I finally got an HD box from Rogers (3100 SA) a week ago and I'm amazed at the extraordinary clarity of 1080i programming (on a Panasonic CT-34WX53 widescreen CRT), especially some of the NFL playoff games this weekend. Incredible.

However, why the heck are a few stations (most notably City TV HD, but also Discovery HD sometimes) showing stuff with black bars on BOTH the top and bottom AND the right and left of the screen. What's up with this? The image area (inside the black frames) appears to be in the 16:9 dimension, but it is not (to say the least) filling my 16:9 screen. What's the explanation for this? It looks like a non-anamorphic DVD in 4:3 mode. Not good.

Hi, it's not true 1080i HD. All non true HD that is upconverted will not be true widescreen and will show those annoying bars.

Hi, it's not true 1080i HD. All non true HD that is upconverted will not be true widescreen and will show those annoying bars.

In that case, I don't think I have ever seen any true HD from Discovery HD - there are always bars at top and bottom. Are they misrepresenting themselves or just being optimistic?

In that case, I don't think I have ever seen any true HD from Discovery HD - there are always bars at top and bottom. Are they misrepresenting themselves or just being optimistic?

No, its a very good chance you haven't seen anything true HDTV on Discovery.

Which is why the CRTC should approve the application for Discovery HD Theater and HDNET. You don't need cancon for these channels, it's already there.

Your tax dollars at work and it's illegal to watch the programming you're paying for.

As we all know, all true HD is 16:9 and fills a widescreen TV screen. (excepting the odd movie who's OAR is not close to 16:9.)

Here's a link to Discovery HD programming.

http://www.discovery.ca/stories/2003/08/14/56.asp

See also the "what's on in HDTV" in the HT FAQs for links to more stations and HD Guides.

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=57

This is exactly why we should start an email campaign to the CRTC to have the license for DISHD, SportsnetHD, TSNHD and CITYHD revoked unless they start broadcasting a minimum amount on new, unique HD content each week during prime time. They should either put up or stop wasting our money. We all pay for the bandwidth the common carriers must use to feed these signals. *C just put their price up $3/mo to provide extra signals that the CRTC mandated and you can be sure that EV and cable will follow.

Yes, I'm not sure how or why it's an "HD" station when these non-HD broadcasts are on again and again. As a new subscriber, I was more than a little surprised to see this; a great way to confuse potential customers.

This is exactly why we should start an email campaign to the CRTC to have the license for DISHD, SportsnetHD, TSNHD and CITYHD revoked unless they start broadcasting a minimum amount on new, unique HD content each week during prime time. They should either put up or stop wasting our money. We all pay for the bandwidth the common carriers must use to feed these signals. *C just put their price up $3/mo to provide extra signals that the CRTC mandated and you can be sure that EV and cable will follow.

There is already a framework in place for this ... I don't recall the exact numbers and I'm too lazy to look for it (it's on the CRTCs site if anyone want to look for it) but, iirc, it was something along the lines of 25% HD programming by the end of 2004, 50% by the end of 2006 and 100% by the end of 2008, or something like that ... the document also included standards with regard to turning off analog broadcasts, saying when like 80% of the subscribers in an area are able to receive digital broadcasts, the cable company can turn off their analog services whenever they'd like after that time ... or something along those lines ...

Yes, I'm not sure how or why it's an "HD" station when these non-HD broadcasts are on again and again. As a new subscriber, I was more than a little surprised to see this
Even the best HD stations available in Canada only have about 20 hours per week of new HD. (PBS runs 16:9 full time, but a lot of it is repeats).

If you expected all HD, all the time, on HD stations, you didn't do your homework. When I bought my HDTV 2 years ago, we were happy to see a couple of programmes per week in HD, now there are about 100 hours per week of new HD programming on Rogers or BEV.

If you expected all HD, all the time, on HD stations, you didn't do your homework. When I bought my HDTV 2 years ago, we were happy to see a couple of programmes per week in HD, now there are about 100 hours per week of new HD programming on Rogers or BEV.

57: You may have misinterpreted my original message. The amount of programming in HD is fairly impressive (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.) as far as I can tell.

My issue is with the black-on-all-four-sides broadcasts that populate CityTV HD and Discovery HD. You don't find this a little odd?

It (windowboxing) simply indicates that there are more widescreen programmes on these channels. I wish they would "convert" these WS images to fill the HD display, even if they are not HD.

PBS does this to all its widesceen material and they have a lot of it. City did it for an episode or two of Enterprise a few months back. I guess it takes some "effort" and "effort" is not in the game plan.... Perhaps this causes problems with the commercials which are 4:3. PBS doesn't need to worry about commercials.

There are other shows like this - ER, etc on some of the other networks.

The 'rule' for digital broadcast is that if a program is "available" in HD, it must be shown in HD. What's the definition of "available"??

Also, they are allowed to offer a certain percentage (15%, IIRC) of different HD programming on their digital channel then they have on their analog channel (for example, the analog channel is showing 'Friends' and at the same time, the digital channel is showing 'Bikini Destinations' in HD).

BUT...Discovery is not a 'broadcast' channel, so I don't think the rules apply at all.

The infrastructure does not exist in Canada today to produce the hours of HDTV that some of the posters in this forum are demanding. There is no full scale HDTV production truck in Canada - all the games you have seen used a US truck.

You have seen the press reports on the deal that Bell and Rogers made to own Dome together. Dome Productions is building an HD production truck that will be on the road later this year. Expect to see a lot more HD sports on TSN and Sportsnet when this unit becomes available.

Originating programming in HDTV is expensive for broadcasters. New equipment is required and operating expenses go up. Running two feeds to serve HD and SD networks adds more complexity to an already complicated business. There is no economic return for the extra investment but broadcasters realise that HD is a fact of life and they have to offer the service.

In each organization there are champions of HD who push their companies to fund HD facilities and programming. Help them out by offering positive support when new HD services launch, even if the HD programming is limited at the beginning. Endless complaining, advocacy of letter writing campaigns to the CRTC and similar negative commentary don't encourage anyone to go the extra mile for more HDTV.

What's annoying is the launching of Canadian HD services knowing full well that there is no equipment in place to produce Canadian HD content and no money to do it.

Its clear to me that Canadian "HD" services are a means to block new US HD services...ie we already have Discovery HD in Canada so why do we need to import Discovery Theatre HD from the US. I will be surprised if we see much new content on the Canadian HD channels....I think any growth will come from the existing US HD channels.

Given this, bitching and complaining to anyone that will listen is a good idea....

Its clear to me that Canadian "HD" services are a means to block new US HD services...ie we already have Discovery HD in Canada so why do we need to import Discovery Theatre HD from the US. I will be surprised if we see much new content on the Canadian HD channels....I think any growth will come from the existing US HD channels.

The funny thing is... I'm pretty sure you'll see more Canadian HDTV content on the US HD networks right now then you will see on the Canadian ones...

Santo

On a daily basis you will see Canadian HD content on Discovery HD Theater. I'm glad our tax dollars are being used wisely :lol:

Also, the second season of the CBC series of An American In Canada starts next month on HDNET.