BR
Indeed I think it might be time now that channels were restricted from making new content in 4:3 - there's no excuse really, apart from if using archive footage or in the case of live events, if the source feed is 4:3. I can't think of any major sport which is still 4:3 though, yet broadcasters still use the format on analogue rather than the 14:9 compromise they have for other programmes.
SK
skyfan
More on the new Sky building,to be known as Harlequin 1, here
http://www.skybuildingabetterfuture.com/site-eye.asp
http://www.skybuildingabetterfuture.com/site-eye.asp
That building looks very similar to one being constructed in my area by Carillion Building, although its not a TV building!
SK
skyfan
Indeed I think it might be time now that channels were restricted from making new content in 4:3 - there's no excuse really, apart from if using archive footage or in the case of live events, if the source feed is 4:3. I can't think of any major sport which is still 4:3 though, yet broadcasters still use the format on analogue rather than the 14:9 compromise they have for other programmes.
Isn't it the case though that Sky Sports News is made in widescreen since 2007 although not broadcast in it? Im not entirley sure though.
OV
The thought the main reason the broadcasters stuck to 4:3 safe rather than 14:9 is because a lot of sport viewing is at pubs and clubs, which predominantly have 4:3 projection systems, and I doubt the owners will be very happy after investing in large projections screens if the broadcasters start adding black bars either on the analogue broadcast or by AFD on digital. Plus, a lot of those pubs and clubs have Sky installed for Sky Sports, and Sky Digiboxes as we all know don't support AFD.
Also, there are still the occasional events which are provided to the broadcasters in 4:3 rather than 16:9, I remember one football match that I think was on ITV1 last year in 4:3. I imagine the reason Sky Sports News hasn't switched yet is for the same pubs and clubs reason, with a lot of them showing Sky Sports News when no events are on. There's been no particular need for them to change, as unlike Sky Sports and the terrestrials where the viewers at home want to take full advantage of their widescreen/HD TV's to see their match in the best quality possible, the viewers of Sky Sports News are more interested in the scores and news on screen and don't care what format it is delivered in.
Indeed I think it might be time now that channels were restricted from making new content in 4:3 - there's no excuse really, apart from if using archive footage or in the case of live events, if the source feed is 4:3. I can't think of any major sport which is still 4:3 though, yet broadcasters still use the format on analogue rather than the 14:9 compromise they have for other programmes.
The thought the main reason the broadcasters stuck to 4:3 safe rather than 14:9 is because a lot of sport viewing is at pubs and clubs, which predominantly have 4:3 projection systems, and I doubt the owners will be very happy after investing in large projections screens if the broadcasters start adding black bars either on the analogue broadcast or by AFD on digital. Plus, a lot of those pubs and clubs have Sky installed for Sky Sports, and Sky Digiboxes as we all know don't support AFD.
Also, there are still the occasional events which are provided to the broadcasters in 4:3 rather than 16:9, I remember one football match that I think was on ITV1 last year in 4:3. I imagine the reason Sky Sports News hasn't switched yet is for the same pubs and clubs reason, with a lot of them showing Sky Sports News when no events are on. There's been no particular need for them to change, as unlike Sky Sports and the terrestrials where the viewers at home want to take full advantage of their widescreen/HD TV's to see their match in the best quality possible, the viewers of Sky Sports News are more interested in the scores and news on screen and don't care what format it is delivered in.
DB
What I've found with people that had their Sky box set up in the wrong aspect ratio, is that many of them didn't even know you had to change a setting on the digibox in order to watch widescreen, many assumed it would be automatic. (sort of plug and play) Until I showed them how to change it; maybe there needs to be more widescreen education?
Last edited by dbl on 1 August 2009 10:40pm
DO
The thought the main reason the broadcasters stuck to 4:3 safe rather than 14:9 is because a lot of sport viewing is at pubs and clubs, which predominantly have 4:3 projection systems, and I doubt the owners will be very happy after investing in large projections screens if the broadcasters start adding black bars either on the analogue broadcast or by AFD on digital. Plus, a lot of those pubs and clubs have Sky installed for Sky Sports, and Sky Digiboxes as we all know don't support AFD.
Also, there are still the occasional events which are provided to the broadcasters in 4:3 rather than 16:9, I remember one football match that I think was on ITV1 last year in 4:3. I imagine the reason Sky Sports News hasn't switched yet is for the same pubs and clubs reason, with a lot of them showing Sky Sports News when no events are on. There's been no particular need for them to change, as unlike Sky Sports and the terrestrials where the viewers at home want to take full advantage of their widescreen/HD TV's to see their match in the best quality possible, the viewers of Sky Sports News are more interested in the scores and news on screen and don't care what format it is delivered in.
