History Channel HD

[jlong27]

Why are the HD shows on the History Channel being squashed? It has been like this for some time. The black bars at the top and bottom and incorrect aspect ratio is annoying and gets more annoying as time goes on. I think this is the channel and not E* fault. And a little less annoying, because I can watch the SD version of the channel, is the stretch-o-vision SD content.

 

[tigerfan33]

Why are the HD shows on the History Channel being squashed? It has been like this for some time. The black bars at the top and bottom and incorrect aspect ratio is annoying and gets more annoying as time goes on. I think this is the channel and not E* fault. And a little less annoying, because I can watch the SD version of the channel, is the stretch-o-vision SD content.

When you see the bars on top and bottom you are seeing upconverted sd that is intended to be hd. It has gotten a little better has far as showing hd as time goes by. All sd use to be 4:3 ratio like we want to see it up until a fire at it's uplink center. Since then, they have stretched all sd. Hd has been appearing more and more though.

 

[jlong27]

I dvr'd The Universe and it is squashed with black bars at the top and bottom. The air date was 12-18-07.

Also, but not related, I setup the recording on ch 120 but it was recorded on ch 9491.

 

[nlk10010]

As I've said before, I believe what you are seeing (the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen) are shows that were SHOT in HD but which have not yet been processed to be broadcast that way. If I'm correct, those shows WILL eventually be broadcast in HD, so I wouldn't take it out on HistoryHD just yet.

The shows that are s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d (NO black bars anywhere) are the ones that were not shot in HD and therefore won't be broadcast in HD (ever). Many stations choose to broadcast these in the 4:3 aspect ratio (pillar boxed) which I and a lot of others prefer; however, History (and A&E) HD decided to stretch them instead, for which decision you CAN and SHOULD get on them.


=NLK=

 

[tigerfan33]

As I've said before, I believe what you are seeing (the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen) are shows that were SHOT in HD but which have not yet been processed to be broadcast that way. If I'm correct, those shows WILL eventually be broadcast in HD, so I wouldn't take it out on HistoryHD just yet.

The shows that are s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d (NO black bars anywhere) are the ones that were not shot in HD and therefore won't be broadcast in HD (ever). Many stations choose to broadcast these in the 4:3 aspect ratio (pillar boxed) which I and a lot of others prefer; however, History (and A&E) HD decided to stretch them instead, for which decision you CAN and SHOULD get on them.


I have seen some hd programs that were hd and the very same hd program stretched on another day. I wish we could get some answers on this.

 

[nlk10010]

Assuming you're saying you see the stretched version AFTER the HD one I COULD be wrong, but it MIGHT be that History and/or A&E HD decide to not broadcast in HD certain times of the day or week. In that case it would be consistent with my explanation that you would see true HD sometimes and stretched (with black bars top and bottom) at others. Whether the decision to not go HD originates with the channels (so it affects all providers) or is a Dish decision, or is somewhere in between, I don't know.

Of course if you're saying you see a program in HD at a certain time and then the SAME program in pure stretchovision (no black bars top and bottom) at another time, then I'm totally confused.

=NLK=

 

[tigerfan33]

Assuming you're saying you see the stretched version AFTER the HD one I COULD be wrong, but it MIGHT be that History and/or A&E HD decide to not broadcast in HD certain times of the day or week. In that case it would be consistent with my explanation that you would see true HD sometimes and stretched (with black bars top and bottom) at others. Whether the decision to not go HD originates with the channels (so it affects all providers) or is a Dish decision, or is somewhere in between, I don't know.

Of course if you're saying you see a program in HD at a certain time and then the SAME program in pure stretchovision (no black bars top and bottom) at another time, then I'm totally confused.

=NLK=

It would not have anything to do with Dish. That is how Dish gets the program from where it is uplinked and it is shown to us the same way. The fault goes 100% to History and or A&E. If you have Direct you would be seeing the same.

