Written by Chris Albrecht
Posted Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM PT

 

Why Are Some HD Shows S T R E T C H E D?

So there you are, flipping through the crystal clear HD channels on your glorious flat screen, when you come across a show you kinda recognize, only all the actors have been replaced by stubby, wider versions of themselves. In this alternate universe, there are no circles, only ovals. Why, this isn’t HD at all, you think to yourself, they’ve just stretched out the picture! This is true, and here’s why some networks do it.

crossing_jordan2.jpg

First, it’s obvious that not everything was shot in HD originally. Episodes of shows like Seinfeld and Just Shoot Me were created for really old teevee. They’re naturally going to be in the traditional 4×3 aspect ratio, which doesn’t fit the modern 16×9 formatted screen. So if a network like A&E or TBS wants to simulcast their programming in both standard and high-definition, the older programs either need to have those black bars on the side to retain the original shape, or the picture has to be stretched to fill the screen.

But is a stretched picture better than black bars? (I want to know your opinion on that in a second.) According to A&E and TBS — yes.

people_court_bars2.jpg

I spoke with Dan Silberman, vice president of publicity for A&E Television Networks. “Research was done and people preferred it this way,” said Silberman, “It’s not a perfect solution. This way if they want to see it stretched they can, or they can watch it in 4×3 on the standard definition channel.”

Clyde Smith, senior vice president global broadcast technology and standards for Turner Broadcasting emailed me a more historical and technical answer. Evidently, when the company first started HD broadcasts, they didn’t stretch the picture, instead using black bars, but that caused problems. According to Smith:

WTBS received some complaints from viewers. It was found that most complaints came from those with plasma displays or older projection systems. They informed us the side panels on the channel 20 signal were burning into their displays. In most early HD displays, and in many of those still available today, if the display received a 1080 signal, they could not adjust the aspect ratio to fill the screen and so there was no way for the viewer to fill the screen and avoid the burn in.

TBS also found out that people didn’t like the size of the picture changing. Additionally, TBS did not have the HD rights to some of its movie content. Those rights would have to be negotiated, which would delay the availability of some movies, which are shot widescreen, on its HD channel.

tbs_stretch2.jpg

But the stretching story doesn’t stop there. There are different kinds of stretching techniques used. If you look at the top screen cap of A&E’s Crossing Jordan (hey, isn’t that Chip from Kate & Allie?), the entire picture is stretched out using what’s called a central panoramic stretch method. That’s what produces those squat images.

The screen cap from Just Shoot Me lower down sports a different stretch technology. TBS worked with a company called Teranex to develop an algorithm called Flexview. This method scans the image and determines what the most important part is. This important area is kept at the normal ratio while stretching out what it deems less important. So for a sit-com like Just Shoot Me, most of the action is taking place in the middle, which retains the normal shape with the sides being stretched out. It’s harder to notice the distortion until the camera moves, which creates a warped hall of mirrors effect.

The issue of stretching or black bars will eventually become irrelevant as more content is created from day one in HD. Mr. Silberman from A&E says that all of its original programming, except for one show, will be shot in HD moving forward. And as newer shows shot in a widescreen format move into syndication, they’ll replace the older ones that literally don’t fit.

Until then, which solution do you prefer? Cast your vote in our poll and sound off in our comment section.

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Comments & Trackbacks

  1. Here in the United Arab Emirates where for many people money is not at all tight 16:9 format flat screens are selling like hot cakes.

    In all the bars, cafés and patisseries (where people are consuming their hot cakes) the screens mounted are all wide format. No channel broadcasts anything but 4:3 SD.

    Invariably the viewers are treated to the bloated view shown in your first illustration on this post.

    Indeed this ‘wide bodied’ morphology is becoming a serious role model for the population here.

    (Or nmaybe that’s just the hot cakes.)

    Sandlander on December 16th, 2007 at 12:47 am - Permalink

  2. I don’t want a streched or cut picture, period. I want the original work from the author as much as possible with the device I use.

    I believe that people prefer the streched image because they want to fill their new expensive gizmo to impress their peers.

    Jean on December 16th, 2007 at 2:14 am - Permalink

  3. [...] wider versions of themselves. In this alternate universe, there are no circles, only ovals. Why? Continue Reading on NewTeeVee Share/Send Sphere Print Previous [...]

    Why Are Some HD Shows S T R E T C H E D? - GigaOM on December 16th, 2007 at 5:59 am - Permalink

  4. We shouldn’t cater to the idiots: the correct answer is ALWAYS the original aspect ratio. The thinking that “users like it better this way” leads to stupidity like cropping 2.35:1 movies to fit 16:9 screens (basically, cutting off the right and left parts of the movie) because people don’t like black bars at the top and bottom.

