One of the best examples of HD programming in my opinion is Smart Travels: Europe with Rudy Maxa. This weeks episode - Salzburg & the Lakes District, seemed to have been screwed up. They took the 16:9 show and stretched it as you would a 4:3 show so it was extra wide. Even the titles were cut off on the sides. I switched my TV into 'normal' mode and it looked fine as a 4:3 image (minus the missing content on both sides).

How does something like this happen? I'm recording it again today to see if it was a transmission error. You would think that anyone watching would see that it is stretched and flip the switch.

Has anyone seen this episode in the last couple of days where it looked correct?

Alan

Watched it on the Seattle feed on SC - no problems

Has anyone seen this episode in the last couple of days where it looked correct?I caught the better part of it last night and it looked perfect.

I saw the tail end of the show in question and wondered if my STB had gone strange on me! I didn't check the western PBS feed as the show was ending. I did check the next PBS show to see if it too was stretched but that was OK. I guess there was some 'problem' in Detroit.

I hope things like this are just rare glitches. I don't want to subscribe to the time shifting HD package just to be able to watch HD programs properly, though the recent debacle over Saving Private Ryan suggests that Detroit WXYZ might censor more shows deemed 'unfit' for family viewing.

I was just starting to watch it tonight and noticed the same thing -- all stretched. The scenery looked ok, but Rudy Maxa looked a little fat!!

yea great show i also noticed the problem iwas watching detroit on *c

Problem definitely confirmed. Recorded and watched the Austria programme today. Missing titles off the side. Oblong circles, fat Rudy...

Please e-mail them and advise them of the issue. They have been responsive to my e-mails in the past. Here's the address. Any others who noticed, please do likewise. Thanks.

email@dptv.org

I've been a member of PBS Detroit (digital) for several years. If you're a viewer and are not a member, please become one. It helps with the great programming they provide.

In my case PBS seems to always be higher definition out of the west coast than Detroit. It's obvious if I compare the two back to back.

I wonder if this is a possible reason for the picture stretching problem......

"We've heard from many viewers as WTVS Detroit PBS continues to be off the air due to extensive damage from a lightning strike to our transmitter on November 5. Thank you for your patience and support. Today, service was restored to Charter cable system and we are working with other cable and satellite providers to get WTVS back on. For over-the-air viewers, however, we regret to report that damage was extensive and repairs will take another week or more. Viewers who have a digital receiver may access our regular programs on WTVS-DT, subchannel 2. Again, we apologize for the loss of service, but we appreciate your support as our team of technicians work long hours to restore our programs to everyone soon."

The above is from their web site.

In my case PBS seems to always be higher definition out of the west coast than Detroit. It's obvious if I compare the two back to back.
PBS Detroit is 720P, while Spokane is 1080i. I have not noticed a significant difference myself, but havn't looked in a while. It could also depend on your TV, whether you "passthrough" on your STB. etc.

PBS Detroit has DD5.1 on some programmes and a logo, while Spokane doesn't... After Monday, I can no longer compare. :(

Rudy's just been eating too much of that German cheese! :p

I noticed the same thing yesterday. I have Expressvu.

I got a similar response to Harl:

To Our Viewers, Monday, November 15, 2004

Viewer Advisory - November 15, 2004
WTVS Detroit PBS is currently off the air due to extensive damage from a lightning strike to our transmitter on November 5. While many cable subscribers are receiving a direct connection to our signal, we regret the inconvenience to viewers who cannot receive our signal. If you are currently without service, please know that repairs are underway so that we may be back on the air as quickly as possible. We hope to restore service to all viewers by this weekend, although the detection of additional damage during the repair work would cause a delay.

As far as repeating programs that were missed, that decision will not be made until we are back on the air. Please check back at that time.

Thanks for your patience, and for watching and supporting Detroit Public TV.Edit - I don't believe they read my e-mail properly though. I've replied and indicated that only Smart Travels has this issue of being stretched. I checked Smart Gardening just now it it's fine.

I just got the following reply from Detroit:

"I am going to copy and paste the response I got from our Chief Engineer to your inquiry. Here it is:

We do not see this on our receivers here and no
> local viewers have reported it, either. I believe this could be an
> issue with the receivers (set-top box) used by Rogers Cable, but we
> can't monitor their service and the best thing for him to do is call
> them first.

Bill Van Horn
Member Services Facilitator
Detroit Public Television "


That doesn't make sense to me - other programs appear to be displayed correctly. I guess contacting Rogers would be next. However, I do recall WTVS ch90 having audio sync problems which I complained about. Rogers said it was incoming while Detroit said it was a Rogers problem. I see it happens from time to time even now, but not to the extent it used to be.
I guess this is going to be another 'passing the buck' thing!