 

[jlong27]

As I've said before, I believe what you are seeing (the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen) are shows that were SHOT in HD but which have not yet been processed to be broadcast that way. If I'm correct, those shows WILL eventually be broadcast in HD, so I wouldn't take it out on HistoryHD just yet.

=NLK=

That theory really sucks because I DVR new runs of programs only and will probably never watch them again. I hope whoever is in control at the History Channel fixes this problem and start broadcasting everything in the aspect ratio it was meant to be viewed in.

I found this in a post on the history channel forum.

Thank you for your feedback regarding our high-definition offerings.

We want to be able to address your concerns about this content. The
nature of certain programs limits our ability to show all of our
programming in high definition.

As you know, HD is a newer technology. For programs that were not
originally shot in HD, we are stretching the content to the 16 x 9
ratio. Our research has confirmed that this is the more popular choice
for consumers.

We are committed to increasing the amount of programming we offer in
"true HD."

We thank you again for your support as we continue to provide you with
great entertainment options.

Best regards,
Affiliate Relations

 

[edpkp81]

Here's a good link that explains all the different screens we see.

EKB: Aspect ratio comparison. Why the black bars?

 

[nlk10010]

That theory really sucks because I DVR new runs of programs only and will probably never watch them again. I hope whoever is in control at the History Channel fixes this problem and start broadcasting everything in the aspect ratio it was meant to be viewed in.
-snip-

Audio/Video is not my area of expertise: I just am advancing this theory because I spied a post on one of these boards about how you can't just shoot something in HD and then turn around and broadcast it that way. It needs to be processed. Whether this is true or not I don't know but it IS consistent with what I've been seeing on History/A&E-HD; e.g. I remember it being said definitively that IRT was shot in HD, but IRT was shown initially on HistoryHD with black bars top and bottom. Later I saw it in true HD. IOW, what I've seen is new programming first shown with the bars then, at a later time, in HD.

Now if people are seeing the (over and under) black bars and THEN the same show purely stretched, then, as I said, I don't know WHAT'S going on.

Is this a cost issue? Maybe. Maybe it's a capacity issue (which, of course, is the other side of cost). I don't know how much to blame the broadcasters.

=NLK=

 

[tigerfan33]

Audio/Video is not my area of expertise: I just am advancing this theory because I spied a post on one of these boards about how you can't just shoot something in HD and then turn around and broadcast it that way. It needs to be processed. Whether this is true or not I don't know but it IS consistent with what I've been seeing on History/A&E-HD; e.g. I remember it being said definitively that IRT was shot in HD, but IRT was shown initially on HistoryHD with black bars top and bottom. Later I saw it in true HD. IOW, what I've seen is new programming first shown with the bars then, at a later time, in HD.

Now if people are seeing the (over and under) black bars and THEN the same show purely stretched, then, as I said, I don't know WHAT'S going on.

Is this a cost issue? Maybe. Maybe it's a capacity issue (which, of course, is the other side of cost). I don't know how much to blame the broadcasters.

=NLK=

Maybe I was the one that confused you. Sorry about that. Sometimes on the History channels hd some hd programs are shown as a hd, no black bars. Then you can see the very same program that is upconvert sd with black bars that is stretched. It has nothing to do with Dish.

 

[nlk10010]

Maybe I was the one that confused you. Sorry about that. Sometimes on the History channels hd some hd programs are shown as a hd, no black bars. Then you can see the very same program that is upconvert sd with black bars that is stretched. It has nothing to do with Dish.

Well that would make some sense. What is apparently happening is that History/A&E-HD are deciding to broadcast in SD some programs that COULD be shown in HD. Why I don't know. Cost? Request from providers to preserve bandwidth?

I have heard said and observed that Dish will not air some HD CI games because of bandwidth constraints. However, Dish is airing these programs but they're in SD; as you point out (and I have no reason not to believe you), this sort of thing would need to originate with the stations themselves.


=NLK=

 

[jlong27]

Here's a good link that explains all the different screens we see.