    Vincent J. Murphy on December 16th, 2007 at 6:23 am - Permalink

  5. A&E is wrong is everything is stretched. Not all TVs can “squeeze” their pictures, but almost all can “Fill” screen. Also, the 4:3 SD channel provided by my cable company is quite crap. Death to 480i.

    TBSHD and TNTHD are worthless except for sports.

    Vincent is correct. Broadcasters should ALWAYS use original Aspect Ratio. End of story.

    jj on December 16th, 2007 at 7:16 am - Permalink

  6. Soon, we’ll be paying an extra $200 for TVs with “Anti-Flexview Technology”

    Brian White on December 16th, 2007 at 8:20 am - Permalink

  7. simply not true HD. they werent shot able to conform properly to 16:9. there is a process to do this, but you lose some picture and the process is long and expensive, the other option, stretching!

    forchilli on December 16th, 2007 at 8:47 am - Permalink

  8. The Flexview stuff sounds like the evolution of “pan & scan” – I say deliver everything in it’s original display ratio and let me decide on my TV how to handle it. My sets have several options of stretching and zooming, or doing nothing. But I’m geekier than most. When I think about my mom, the best solution is to fill the screen (using whatever method). She won’t know the difference, but she does notice black bars.

    Dave Zatz on December 16th, 2007 at 9:50 am - Permalink

  9. Anything but original aspect ratio is an abomination. Consumers need to insist on accurate content, and receiver and display manufacturers can then outfit devices with choices appropriate for those who want to distort their viewing. Don’t maim the content, once that’s done there’s little that can be done to view it properly.

    Logical Extremes on December 16th, 2007 at 2:58 pm - Permalink

  10. The whole squatty body issue has kept allot of people turned off to the purchase of an H. D. set. It has been displayed this way in the stores , from the big box places to the higher end specialty retailers , and is partially to blame for the slow uptake of H.D. by older Americans. The picture on a 720 p display , which Wal-Mart thinks is the second coming of Kool-Aid , has also got a big hurdle to overcome with sports fans. Even with an H.D. signal , the pictures are streaked and leave ghosts… it looks horrible. No one is gonna shell out the bucks for a lower quality of reception. The industry has been completely unwilling to acknowlege these issues…thanks for this great article . I will use it to grease the pockets … uhh , I mean inform those with the giving spirit of Saint Nick in their hearts and a sales add in their purse. Merry Christmas to all Web-Workers worldwide.

    coldhitz on December 16th, 2007 at 9:19 pm - Permalink

  11. [...] New TV explains why this is. My vote is for the black bars, play the show like it was meant to seen and don’t mess with the aspect ratio. [...]

    Why HD TV Shows are sometimes stretched | Rick Tech on December 16th, 2007 at 9:38 pm - Permalink

  12. I think flatscreens should have a “cropping” option similar to the latest Quicktime upgrade, that way people can fill their screens if they so choose w/o streching…

    Jason Tompkins on December 16th, 2007 at 10:46 pm - Permalink

  13. [...] has an interesting piece up discussing why (and how) some television networks stretch 4:3 content to fill 16:9 screens. Given [...]

    Zatz Not Funny!»Blog Archive » How Would You Like 4:3 Content On Your 16:9 HDTV? on December 17th, 2007 at 8:58 am - Permalink

  14. Quote: I think flatscreens should have a “cropping” option similar to the latest Quicktime upgrade, that way people can fill their screens if they so choose w/o streching…

    My Dish network receiver actually offers the option of putting up grey bars (not designed for this purpose, though, but rather to minimize burn in when watching 4:3 content.)
    This turns out not to be a good alternative because
    A) since they are stretching the content, you are losing even more content since they’ve stretched part of the picture into the widescreen portions (so if you put up the bars, you cut off people’s faces)
    B) In most cases the stretched content still falls into the viewable 4:3 area.

    No, the solution is for them not to stretch. They should put a fancy logo in the black bar areas so your screen is filled with that, which is what ESPN HD does.

    Reb on December 17th, 2007 at 1:19 pm - Permalink

  15. [...] Is your TV network screwing up your HD picture? [...]

    News Cast Live, formerly Mike Thinks News » NewsCast LIVE #153 Private Encryption, Private Advertising, Private class to be a journalist on December 17th, 2007 at 3:53 pm - Permalink

  16. After seeing the stretching done by the latest Quicktime release that does something like the Central panoramic stretch, I think the panoramic idea is better so you don’t have to deal with squished heads.

    Johnny on December 17th, 2007 at 4:09 pm - Permalink

  17. So here in the UK we have the same issue, with broadcasters now now originating nearly all material 16:9, and using the available signalling technologies (AFD & WSS) to tell the receivers that this is so.

