16:9 On Cable Broadcasting?

Andrew Hoag · May 31st, 2008, 09:19 PM

Hey everyone.
I run a television show on the local channels here in Maryland, and everything is shot on the XL2. We shoot in 16:9, edit, and burn a DVD copy which gets sent to Comcast and they broadcast it for us.

BUT.

Somewhere along the line the footage ends up 4:3 on the television. I know it's awkward to see 16:9 TV shows sometimes, but is it something I'm doing? It always makes everyone look stretched out, tall, and skinny. Some people appreciate the "illusioned weight loss" i'm sure, but I want my footage looking awesome in 16:9!!!

Any suggestions? Not sure what to do.

Benjamin Hill · May 31st, 2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Hoag

Hey everyone.
I run a television show on the local channels here in Maryland, and everything is shot on the XL2. We shoot in 16:9, edit, and burn a DVD copy which gets sent to Comcast and they broadcast it for us.

BUT.

Somewhere along the line the footage ends up 4:3 on the television. I know it's awkward to see 16:9 TV shows sometimes, but is it something I'm doing? It always makes everyone look stretched out, tall, and skinny. Some people appreciate the "illusioned weight loss" i'm sure, but I want my footage looking awesome in 16:9!!!

Any suggestions? Not sure what to do.

I'll venture a guess that your sending them an anamorphic DVD; if you send them a letterboxed 4:3, your resolution will take a hit but it will be that much closer to "idiot-proof".

Andrew Hoag · May 31st, 2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hill

I'll venture a guess that your sending them an anamorphic DVD; if you send them a letterboxed 4:3, your resolution will take a hit but it will be that much closer to "idiot-proof".

So should I start shooting everything in 4:3?

Ehhh yuckyyyy

Ryan Mueller · May 31st, 2008, 11:42 PM

I think what Benjamin was suggesting was to drop your finished 16:9 video into a 4:3 timeline to letterbox it before exporting the footage for DVD. This way when it is broadcast, it will display properly on a 4:3 television. All broadcast television is 4:3 unless it is HD, that is where letterboxing comes in handy.

If you want it to broadcast full screen, then yes you should shoot in 4:3, but if you would rather shoot 16:9 than drop the footage into a 4:3 timeline to letterbox it, perfectly acceptable.

Geren Mortensen · June 25th, 2008, 07:16 PM

Comcast do not do 16:9 standard def. All of the PEG and leased access channels on Comcast are SD.

Geren Mortensen
Engineer
Howard County GTV / HCCTV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Hoag

Hey everyone.
I run a television show on the local channels here in Maryland, and everything is shot on the XL2. We shoot in 16:9, edit, and burn a DVD copy which gets sent to Comcast and they broadcast it for us.

BUT.

Somewhere along the line the footage ends up 4:3 on the television. I know it's awkward to see 16:9 TV shows sometimes, but is it something I'm doing? It always makes everyone look stretched out, tall, and skinny. Some people appreciate the "illusioned weight loss" i'm sure, but I want my footage looking awesome in 16:9!!!

Any suggestions? Not sure what to do.

Nik Skjoth · July 5th, 2008, 06:03 AM

Or you could transcode it to square pixels adding extra pixels on the horisontal lines. And deliver as a H264/Mp4 format. I don't know if they would accept that tho.

Nathan Nazeck · September 24th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Whatever Dvd player they are using to play your Dvd back is setup for a widescreen TV. The setup menu on their Dvd player can be changed for a regular 4:3 Tv and then it will add the black bars in for you and you'll get that extra resolution. Your Dvd's are fine, their Dvd player just needs adjusted.

Shaun Roemich · September 27th, 2008, 08:35 AM

If you are going to supply 16:9 material to a 4:3 broadcaster there is one, count it ONE way to deliver: place your 16:9 timeline in a 4:3 timeline, render and deliver letterbox. PERIOD. A broadcaster does not function like a DVD player.

May 31st, 2008, 09:19 PM	#1
Andrew Hoag Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 47	16:9 On Cable Broadcasting? Hey everyone. I run a television show on the local channels here in Maryland, and everything is shot on the XL2. We shoot in 16:9, edit, and burn a DVD copy which gets sent to Comcast and they broadcast it for us. BUT. Somewhere along the line the footage ends up 4:3 on the television. I know it's awkward to see 16:9 TV shows sometimes, but is it something I'm doing? It always makes everyone look stretched out, tall, and skinny. Some people appreciate the "illusioned weight loss" i'm sure, but I want my footage looking awesome in 16:9!!! Any suggestions? Not sure what to do.

September 24th, 2008, 08:43 PM	#7
Nathan Nazeck Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 71	Whatever Dvd player they are using to play your Dvd back is setup for a widescreen TV. The setup menu on their Dvd player can be changed for a regular 4:3 Tv and then it will add the black bars in for you and you'll get that extra resolution. Your Dvd's are fine, their Dvd player just needs adjusted. __________________ I'm watching television... in color http://www.prodigyvideo.com

September 27th, 2008, 08:35 AM	#8
Shaun Roemich Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 638	If you are going to supply 16:9 material to a 4:3 broadcaster there is one, count it ONE way to deliver: place your 16:9 timeline in a 4:3 timeline, render and deliver letterbox. PERIOD. A broadcaster does not function like a DVD player. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich - Gearhead Visual Productions - Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada "Telling your stories since 1999" www.gearheadvisual.com

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May 31st, 2008, 11:42 PM	#4
Ryan Mueller Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 188	I think what Benjamin was suggesting was to drop your finished 16:9 video into a 4:3 timeline to letterbox it before exporting the footage for DVD. This way when it is broadcast, it will display properly on a 4:3 television. All broadcast television is 4:3 unless it is HD, that is where letterboxing comes in handy. If you want it to broadcast full screen, then yes you should shoot in 4:3, but if you would rather shoot 16:9 than drop the footage into a 4:3 timeline to letterbox it, perfectly acceptable.

July 5th, 2008, 06:03 AM	#6
Nik Skjoth Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ballerup Denmark Posts: 55	Or you could transcode it to square pixels adding extra pixels on the horisontal lines. And deliver as a H264/Mp4 format. I don't know if they would accept that tho.