I hope it is broadcast in widescreen this year, as all programmes look much better in widescreen, and there is literally no place to hide, we'll be able to see nearly everything.

Well, looking at the auditions and specials on E4 this week, it ain't looking likely.

Yep

Is it expensive, or something, to broadcast in widescreen format?

Is it not to do with the type of cameras they use? It's all surveilance cameras is it not? It would be strange to switch from 4:3 to 16:9 everytime the camera angle changes.

Well you wouldn't have thought so as TV stations are all geared up to both show and record in widescreen.

However, if there is any chance that they can p*ss off 1000s of people, they will.

They have vision processors, so it's no problem at all to zoom a 4:3 camera's output and broadcast it in widescreen. That way all the cameras match up or can be made to do so.

There simply is no technical excuse for it. It simply comes down to if they want to or in this case, NOT.

Noooo not wide screen

I would love it to be widescreen but wouldn't you lose quality if you zoom in on a normal 4:3 camera instead of using dedicated 16:9 ones?

I dont want it in widescreen. I like 4:3

Yes slightly, but as even their smallest security type cameras cost well into the £1000s (not like home use £39.99 ones from Argos) they would still be so close to broadcast quality that you wouldn't notice the difference.

Lots of programmes are "processed" for one reason or another before actual broadcast and when you are talking about the price range of their equipment, (into the 100,000s of pounds) quality loss is minimal.

(You can tell I'm jealous of their equipment, can't you?)



EDIT: we are talking about the same people who spent £3,000 per Egg chair!

Widescreen programmes look terrible on a normal 4:3 TV. Heads can be cut off and it looks rediculous.
Maybe when 4:3 TVs are no longer around and widescreen is the only option then perhaps broadcasters might use it more.

Someone called Bigus_Dikus jealous of someone elses equipment? Never?

I've got a cheap black and white cctv cam I use every now and then to record my self and pretend I'm on Big Brother, Sad.

I find wide screen extremely annoying/irritating.

Oh that stereo sound must be annoying to, much prefer mono.

All other reality type shows use the same cameras - and they're all in widescreen.

Celeb Love Island, The Farm, IACGMOOH!

Oh you like pictures? - I prefer just listening to it on my Crystal Set.

Exactly! There is no technical reason stopping them.

I can't remember which show it was, but there was another Endemol produced reality show a few months ago, which was in widescreen - and the camera's on the wall were huge!

They could always crop the footage from the surveillance cameras to 16:9 but you loose some quality (and part of the picture?) then.

Just stick some masking tape on the top of the bottom of the camera lense - instant widescreen.

The plasma screen in the house is widescreen.

It always is.

But the picture is always stretched...

I think perhaps the fact BB has been shopping for cameras this year (the new thermal cam(s) in the bedroom) means it's a little more likely that they'll have replaced the 4:3 ones with 16:9. Saying that though, the p/z/t cams on the press photo's look identical to those used last year.

(Edit: P/Z/T = Pan, Zoom, Tilt)

Maybe, but we arent talking HDTV standards here, just 576 lines, which i think normal cameras are capable of, when you zoom in on their widescreen region.

Blue Peter "Make your very own widescreen camera with some sticky backed plastic..."



But seriously, whether you do it that way or do it electronically, you won't be losing any of the picture as you will just compose your shot as to fit the new frame shape.

Having said that, even when it is in widescreen, they normally try to keep all the action in the middle so that 4:3 viewers can cut off the sides without missing the action.

Yes, and mine has a zoom function if you press the right buttons



Showhow, I believe you