I was watching Band of Brothers on History HD, and noticed that even on the HD channel it was Letterboxed (i.e. had black bars at the top and bottom), but the picture was stretched horizontally to the sides of my screen. The aspect ratio was therefore distorted (ie. fatter than they should be).
The History HD logo in the lower right hand corner was partially in the black bar area.

It basically looked like a non-HD channel that broadcast in 4:3 with typical letterboxing when I set the screen on "Full". Since this was an HD broadcast, however, my set defaults to Full and will not give me the option zoom in (my TV (Sony GWIII) has "Normal," "Full," "Zoom" and "Full Zoom" settings, but only accepts "full" on HD channels).

Is this my set, my cable operator, or the History channel messing this up?

I have a similar problem with a lot of the stuff on the SciFi HD channel, except I think this is what qualifies as Matchboxing -- correct aspect ratio but shrunk to the middle of my screen without the ability to zoom, and the channel logo appears in the black area outside the area of the content.

It's the History Channel doing that as well as the SciFi Channel. The key is that the logo is in the black area. The channels provide the logos not the carriers.

So are they doing this on purpose, or are they just dumb?

Probably both....

Probably both....

I have to defend SciFi, at least they aren't distorting the picture, if they only have access to the 4:3 Letterbox, at least they aren't stretching it, the History Channel on the other hand makes sure you can't do anything to correct the picture. Most TVs should let you zoom in on the SciFi broadcast and fill up the screen with the correct aspect ratio.

I have to defend SciFi, at least they aren't distorting the picture, if they only have access to the 4:3 Letterbox, at least they aren't stretching it, the History Channel on the other hand makes sure you can't do anything to correct the picture. Most TVs should let you zoom in on the SciFi broadcast and fill up the screen with the correct aspect ratio.

Mine doesn't.

I guess it's time for a new set. Although it puzzles me that they can't figure out how to broadcast it the right way in the first place.

The A&E network and History are bad like that. History HD stretches many of their new HD shows. I once saw an episode of Gangland in stretchovision and the next show after it in OAR 16:9.

I don't know why the hell anyone would stretch non-HD/widescreen content? It really looks like crap.

I hate networks that stretch their SD content on their HD feeds. If I want it stretched, I'll tell my TV to do it, thank you.

I don't know why the hell anyone would stretch non-HD/widescreen content? It really looks like crap.


I personally dont mind streching 4:3 if its a progressive stretch (i think thats the term... the one where you stretch the edges more than the middle)

I don't know why the hell anyone would stretch non-HD/widescreen content? It really looks like crap.

Yeah, that's just goofy. The whole rationale behind the "stretch" is to"fill the screen" and "no annoying black bars!". But when it's 4:3 letterbox, the bars are still there on the top, just stretched....

What is also interesting is when the various Discovery networks run "HD" that is really just cropped/zoomed 4:3 upconversion.

You know you are seeing this when you get very small pillarbox bars & some commercials have info cut off on the edges.

At least it isn't stretched @ the source.

What is also interesting is when the various Discovery networks run "HD" that is really just cropped/zoomed 4:3 upconversion.

You know you are seeing this when you get very small pillarbox bars & some commercials have info cut off on the edges.

At least it isn't stretched @ the source.

That's interesting that the commercials would also be zoomed in.

On this particular History-HD broadcast, the commercials were mostly in standard HD. It was only the program itself that was stretched (horizontally only).

I guess I don't understand -- if they can stretch it horizontally, why can't they also stretch it vertically?

That's what happens when a letterboxed 4:3 source in SD is upconverted by stretching rather than adding side curtains. Curtaining would produce a postage stamp output with black bars all the way around - top and bottom from the letterbox on the source tape and side bars from the upconversion. But, the aspect ratio of the video itself would be proper.

The correct way to handle this is to play the 16:9 original on HD and downconvert for SD - either as a letterbox or a center cut. That's what will be happening on broadcast TV when the analog transmitters are turned off in February. But, many of the cable networks are approaching this backwards, taking SD content and upconverting for the HD channel.

Regardless, stretching is never the proper way to upconvert. But, it's really awful when the source material is a 4:3 letterbox.
I guess I don't understand -- if they can stretch it horizontally, why can't they also stretch it vertically?
Stretching both ways is actually the same result as zooming, which could be done. But, whatever they do has to work globally for all source material. Without AFD (Active Format Descriptor), these playback systems can't change how they handle video based on how the source looks. If they zoomed instead of stretching, then the top and bottom of regular 4:3 content would get cropped.

I personally dont mind streching 4:3 if its a progressive stretch (i think thats the term... the one where you stretch the edges more than the middle)

Then, you should set your display to that mode, but the networks should never force that mode on those of us who don't want it. Personally, when I tune in to a stretched program, I just keep surfing.

What about horizontal squeezing? I think the SD versions should downconvert by horizontally squeezing. That way we can simply use the cable box's stretch mode to make a full screen OAR 16:9 picture(since the 16:9 picture is horizontally compressed).

It would be better than it is now. Letterboxed shows turn into windowboxed shows on an HDTV.

I prefer they windowbox. Pretty much every 16:9 TV made has a zoom setting that will zoom in on the windowboxed 16:9 screen to make it take up the full screen. Most also normally have a stretch mode that can stretch 4:3 content to fit the 16:9 screen. I really just wish the channel providers would leave the content alone and let the user decide if they want it stretched or not.

I personally dont mind streching 4:3 if its a progressive stretch (i think thats the term... the one where you stretch the edges more than the middle)

I think this is what they do on HGTV. When the camera pans around a room or backyard, it gives me motion sickness. I'm trying to decide if I want to get my lawyer to send the network a letter telling them they are causing a viewer physical distress with their stretch mode.

I think this is what they do on HGTV. When the camera pans around a room or backyard, it gives me motion sickness. I'm trying to decide if I want to get my lawyer to send the network a letter telling them they are causing a viewer physical distress with their stretch mode.

Just change the channel. All the shows are the same anyway, the room looked like it needs decorating, now it's decorated. Look at the before picture, now look at the after picture. Wow what a transformation. I am so excited, wow.

(the above was sarcasm in case you were not able to tell)

It just amazes me what some people consider entertainment.

I prefer they windowbox. Pretty much every 16:9 TV made has a zoom setting that will zoom in on the windowboxed 16:9 screen to make it take up the full screen. Most also normally have a stretch mode that can stretch 4:3 content to fit the 16:9 screen. I really just wish the channel providers would leave the content alone and let the user decide if they want it stretched or not.

I like it letterboxed too, but if they are going to do it, move the bug INSIDE the picture area ABOVE the letterbox bars. Discovery and many others have their bugs in the position it would be on a 4:3 screen. When you zoom to fit 16:9, you're left with an annoying half-chopped off spinning globe/letter D. The only thing worse than a bug is a cut i half distraction in the corner.

I like it letterboxed too, but if they are going to do it, move the bug INSIDE the picture area ABOVE the letterbox bars. Discovery and many others have their bugs in the position it would be on a 4:3 screen. When you zoom to fit 16:9, you're left with an annoying half-chopped off spinning globe/letter D. The only thing worse than a bug is a cut i half distraction in the corner.Sorry, but bugs have a set position that is not related to whether the source material is letterboxed or full screen.

Sorry, but bugs have a set position that is not related to whether the source material is letterboxed or full screen.
Exactly. The bug is being placed there as the show is being broadcast. If the network were showing full screen HD or zoomed SD, the bug would be over the video.