All Sky Channels in Widescreen now?

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Satch

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Topic # 30470 9-Feb-2009 21:49

I've noticed today/tonight that all of my Sky channels on my HTPC (Sky being decoded by the HTPC using a valid subscription) are now in widescreen. Some channels look stretched though and not true widescreen.

I still have my picture set to the "Zoom 1" setting, and not one of the other zoom settings which stretch the picture. Oh, and I'm running the Windows 7 beta.

Any ideas people?

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Reply # 195006 9-Feb-2009 22:29

There is another thread on here somewhere which lists the channels being broadcast in 16x9, otherwise its 4x3 being stretched

James Bond

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Reply # 195031 10-Feb-2009 02:34

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Network_Television#Channels_Available

I can't believe ESPN & Discovery are still not in 16:9...

steve98

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Reply # 195074 10-Feb-2009 09:59

On another note have you noticed that the aspect ratio on The Living Channel is just all over the place?? This is especially noticeable during the ad breaks - some of their ads for upcoming TV programs are 14:9, some are true 16:9 and some are 4:3. A complete mess. I emailed them last week asking if they were planning to begin broadcasting in Widescreen anytime soon and the answer I got did not fill me with confidence - they said that most of the programmes they are screening now are in widescreen -- well, the source may be widescreen but they are certainly not broadcasting it as such.

Satch

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Reply # 195092 10-Feb-2009 12:38

DjShadow: There is another thread on here somewhere which lists the channels being broadcast in 16x9, otherwise its 4x3 being stretched

Did you read my question properly? I said that ALL channels on my HTPC are showing widescreen now, either true widescreen or stretched. I want to know if others are seeing this (both HTPC and Sky STB), or it is just specific to my setup, whatever I've done.

I started that other thread too, btw.

RustyGonad

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Reply # 195100 10-Feb-2009 13:08

Its the old Windows 7 Zoom bug...

If you select one of the stretched channels, and click on Zoom 1 again it "should" correct the ratio and add the black bars back in - even though its already reporting its on Zoom 1, its not.

Not sure what kicks it off - I believe its something to do with the Divx codec, cause thats the only time I've seen it after playing a divx file. Once you correct it, it should stay fixed for a while...

Satch

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Reply # 195101 10-Feb-2009 13:10

RustyGonad: Its the old Windows 7 Zoom bug...

If you select one of the stretched channels, and click on Zoom 1 again it "should" correct the ratio and add the black bars back in - even though its already reporting its on Zoom 1, its not.

Not sure what kicks it off - I believe its something to do with the Divx codec, cause thats the only time I've seen it after playing a divx file. Once you correct it, it should stay fixed for a while...

Thanks mate. I'll give that a go.

allstarnz

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Reply # 195399 11-Feb-2009 21:10

the flags for 16:9 channels haven't changed. ESPN still in 4:3

Satch

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Reply # 195496 12-Feb-2009 12:10

Yeah, I 'fixed' the problem using Rusty's solution above. Back to postage stamp heaven now...

pjamieson

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Chorus NZ

Reply # 196553 18-Feb-2009 17:00

As an aside my quick count the other day had the ratio between 16:9 vs 4:3 channels on exactly 50% right at the moment. I had always assumed they were well over 50%, but unfortunately not......

edaw

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Reply # 197261 22-Feb-2009 13:56

James Bond: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Network_Television#Channels_Available

I can't believe ESPN & Discovery are still not in 16:9...

Reason for that is because it would have to be HD or atleast an HD source, America doesn't broadcast 16:9SD.

ZollyMonsta

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Reply # 197265 22-Feb-2009 14:21

Yes.. and the USA has ESPN and Discovery available in HD... even better..

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz

sbiddle

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Reply # 197272 22-Feb-2009 14:35

edaw:
James Bond: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Network_Television#Channels_Available

I can't believe ESPN & Discovery are still not in 16:9...

Reason for that is because it would have to be HD or atleast an HD source, America doesn't broadcast 16:9SD.

While that's true remember that the Discovery channel feed we get here is lot a USA broadcast like ESPN for example.

It's a channel produced for AU/NZ using source material, a lot of which is 16:9 content. That's why we're seeing so much 4:3 letterboxed material.

allstarnz

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Reply # 197616 23-Feb-2009 23:40

Foxtel chose to get ESPN HD, not sure why Sky didn't take that up, surely wouldn't be that hard to piggy back it. Same goes for Discovery etc.

Mind you i'd rather have two most of the time HD sports channels than what Foxtel have done.

sbiddle

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Reply # 197635 24-Feb-2009 06:43

allstarnz: Foxtel chose to get ESPN HD, not sure why Sky didn't take that up, surely wouldn't be that hard to piggy back it. Same goes for Discovery etc.

Anybody hear any news late last year about the much rumored Sky/Foxtel meger that obviously didn't go ahead?

tstone

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Reply # 199353 5-Mar-2009 08:50

On the Comedy Central channel they are running promos for their shows. I haven't watched more than a few minutes of those promos and I only saw 4:3 material. Is Comedy Central going to be 16:9?

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