EKB: Aspect ratio comparison. Why the black bars?

That helps a lot. thanks.

 

[Jim S.]

The History Channel management is still brain-dead. Here's a response a newspaper columnist got recently (the column is dated today in fact):

TV Q&A with Rob Owen

"The History Channel HD feed is a simulcast of the network's standard definition east coast feed," explained a network spokeswoman. "Since the beginning of last year, all of our new programming is shot in HD, and as we move forward you will continue to see more and more HD programming. Please note that the required HD delivery format for all The History Channel programs is 1080p, which we adhere to. We still have some series and specials on the network that were produced in standard definition and in order to program the full screen we must "stretch" the image. We understand this is not the perfect solution, and apologize for the quality. Also, as you can imagine, original source material, such as archival footage that is integral to many of our shows, may have to be modified."

 

[wonko]

The History Channel management is still brain-dead. Here's a response a newspaper columnist got recently (the column is dated today in fact):

TV Q&A with Rob Owen

"The History Channel HD feed is a simulcast of the network's standard definition east coast feed," explained a network spokeswoman. "Since the beginning of last year, all of our new programming is shot in HD, and as we move forward you will continue to see more and more HD programming. Please note that the required HD delivery format for all The History Channel programs is 1080p, which we adhere to. We still have some series and specials on the network that were produced in standard definition and in order to program the full screen we must "stretch" the image. We understand this is not the perfect solution, and apologize for the quality. Also, as you can imagine, original source material, such as archival footage that is integral to many of our shows, may have to be modified."

What a load of ....

1080p? What's he talking about? "Must stretch"? How come 95% of all the other stations are able to show SD without stretching? And it's certainly not a simulcast all the time, such as when they are showing actual HD programming.

Here's my required HD delivery format: if it's stretched, I'm not watching it.

 

[DSpud]

I have to say the History Channel does a pretty good job most of the time. I do wonder sometimes why it appears that programing shot in the 16:9 aspect ratio still come up letterboxed on the HD channel while other times its presented normally.

 

[tigerfan33]

The History Channel management is still brain-dead. Here's a response a newspaper columnist got recently (the column is dated today in fact):

TV Q&A with Rob Owen

"The History Channel HD feed is a simulcast of the network's standard definition east coast feed," explained a network spokeswoman. "Since the beginning of last year, all of our new programming is shot in HD, and as we move forward you will continue to see more and more HD programming. Please note that the required HD delivery format for all The History Channel programs is 1080p, which we adhere to. We still have some series and specials on the network that were produced in standard definition and in order to program the full screen we must "stretch" the image. We understand this is not the perfect solution, and apologize for the quality. Also, as you can imagine, original source material, such as archival footage that is integral to many of our shows, may have to be modified."

How the hell someone like this idiot at the History Channel still has a job is beyond me.

 

[wetz73]

A buddy of mine about flipped his lid when he upgraded to Blu-Ray, tossed in a Blu-Ray movie, and had the black bars at the top and the bottom. It all depends on the aspect ratio the movie/show was shot in. The majority do not directly convert to 16:9, so they do the best they can. Besides, the stuff broadcast on History HD looks a heck of a lot better than the SD version.

 

[Miggity]

A buddy of mine about flipped his lid when he upgraded to Blu-Ray, tossed in a Blu-Ray movie, and had the black bars at the top and the bottom. It all depends on the aspect ratio the movie/show was shot in. The majority do not directly convert to 16:9, so they do the best they can. Besides, the stuff broadcast on History HD looks a heck of a lot better than the SD version.

I'm sorry but WRONG. History/AE is screwing the pooch on this one.

 

[DJ Maxx]

For 20 years, every movie we rented on videotape began with the disclaimer:

This movie has been modified to fit your screen.

A simple process to eliminate least relevant sides of the movie and focus on the action.

I hope it's only a matter of time till someone comes up with a reverse process for old SD TV shows and modifies them to fit our new screens.

It could make someone a fortune.