On Demand movie formats

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post #1 of 5

3/20/07 at 2:17pm

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Purchased the Wide version of "The Departed" over the weekend and I'm not sure what I was supposed to get. I have a 16:9 TV (SONY 46E2000) and I have my cable box set for 16:9 output. However, the picture I got had black bars on top and bottom and also had the pillar bars left and right that you get with 4:3 programming. This is with Time Warner cable in NY/NJ. Upon further research I found that this movie is filmed at 2.40 aspect ratio, so I guess that accounts for the black bars on top and bottom. But why did I get the pillar bars as well? Shouldn't the Wide version have filled my screen horizontally? Any insight?

post #2 of 5

3/22/07 at 2:05pm

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Yes It should have... Do other On Demand movies come in the same way?

for me-- the bars at the top and bottom sometimes happen, but I never get the pillar bars on the left and right with movies on demand.

On my television I can change the screen size which fixes lines at the top and bottom, but I would call time warner about it if you were unhappy with the movie.

btw the departed was awesome

post #3 of 5

3/22/07 at 3:11pm

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You purchased the widescreen version of the film which preserved the OAR, but in a 4:3 signal format, akin to a widescreen VHS, not an "anamorphic" 16:9 version. You would have had to manipulate the viewing options of your TV (Zoom, Stretch, etc.) to fill the screen horizontially.

post #4 of 5

3/26/07 at 11:26am

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Thanks for the responses. I did call TW but the person I got was of no help. After some more research I've found that BTT917 has it covered. On my cable system all On Demand is broadcast in SD (4:3), so movies that have a wide version will have the black bars in a 4:3 window, and movies that don't specify are in the pan & scan chopped version. I will try another wide version and test out the zoom modes.

And yes, The Departed WAS awesome....

post #5 of 5

3/26/07 at 11:56am