Virgin HD Channels Not Stretching to Widescreen

Swordfish

Swordfish

Swordfish

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Not sure if in correct section, but I'm in need of an answer to my problem.

I have Virgin v+ connected using HDMI to my Samsung 32" 720 TV and whenever I watch programmes broadcast on the HD channels the format is always 4:3 yet when watched on the SD version of the same channel in displays @ 16:9.

For example

Sky 1 SD Simpson's displays in 16:9
Sky 1 HD Simpson's displays in 4:3

This ONLY applies to programmes originally recorded in 4:3 format.

I have been through all the combinations of display options on the V+ box and TV but no avail.

Currently I have the V+ box set to

TV Display Format : Hi-Def HDMI
V+ Box Hi Def Output : 720 Wide

The TV is set to 16:9

TV is a Samsung.

Any ideas ? :confused::confused:
 
The HD channels transmit the programmes in their original aspect, whereas SD channels will transmit in wide screen regardless hence the difference between the two channels. You can override the transmission by using the aspect settings on you TV.
 
I would guess screen fit is taking the aspect ration from the transmission and using that. If you change it to 16:9 then you'll fill you'll screen and get the squashed look yo want. :p

Personally I like to watch programmes in their original aspect ration so just watch the SD channel if you want to see Simpsons in widescreen or HD if you want the HD goodness.
 
Not to be stupid but have you tried setting the vplus boxes output to 720 rather than 720wide, just to see what occurs?

Pretty sure I got a channel such as bbc hs or bbc news hd and then went thru the output options to find what was best, and things not appear fine at 720.
I find 2.5 men on comedy central shows in 4/3 and v small on sd, but on HD fills the screen beautifully.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Not to be stupid but have you tried setting the vplus boxes output to 720 rather than 720wide, just to see what occurs?

Pretty sure I got a channel such as bbc hs or bbc news hd and then went thru the output options to find what was best, and things not appear fine at 720.
I find 2.5 men on comedy central shows in 4/3 and v small on sd, but on HD fills the screen beautifully.
Click to expand...


do you mean set the V+ box to 720 and the TV to Fill ?

mm

Will try that
 
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That seams to fix the problem on the HD channels but now on other chanels such as comedy central which transmits in 2.35 : 1 (i think) for some of the new stuff and you get the black bars top and bottom this now appears like a little box in the middle.

Looks like I'll just go back to what I was doing before watch HD on the HD channel and if something is on that is in SD then I'll drop to the SD version of the channel.

Thing that gets me is when they remove the SD channel and transmit the HD only channel we will end up watching a lot of stuff in 4:3 instead of 16:9.
 
Swordfish said:
Thing that gets me is when they remove the SD channel and transmit the HD only channel we will end up watching a lot of stuff in 4:3 instead of 16:9.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on who it bothers most for the providers. Personally I like to watch programmes in their intended ratio, so I specifically put 4HD on if it's an old episode of the Simpsons because it was intended in 4:3 not 16:9. I can't stand stretched pictures.

Though I'm not sure how you quantify 'a lot of stuff' as I don't see that much in 4:3 nowadays and it's only old programmes that are which for me is very little.
 
jellybeard999 said:
As above, if it was produced in 4:3, watch it in 4:3. Letter/pillarboxing is far better than squashed or stretched pictures IMO.
Click to expand...

Maybe it's just me but I like the screen filled. I cant stand letterbox or pillarbox.

Whenever I watch anything on my PC that is 4:3 I changes the ration to 16:10 to match my monitor and tbh it looks better to me.
 
I was the same, but after getting use to 4:3 it's so much better.

Watching the Simpsons on an SD channel makes everyone look so fat! Upscaled picture is sharper too, so another benefit of watching it on the HD channel.
 
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