BB Australia is in widescreen - the only one I think!

It can be done - they did it for Big Brother Panto and do for most other reality shows (Fool Around, The Games).

Isn't Australia's Digital TV far superior to ours though? (Nearly all widescreen and HDTV)

I certainly agree that the images from the compound should be in widescreen.
It's disgraceful that "cheap as chips" Endemol haven't come into the new milennium yet.

Even if they just sorted out the Highlights, BBLB, E-fourum and Diary room uncut and not the live feed, it would do me.

But in a time when something as cheap as Hollyoaks is in widescreen, you have to wonder why Endemol haven't gone ahead with it.

No, i wouldn't have thought so.

I find this complete misinformation about Widescreen still very concerning. All widescreen TVs will 'adjust' the picture for you, but only by stretching or zooming the 4:3 image. Because of the CCTV cameras, and the uncertainty over whether or not the current cameras are widescreen-capable, and it's just the output doesn't help.
I assure you, the best way to view it is with bars down the sides.

i ahve widescreen and no black bars at sides on mine is ur tv set up right?

I refer you to my previous post. The only way a widescreen tv is setup 'right' for 4:3 is to have the image centred with black bars at the sides.

Endemol managed to cover both FA series in widescreen, which must have had a similar number of cameras around the house, so it can be done.

Shame when they don't because widescreen gives a much better view of things when several people are sitting around talking.

Yeah, what he said ^^^^^^

There is NO WAY you can get a proper 4:3 picture (like BB) to fill a 16:9 display without either cropping the top and bottom (which often contain text/subtitles), or having the image stretched in some way (don't get me started on how bad that looks).

The best solution would be to produce the show in proper widescreen, but make it fullscreen safe (that is, have no text outside of a fullscreen TV's range). Then, for people viewing on a 4:3 crop, it'll be the same as it is now, but people with widescreen TVs get the advantage of a bigger picture.

I think it being filmed in wodescreen would benifit us. Would be able to see that little bit more of the house

Well I have just e-mailed C4 and E4 about this, and I will post here any reply if I receive one!

Emailing C4 is a bit pointless, since they don't make the programme - it's best to go straight to Endemol, so you can get a automatic fob-off from them :P

yes yes

but why has Widescreen been banned?

Yes, but it's more annoying for people without widescreen. Most of the screen gets cut off and they cant see the whole picture.

Buy a widescreen TV then, or use letterbox mode.

I think it has something to do with the Da Vinci Code thread and other religious threads over on General Discussion.

There doesn't have to be a reason for DS.

Just received a reply from Channel 4:


Hmmmm.............

So that will be no then

I have two problems with this thread.

1. Why are people so bothered and riled up about this? It's hardly important what aspect ratio BB is made in, does it? It's not going to change the content of the show and what's happenning in the house. This is the 5th consecutive year this topic's cropped up and I still don't understand it.

2. Still too much misinformation to people as to how widescreen works. Far too many people think a stretched 4:3 picture is widescreen. I've lost count of the amount of people who have their digital box set to 4:3 cut-out and stretch it to fill the screen meaning they have fat people and are losing the sides of the picture- totally ruining the point of having a w/s TV in the first place. Iit's the default mode in SKY, Cable & many freeview boxes. Installers often don't bother changing the settings even if the people have W/S TVs, and many people aren't aware of the different modes or what they do. Something should be done about this. Everyone bleats on about widescreen, but fail to offer any education on how it works. Sadly, many TV shops also have their TVs set up like this, and I went in a pub recently which had a massive plasma screen- showing a stretched 4:3 cut-out. It's no wonder people think this is all widescreen is about.

Maybe digiboxes should send a signal to the tv depending on how the image should be viewed, and the tv should decide how to adjust automatically, without distortion or chopped off edges?

I.E on a 4:3 tv, a widescreen picture would trigger the tv to letterbox mode. On a 16:9 tv, into 16:9 mode.

On a 16:9 tv, a 4:3 picture would trigger the widescreen tv to put bars at the edge, and 4:3, into 4:3 mode.

In other words, scrap this cut out and stretch etc manipulation and tell whinging people to put up with bars if the program doesnt fit the screens dimensions!

My hubby writes the software that most of your digiboxes use.

I'll pass on to him your suggestions 8skellerns, but I suspect his reply will be something along the lines of "bog off back to your hole - we have other more important things to sort out first, grrrr! " judging from the stress he's under at the moment (Although part of that might be our month-old baby screaming half the night ).

It might happen one day though....


Cxx

Just keep in mind Claire, the screaming most of the night, doesnt last for ever When they are wee you have wee problems, when they are big you have big problems...........
God, I sounded like my mother