogue world there was no choice - everyone got a 4:3 image in the way it was sent out by the TV company.
I still have a 4:3 TV and have only watched digital TV on it since 1999, but I've never had any of my set top boxes set to anything other than 16:9 letterbox.
The only issue are small screen 4:3 sets where letterboxing would make the image too small
I don't know where this myth of 4:3 safe areas being redundant after the digital switchover has come from. For instance, I have a portable, flat screen but not widescreen television which is about seven years old. It works perfectly fine so why should I replace it? I have a Freeview box hooked up to it. I suspect I'm far from the minority in this country.
Some may argue that people need to move with the times but there are people who simply cannot afford to replace all their non-widescreen televisions. Why should they have to suffer?
Yes, some things can be acceptable outside the safe area. For instance, when the News 24 clock went outside the safe areas for a brief time in 2007. There are clocks everywhere, including on EPGs. That doesn't hinder your ability to catch up on the news. Extending the graphics outside of the safe areas however would.
Surley you have the ability to display programmes in 16:9 letterbox though ?
I suspect the vast majority of the population do now have a 16:9 display, but significant numbers are feeding the sets from Freeview and Sky boxes set to 4:3 CCO, it's a mess, but after 13 years of mixed currency ARs, it really is time to move on I feel.
With all due respect, anybody buying a new TV set after 1998, should have future proofed themselves with a 16:9 model, 4:3 has been on the way out for 14 years.
But then presumably the same applies to those watching digitally in 4:3 and there's little they can do about that
Indeed, anyone watching Freeview with AFD enabled (which I imagine is most people) on a 4:3 TV will see the same as analogue. The same applies on Cable I believe, and possibly Freesat. Therefore ITV should adjust their ARC/AFD to 16L12 to ensure all the information can be seen.
Isn't it in 14:9 on analogue? Not many set top boxes give you that option
