Is it possible to have widescreen anamorphic 16:9 content in 480P in either Blu-ray or HD DVD? I've noticed that all special features in both format are either in 480i 4:3 or 1080P 16:9 and never in anamorphic widescreen 480P. If something is in widescreen in 480i, it's always letterboxed. I know high-def formats in 1080P are not anamorphically encoded, but does this hold for 480P content as well?

If it's not supported, then it seems extremely short sighted for both groups not to include 480P anamorphic widescreen. I am sure that many widescreen extra features don't need to be in high-def, but perhaps could have benefitted from anamorphic SD encoding. In addition, many TV series or documentaries could have used BD or HD DVD capacity to simplify distribution for non high-def contents (Imagine a full season of your favorite TV show in 1 disc).

You're not correct that all SD extras on HD-DVD are non-anamorphic. For instance plenty of the extras on Hot Fuzz are anamorphic wide-screen SD.

You're not correct that all SD extras on HD-DVD are non-anamorphic. For instance plenty of the extras on Hot Fuzz are anamorphic wide-screen SD.

If so, thank you. I stand corrected. I feel much better about this being included. Then my next question is, why don't the studios turn on this option for more widescreen contents rather than letterboxing them?

If so, thank you. I stand corrected. I feel much better about this being included. Then my next question is, why don't the studios turn on this option for more widescreen contents rather than letterboxing them?

That's a question I'd like to know as well.

Thinking a bit more about it, I seem to remember some or all of the extras on The Fountain being anamorphic, so it seems to be a random thing, but non-anamorphic is definitely the more prevalent form.

i think some extras were shot for tv. like how some of the extras were played on cable channels like A&E or HBO. those tend to be in 4:3 and get carried over to disc in 4:3 form.

i think some extras were shot for tv. like how some of the extras were played on cable channels like A&E or HBO. those tend to be in 4:3 and get carried over to disc in 4:3 form.

I don't have problems with 4:3 content displayed in 4:3. What bothers me is widescreen content letterboxed in 4:3 window rather than being anamorphically encoded in 16:9, especially since it's impossible to zoom your display in high-def for most of us.

Alright, I went back and looked at special features on Hot Fuzz again with my XA1. Some features are in widescreen and others letterboxed (Trailers and some featurettes). How do we know whether those features in widescreen are encoded 480p and upconverted by the player (set to 1080i) or encoded natively in 1080i/p (from a 480i/p source)?

Rip the disc and check it out with a software player.

If I had more free time I'd probably do it for you - will see how much time I can muster up this weekend. Just post the names of the features you want me to grab stats for.