Still no Widescreen coverage of F1 on Sky

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Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#24636 29-Jul-2008 18:29

After months of waiting and empty promises, August's Skywatch reveals that this month's two Formula One races will be screened in the same old tired format :(

What happened to the promise of wide screen?

Of course. Sky are too gutless to reply to any emails asking why the broken promises :(

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6434 posts

Uber Geek

#152498 29-Jul-2008 18:53

which vital parts of the race do you suppose you are missing by only having it in 4:3

andrewcnz

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

#152501 29-Jul-2008 19:12

Umm that would be the left and right bits.

cyril7

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#152503 29-Jul-2008 19:17

I notice that the lattest Skywatch makes no mention of any 16:9 activities on SS1 or 2, however its definitely 16:9, so maybe Skywatch would be out of touch?

Cyril

rugrat

3107 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#152504 29-Jul-2008 19:21

cyril7: I notice that the lattest Skywatch makes no mention of any 16:9 activities on SS1 or 2, however its definitely 16:9, so maybe Skywatch would be out of touch?

Cyril

Same with Prime. And that's been wide screen for a while now.

allstarnz

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#152519 29-Jul-2008 20:10

the qualifying and race of the European Grand Prix from Valencia (yes, that's not a typo) is on SS3, which unless it migrates in the next few weeks will be in 4:3. It seems EPL (in HD) and rugby/golf take priority on the other channels

But Hellaboring is on SS1 and SS2, so should be in widescreen.

From not putting the switch right in a few races earlier this year, it seems Sky already receive their pictures in widescreen, they just centre cut it to work on their channels.

Mind you, F1 is still hardly hi-tech, it's not even broadcast in widescreen yet, except some cinemas in the UK (even that may be upscaled). FOM have all this hi-def equipment, but don't seem to be utilising it yet. Heck, even NASCAR is already in HD, including 5.1 audio

cyril7

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#152531 29-Jul-2008 20:31

Bit embarrising for Sky early this season, first race hits the screen, whooh its in 16:9FHA but with no flag, 2min latter someone hits the button and we are all 4:3centrecut, what a blow, how dumb.

Cyril

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#152579 29-Jul-2008 23:32

The skywatch does state whether things are in Widescreen or not if you look at the listings, everything on SS1 and SS2 has a WS at the end of it. So if they put it on SS1 or SS2 i guess it will be widescreen.

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f1guy

38 posts

Geek

#152591 30-Jul-2008 07:46

Hi,

The highlights package from the last race were broadcast on 16:9 on Skysports Highlights so as long as the races are transmitted on SS1 or SS2 I think it is fairly safe to assume future races will be in widescreen.

barees63

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#152592 30-Jul-2008 07:47

I cancelled Sky Sports for just this reason, also I found the sound quality unbearable on many of Sky's F1 broadcasts. You only have to watch the original ITV coverage to see and hear what we're missing (and yes ITV coverage is in widescreen). Also the original programs are far more intersting, Sky cuts all the pre and post interviews and other content.

allstarnz

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#152632 30-Jul-2008 10:24

barees63: I cancelled Sky Sports for just this reason, also I found the sound quality unbearable on many of Sky's F1 broadcasts. You only have to watch the original ITV coverage to see and hear what we're missing (and yes ITV coverage is in widescreen). Also the original programs are far more intersting, Sky cuts all the pre and post interviews and other content.

Sky NZ do not have the rights to broadcast ITV's pre and post race packages, no other network shows this. I understand Bernie will not let them onsell this stuff, such as the grid walk etc. If Sky wanted analysis etc, they'd have to do it themselves, as TV One used to.

As for the audio, Sky don't do a good job, but it's not entirely their fault. They have to mix the ITV audio feed in with the pictures straight from the world feed. As I understand (stated on TV One when they still had it), the audio and video are bought seperate from one another. In at least one case this year, they have got the mix wrong, only taking the audio from one channel and putting it on both, out of sync, sounded awful.

barees63

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#152649 30-Jul-2008 11:17

allstarnz: In at least one case this year, they have got the mix wrong, only taking the audio from one channel and putting it on both, out of sync, sounded awful.

Yes, I remember that one, on many other occasions there has been a very annoying distortion on voices (I also notice this a lot on Time Team). Sometimes the distortion is fixed 10 minutes or so in and other times not.. presumably when the sky technician is watching porn on the spice channel instead

Anyway, I personally object to paying for shortened, cropped, over-compressed and poorly mixed content.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#153427 1-Aug-2008 20:08

Well ITV are certainly screening the First Official Practice in widescreen format - I am watching it live courtesy of the internet :)

allstarnz

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#153872 3-Aug-2008 20:29

well qualifying was definitely in 16:9 last night. Oh SkyHDi it looked much chrisper as well, despite only being an SD source.

They have been showing F1 in 16:9 since at least the start of the 2007 season.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#153875 3-Aug-2008 20:41

It was great to see Qualifying in WS format last night - thank you Sky :)

SkyNZ has certainly not screened any races in WS format this year - they started to for one race, but that only lasted a few seconds until someone "threw the switch" :(

Here's hoping that tonight's Hungarian GP will be shown in WS.

allstarnz

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#153953 4-Aug-2008 10:06

Zippity:
SkyNZ has certainly not screened any races in WS format this year - they started to for one race, but that only lasted a few seconds until someone "threw the switch" :(

Sorry, I should clarify, F1 has been available for broadcasters in widescreen since the start of the 2007 season, but up until now Sky's technical ineptness means we've been stuck with 4:3

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