    For a digital receiver or set top box (which is SD DVB, be it terrestrial, satellite or cable), as long as its been told what aspect ratio its glass is, it can take an intelligent guess at how to display the input. Nearly all receivers will display 4:3 input on 16:9 glass as pillar box (ie black side bars), I don’t think many people – expert or not – like the stretched view. For a 16:9 input on 4:3 glass you usually get a choice in the receiver of centre cut out (ie lose the sides of the picture) or letter box (black bars top and bottom).

    What the BBC have done with their simulcast analogue transmission is a classic British compromise – aspect ratio convert the 16:9 source to 14:9, but retaining the correct geometry. So you get narrow black bars top and bottom, and a strip of cut off image at each side. This sort of works, but does leave visible aretefacts when vertical interval data (eg WSS) gets sucked into active picture.

    Some up market set top boxes can also do 14:9 scaling, but its a techie thing to set up, and most won’t go there.

    If thy plasma screen burns in , well maybe thou spent too longst watching it. Go out and get a life:-)

    SimonSSE on December 21st, 2007 at 1:50 am - Permalink

  18. Everything should be shown in the aspect ratio it was created in. I can’t stand it when people say “oh but I don’t like the bars.” You’d rather see squished heads?! It makes no sense! Show content in the same ratio it was created, and let viewers bastardize it if they want.

    Charlie D. on December 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 pm - Permalink

  19. Hi:

    I just sent this to TBS & A&E:

    Have you lost your minds?

    I just got a HDTV & cable upgrade to HD. I was originally happy to see your channels have been to added to HD. Upon looking at your shows & movies, everything is stretched out. Have you lost your minds? You are distorting the original work. I don’t watch TV to see people become fatter!

    I’ll tune to HD discovery, thank you. I’d rather watch the same show every day than watch a squished Jessica Alba!

    Bert on February 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am - Permalink

  20. I don’t understand why people are so passionate about original aspect ratio. As if you’re gonna miss some wonderfully insightful use of camera on “Just Shoot Me.” Pfff…even if you’re talking about a movie who really cares. It’s not as if anything on television is actually worth a shit anyways.

    Jerry on February 9th, 2008 at 11:15 pm - Permalink

  21. Because Jerry, some of us actually prefer artistic integrity. Which means no distortion and no cropping. Letterboxing/pillarboxing should not be feared.

    Ben L on March 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am - Permalink

  22. With newer TV and Receivers and the built in Zoom and Stretch features the is no need to STRETCH HD CHANNELS!!!! STOP STRETCHING PLEASE. I can’t stretch vertically with my TV or Sat receiver.

    And why is one new show in true hd and the next new episode STRETCHED. Now I know it’s called “central panoramic stretch method.

    Thanks for giving me another place to vent. A&E won’t listen…

    John on March 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm - Permalink

  23. ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIOS SHOULD BE LAW!!!

    Miggity on March 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am - Permalink

  24. Turner and AE-Networks are out of their damn mind. Hey Turner/AE! Take a look around. You’re the only idiots doing this!

    STOP RUINING MY HISTORY HD CHANNEL!

    Miggity on March 29th, 2008 at 8:45 am - Permalink

  25. Well I don’t know if I’m the only one that’s thought of this solution, but with my HD TV, I have the option to choose either a full screen mode (which displays all signals in 16×9 whether it’s broadcast like that or not) or a 4:3 mode. So for instance, right know I’m watching True Lies on A&E HD. The image from A&E is stretched out, but I set my TV to 4:3 and it adjusts the signal back to a 4:3 aspect ration. So I don’t know about anyone else, but this whole to stretch or not debate doesn’t apply to me at all.

    John on March 29th, 2008 at 9:50 pm - Permalink

  26. To the last poster, that is only an option on most HD TV’s if you are not actually getting the signal converted to full 720P or 1080i. True HD signals maintain the 16:9 ratio.
    What kills me is when A&EHD plays a classic like “The Godfather” and I see the message that the film has been “altered to fit” the television and then I am treated to a fat, short Marlon Brando.
    Original Aspect Ratio please or kindly remove the “Arts” from your name because you obvisouly have no respect for the art of film making.

    Ken on April 7th, 2008 at 4:30 pm - Permalink

  27. They should be stretched. Nothing like having a 50″ TV but onyl using 30″ of it. STRETCH!

    Zach on September 15th, 2008 at 1:37 pm - Permalink

  28. I just bought a new 32″ HDTV 1080P Sceptre which I am taking back…the remote sucks, the menu and sub-titles are so small you have to stand in front of the TV to read
    them.

    So what is the big deal with HD? If I have to watch short fat people I’ll stick with my 27″ 5 yr. old TV, which is looking a lot better now that I have seen the NEW technology. If I use the ratio that is normal, it’s smaller than the old TV.

    Rita Reed on December 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm - Permalink

  29. On my brand new HD TV I get a grey line at the top and bottom of the screen with the HD signal ?? Why ??

    Oliver on December 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm - Permalink

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