Interesting you say that... working in a venue which shows SSN throughout the day we have the opposite problem - because it's in 4:3 and everything else is in 16:9, to get a decent picture involves cropping or scaling one or more of the sources, and since actual sport is more important to viewers, our SSN feed is normally shown with the top and bottom cropped off. I for one am looking forward to them changing, as it means every external source will then be 16:9, and our internal sources can be changed to match. As it is, we have to design graphics for both widescreen and normal, and make sure they end up on the correct screens.
I've said before, and I still believe the main reason they haven't gone 16:9 yet is because it looks rubbish. You end up with a huge amount of space between the 4:3 graphics safe area and the edge of the picture, and either end up with half your video missing from the 4:3 output, or loads of space on that side too.
Indeed I think it might be time now that channels were restricted from making new content in 4:3 - there's no excuse really, apart from if using archive footage or in the case of live events, if the source feed is 4:3. I can't think of any major sport which is still 4:3 though, yet broadcasters still use the format on analogue rather than the 14:9 compromise they have for other programmes.
The thought the main reason the broadcasters stuck to 4:3 safe rather than 14:9 is because a lot of sport viewing is at pubs and clubs, which predominantly have 4:3 projection systems, and I doubt the owners will be very happy after investing in large projections screens if the broadcasters start adding black bars either on the analogue broadcast or by AFD on digital. Plus, a lot of those pubs and clubs have Sky installed for Sky Sports, and Sky Digiboxes as we all know don't support AFD.
Also, there are still the occasional events which are provided to the broadcasters in 4:3 rather than 16:9, I remember one football match that I think was on ITV1 last year in 4:3. I imagine the reason Sky Sports News hasn't switched yet is for the same pubs and clubs reason, with a lot of them showing Sky Sports News when no events are on. There's been no particular need for them to change, as unlike Sky Sports and the terrestrials where the viewers at home want to take full advantage of their widescreen/HD TV's to see their match in the best quality possible, the viewers of Sky Sports News are more interested in the scores and news on screen and don't care what format it is delivered in.
Interesting you say that... working in a venue which shows SSN throughout the day we have the opposite problem - because it's in 4:3 and everything else is in 16:9, to get a decent picture involves cropping or scaling one or more of the sources, and since actual sport is more important to viewers, our SSN feed is normally shown with the top and bottom cropped off. I for one am looking forward to them changing, as it means every external source will then be 16:9, and our internal sources can be changed to match. As it is, we have to design graphics for both widescreen and normal, and make sure they end up on the correct screens.
I've said before, and I still believe the main reason they haven't gone 16:9 yet is because it looks rubbish. You end up with a huge amount of space between the 4:3 graphics safe area and the edge of the picture, and either end up with half your video missing from the 4:3 output, or loads of space on that side too.
DA
Dave
Founding member
Random but... is there any evidence of the SkySports.com TV era ?? have had a look on the internet / You Tube but can't seem to find anything?!?!
I do remember the days when the voice over would say Live from the Sky Sports dome, this is Sky Sports News or something like that!
I do remember the days when the voice over would say Live from the Sky Sports dome, this is Sky Sports News or something like that!
RD
No Skysports.comTV stuff, but here's another ridiculously OTT SSN intro which does feature the voiceover you mention. AFAIK this was the very first Sky Sports News look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK9EMj4cDkE
IIRC the Skysports.com TV name lasted a mere few months. It was quite a silly idea done at the height of the .com boom (ranks with Iceland's stupidity of rebranding itself iceland.co.uk) - made it sound like it was a website which just happened to operate a TV channel, rather than the other way around...
rdd
Founding member
Random but... is there any evidence of the SkySports.com TV era ?? have had a look on the internet / You Tube but can't seem to find anything?!?!
I do remember the days when the voice over would say Live from the Sky Sports dome, this is Sky Sports News or something like that!
I do remember the days when the voice over would say Live from the Sky Sports dome, this is Sky Sports News or something like that!
No Skysports.comTV stuff, but here's another ridiculously OTT SSN intro which does feature the voiceover you mention. AFAIK this was the very first Sky Sports News look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK9EMj4cDkE
IIRC the Skysports.com TV name lasted a mere few months. It was quite a silly idea done at the height of the .com boom (ranks with Iceland's stupidity of rebranding itself iceland.co.uk) - made it sound like it was a website which just happened to operate a TV channel, rather than the other way around...