I noticed just now that CBC HD is running the UK Antiques Road Show in 16x9. When I did a side-by-side comparison, it was quite clear that the original 4x3 broadcast was slightly letterboxed but CBC is cropping the top and bottom to make it 16x9. I doubt it matters too much on this show, but it's a little discouraging to see that we are now getting reverse-P&S on HD channels...

Hugh,
Thanks for the info. I sent an email to Bev and included the link for the CBC pdf

I just received this email from Bev: (side note the response was sent to me 12 hours after my initial email)

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We hope that you are
enjoying your Bell ExpressVu Satellite system.

We understand your interest in viewing CBC in HD, however, we do not
have any information available at this time about its broadcast. We
will be sure to inform our subscribers once the information becomes
available.

I doubt it matters too much on this show, but it's a little discouraging to see that we are now getting reverse-P&S on HD channels...
But you're not....read on other sections about British shows (ie. Cornation Street).

When I did a side-by-side comparison, it was quite clear that the original 4x3 broadcast was slightly letterboxed but CBC is cropping the top and bottom to make it 16x9. I doubt it matters too much on this show, but it's a little discouraging to see that we are now getting reverse-P&S on HD channels...

If you watch Star Trek Enterprise it looks letterboxed on SD channels and full screen in HD. Same thing happens on all HD programming shown on SD channels like Bell's Discovery almost HD and TSN almost HD.

But you're not....read on other sections about British shows (ie. Cornation Street).

Actually, daveharr is correct and CBC is infact zooming in UK programming. The only copies that CBC currently have are in 14:9 letterboxed format, not 16:9 letterboxed or anamorphic. When CBC zooms it to 16:9, they actually are cropping a bit extra off the top. On a Rogers SA3250HD, if you tune into the SD channel and use the box in zoom mode, you will see that the picture looks exactly the same in terms of what is being cropped on the HD channel. What CBC needs to do is obtain the 16:9 anamorphic masters from the UK and play those out on their HD channel, while using an Aspect Ratio Converter to change it to 16:9 letterbox, 14:9 letterbox, or 4:3 centre-cut for their SD channel.

Wonderland was in HD last night and looked good. It was letterboxed on the SD channels.

I had some major "jittering" on Wonderland (on my SA8000) when fast camera moves were executed. It looked terrific overall, but the jittering made it virtually unwatchable for me.

What CBC needs to do is obtain the 16:9 anamorphic masters from the UK and play those out on their HD channel, while using an Aspect Ratio Converter to change it to 16:9 letterbox, 14:9 letterbox, or 4:3 centre-cut for their SD channel.

I have been talking with my friend who works in the technical end of CBC and he says that the BBC shoot in 14:9 and do not have any 16:9 'masters'. CBC transmits the format that shows are received in and do not alter them.

At the moment there's a discussion (at CBC) about the placement of the CBC HD logo in the bottom right corner. The graphics dept has a plasma screen which doesn't have any cutoff, so the logo looks fine when they look at it. However, crt based home HDTV's have a bit of cutoff so at the moment the logo looks cropped, with the 'D' of 'HD' off the screen. If the logo is moved a bit more into the picture, then a bit of it will start to show on the regular SD channels (most of the time, shows will be simulcast). The only other option is to reduce the overall size of the logo.

The big problem seems to be audio. 5.1 is quite complicated so my friend is curious as to how the Harry Potter movie will sound when it runs on Sunday. For CBC this move into HD and 5.1 is a big learning curve so I imagine things will not always be as they should be at the beginning.

Two quick comments.

1. When watching The Newsroom, I noticed that the DD5.1 audio did follow the characters. For example,when Finkelman was walking back and forth left to right in that scene in the hallway, the sound followed him perfectly left to right and right to left - several times - on my speakers. However, there was no use of the center speaker, or of the surrounds. Stereo on a DD5.1 signal I guess...

I didn't bother listening to the analogue audio with DPL decoding... Perhaps next time.

2. I noticed the logo was quite close to the right side - similar to the Fox Detroit logo. I have the overscan on my TV set for just under 3% and both logos are "on screen" for me, but since many HDTVs have 4-6% overscan, there would be some cutoff of the logo.

I have been talking with my friend who works in the technical end of CBC and he says that the BBC shoot in 14:9 and do not have any 16:9 'masters'. CBC transmits the format that shows are received in and do not alter them.Your friend is dead-wrong. BBC works in 16:9, and broadcasts in digital using 16:9. When they broadcast over their old analogue 4:3 channels, they use 14:9 letterbox, rather than 16:9 ... but the material is all done in 16:9. When you watch BBC in the UK on a 16:9 set, you don't see any black bars on the side, nor do you see that the image has been cropped at the bottom.

Point your friend to the BBC's page explaining all this at http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/digital_widescreen.shtml

Now why BBC (and Granada) are passing 14:9 tapes to CBC rather than 16:9 is another story.

Nick

Looks like CBC-HD is available now, channel 286 on the guide. Cable was out for 2 hours this morning but it's back now and it's there.

nfitz, great link, thanks

Cogeco has CBC HD on channel 286. Might not be available in all Cogeco areas.

I just noticed that the CBCHD channels are listed for this week on their HDTV schedule (http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cable/digitaltvpurchase/HDTV_schedule.pdf) starting on Sat. March 5th!
I didn't see them yet on my IPG in Toronto area yet...

BBC works in 16:9, and broadcasts in digital using 16:9BTW, I just confirmed this with some contacts in UK who do contract work for BBC.
The BBC certainly do not shoot in 14:9. If they shoot widescreen it is 16:9. If they do not shoot 16:9, then it is 4:3.

However, a lot of the international masters made of 16:9 programmes are 14:9, that is, a 14:9 crop within a 4:3 raster. This is possibly what CBC are getting - it is certainly what is shown on UK channels such as UK Gold of shows like Casualty and Holby City which have for many years been made 16:9.

Its on 286 in Sarnia as well. No program guide info as of yet, but the channel is working. Hopefully the National will be in HD.

I didn't see them yet on my IPG in Toronto area yet...Huh? I've had IPG programming info starting today on my IPG at least since Monday. I've already done my CBC-HD programming for the next week... (yes individual programmes at specific times, not "test")

Perhaps you're in a different area. If you still don't have CBCHD IPG info, reboot your STB, it may force a download.

I didn't see them yet on my IPG in Toronto area yet...The test channels have been on the IPG for over a week; and 272/273 have been there since at least Monday, in Toronto. Perhaps you need to reboot.

Nick

. Hopefully the National will be in HD.Nope, but some programmes are. See the official CBC-HD thread.

The test channels have been on the IPG for over a week; and 272/273 have been there since at least Monday, in Toronto. Perhaps you need to reboot.

Nick

yup, I just checked with the wife (I'm at work now)...they are there!...thnx....