TNT stretch-o-vision response

[mattopia]

A few weeks ago, someone posted an e-mail address to the list to contact TNT. I wrote them about stretching their content. Here is the response I got:

In an effort to present a consistent broadcast, we have decided to maintain the same aspect ratio for all HD programming. An unfortunately consequence of this is that the standard TV ratio of 4:3 is presented as 16:9. This is what "stretches" the image.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Best,

TNT Web Staff

Thought I'd share...

 

[Jim5506]

I'd write them back and remind them that "consistent broadcast" demands quality video, unless consistently bad is their goal.

If they persist we shall complain to their advertizers.

Nevermind, I'll complain now!

 

[Jim S.]

"A consistent broadcast" would be to consistently broadcast things in OAR. What do they do with stuff in Panavision, blow it up and cut off the ends?

 

[Marcus Carr]

B.S. They don't stretch The Wizard of Oz or Gone With the Wind.

 

[Ronald_Jeremy]

In an effort to present a consistent broadcast, we have decided to maintain the same aspect ratio for all HD programming. An unfortunately consequence of this is that the standard TV ratio of 4:3 is presented as 16:9. This is what "stretches" the image.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Best,

TNT Web Staff

4:3 stuff is NOT HD!!!!! Idiots!!!

 

[emathis]

4:3 stuff is NOT HD!!!!! Idiots!!!

4:3 source material can be broadcast in HD, but it should have black bars on the left and right.

 

[Smith P.]

4:3 source material can be broadcast in HD, but it should have black bars on the left and right.

It HD Butchering !

 

[Ronald_Jeremy]

4:3 source material can be broadcast in HD, but it should have black bars on the left and right.

There is very little HD material out there that was filmed in 4:3. Very little. What they are showing is SD material that is piss-poorly upconverted then stretched!

 

[wonko]

From TNT: In an effort to present a consistent broadcast...

Translated as: We don't want to field calls from the idiots who think they're getting ripped off if they see black bars...

 

[rad]

So viewers of other networks that don't play the stretch-o-vision game, like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and some other cable networks must be smarter then Turner networks viewers. Maybe advertisers would be interested in that fact

 

[M Sparks]

I've said it over and over...I don't care if they stretch EVENLY, because then I can UNstretch it. Even stretching is just changing the PAR, and it doesn't damage the picture.

What they are doing is DISTORTING the picture, and that can't be fixed.

I believe Turner are now the ONLY ones doing this so badly. Even the Discovery channels with their tops and bottoms trimmed off are better than the Turner channels.

Luckily, I have no reason to watch either of these channels anyway. If they come out with Adult Swim HD, I will just stick with the SD version.

 

[wonko]

I've said it over and over...I don't care if they stretch EVENLY, because then I can UNstretch it. Even stretching is just changing the PAR, and it doesn't damage the picture.

Except that there are a good percentage of people (myself included) who's sets will NOT unstretch 16:9 content.

 

[Hall]

They should ZOOM instead of STRETCH.

 

[tigerfan33]

And now History Channel and A&E thinks it is a great idea. Thanks TNT!!!!

 

[Pepper]

You know, as often as we throw this terminology around, it surprised the crap out of me to find out that "stretchovision.com" and "stretchovision.info" were available.

I think I will see if I can come up with something. Maybe we can light a fire under the butts of these broadcasters who think viewers are too stupid to find the "stretch" button if they want it to look like that.

Give me a few days to get some content online, any and all suggestions (and donations) are welcome.

s t r e t c h -O- v i s i o n > Home

 

[mike123abc]

s t r e t c h -O- v i s i o n > Home

That should be
s____t___r__e_tch-Ovi_s__i___o____n > Home

in TBS vision...

 

[tigerfan33]

We know now for a fact that executives at these networks either (1) Do not watch its on programming or (2) Do not have a hdtv in their own homes.

 

[Hall]

We know now for a fact that executives at these networks either (1) Do not watch its on programming or (2) Do not have a hdtv in their own homes.

Oh, I'll about guarantee you they have HDTVs but don't have HD services. They of course think everything they watch is "HD" though, just like 50% of HDTV owners who do NOT have HD programming.

 

[hockeyinsd]

Oh, I'll about guarantee you they have HDTVs but don't have HD services. They of course think everything they watch is "HD" though, just like 50% of HDTV owners who do NOT have HD programming.

I'm gonna thread highjack here. I am always amazed by people I know that have HD sets and think that everything is in HD or that SD stuff looks "HD like" and don't want to spend the $$ on an HD package. Case in point is my sister and her husband. They spend 3K on a 50" plasma a few years ago. They have time warner cable, and when they got the tv they never even watched the HD channels (time warner has them in the 700's). My brother in law kept telling me about how great the HD picture was, I had to see it. So I came over to watch the NCAA men's hockey final, he tunes to ESPN, and I tell him, "thats not HD," to which he replied, "of course its HD, its an HDTV." I had to show him the HD channels. He was amazed at the picture quality, then comes back with "wow, these are like super HD channels, and I thought regular HD was good."

This is the reason why TNT and others get away it.

 

[jdent]

What is their story with the basketball games? They may not be streched but they still look like ass.