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Groan.Since we were just discussing HDTV yesterday, it just happened that my DishNetwork satellite folks called last night to offer me their new "HD Package". Since they caught me in a good mood and since I CAN BARELY GET ANY OF THE OVER-THE-AIR HD CHANNELS out here 50 miles from Atlanta (with my huge rooftop antenna) and Dish can't offer them, I took the extra $9.99/month package.
It is 4 or 5 additional HD channels to the 2 channels I did have already. The Discovery HD channel is very pretty but another channel shows older movies (like Pink Cadillac last night)in HD. But the reason I got the package was the ESPN HD channel. And guess what, I think they only show 7 to 12 hours of HD programs per week. And last night wasn't an HD night. They were showing a GA Tech basketball game and guess what they did? THEY JUST STRETCHED OUT THE REGULAR PICTURE TO THE WIDE SCREEN. THE PLAYERS LOOKED FAT AND THE BALL WAS OVAL. Ouch, what crap. They didn't even crop the sides like the movie channels do when not showing a wide screen movie.
I'm telling you, HDTV is way too much of a hassle right now. Something has to change if chronic early adopters (like I am) are complaining.
Follow Ups:
I'm only 15-miles max from our low-power HD broadcast towers on the high rise buildings in Denver. I get about 8 HD channels but some switch between stretching a normal picture or true HD widescreen depending on the program. I'm using the DVI input on my TV and the only control I have over the aspect ratio is via the Samsung OTA HDTV tuner. It does allow me to switch between that weird stretched mode and normal 4:3 ratio.Some broadcasters here are transmitting only standard-definition digital. One of the PBS stations (KBDI) is doing this on three adjacent channels with different programming while the other one (KRMA) is true HD widescreen on one channel all the time. Still, I love the HD setup especially on PBS (KRMA) and the HD football broadcasts where the detailed picture is at the correct aspect ratio.
I chose not to sign up for HD via Comcast Cable because in my area they offer virtually nothing I can't get for free off-the-air.
"Early adopter"? Don't make me groan! I've had a HDTV since '99.I work in a lot in customers homes. And guess what? Most that have HDTV out here in San Diego County don't even realize when the picture is stretched, or don't care. Really bugs me, however.
it sounds like your RV needs to have different aspect ratio adjustments for HDTV and SDTV.
I've adjusted aspect ratios seven-ways-from-Sunday on both my satellite receiver and my Panasonic TV. Believe me, they are correct. I know a sloppy picture when I see it.
I'm getting HDTV via a cable set-top box and some of the programming (PBS, Discovery, Monday Night Football) is terrific. But the box "locks out" any control I have over screen size and aspect ratio. I have a 47" Panasonic widescreen with four options, but they're useless with this box.For now I guess we just have to accept the bad with the good, and hope the bad gets better while the good gets gooder. My system (Time Warner) is still battling with ESPN over pricing, so I don't even get the few hours of ESPN-HD that you do!
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