Right now,we discourage BDUs from downconverting as it does not work unless the aspect ratio is consistent . That could change with AFD.

Agreed. Thanks for your insight. If you hear more, could you keep us informed? Thanks.

First of all don't confuse aspect ratio and resolution.

I wasn't confusing anything. Every SD channel I get is 4:3. So, on wide screen material, you lose part of the picture or get letterbox. Either way you lose resolution, compared with HD, with the resolution loss far worse with letterbox. However, getting back to the original point, if both SD & HD are available, I'll watch HD. If HD is not available and the SD version is letterboxed or missing the sides, I'll see if I can find the show on DVD etc., before I'd watch the SD channel. Only if there is no other source available, will I watch an SD channel containing letterbox or chopped sides content. One thing I really resent is when a HD channel shows a letterbox or chopped sides show, instead of the proper wide screen version.

I wasn't confusing anything. Every SD channel I get is 4:3. So, on wide screen material, you lose part of the picture or get letterbox.

I am not talking about SD channels. I am talking about viewing HD broadcasts on a 4:3 television.

I am having an issue getting closed captioning on CBCHD 209 in Calgary. I have a Sharp Aquos TV and a DCT3416 HDPVR from Shaw and I have the closed captioning turned on at the PVR.

The closed captioning works on Channel 6 CBC but does not show up on channel 209. I can get closed captioning on other HD channels which makes me think it is something that CBC is doing or not doing.

Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks!

Captions are fine OTA. Shaw is investigating.

Thanks, Marc.

Just checked and it's working! Awesome service from CBC and Shaw.

Marc, any idea what the problem is with the program guide data on CBC HD over-the-air? Specifically I'm referring to the PSIP data on CBLT-DT in Toronto.

The PSIP generator was recieving the schedules but not inserting the data. It has been reset.

Marc, while we are at it, are we still looking at August for the new scheduler?

August 2011 is the hard deadline for a new automation system that can support dynamic PSIP. The deadline is for pictures and sound for the DTV transition. I can't say if the EPG module will be operational immediately.

Marc, I see the EPG is back on CBOT-DT as well. Could we get the time fixed to reflect DST?

Currently, the only Ottawa area DTV stations with the correct time are the three Rogers stations. SRC has no time, and Sun (formerly perfect) is now off by 10 hours and 12 minutes.

tvlurker,

The time is correct leaving Toronto, but it can be overwritten at the transmitter. I asked our transmitter people to look into this a few days ago. Hopefully this fixed by now. I cannot monitor it here. Please let me know.

tvlurker,

The time is correct leaving Toronto, but it can be overwritten at the transmitter. I asked our transmitter people to look into this a few days ago. Hopefully this fixed by now. I cannot monitor it here. Please let me know.
Thanks, Marc. I checked this morning, and the program data and the time seem to be back to normal.

The progression was: Off by an hour at the DST time change, then a week or two later, there was no data at all (just like CBOFT-DT in Ottawa, which has had neither time not program data for perhaps over a year), to this morning when all is well again.

Perhaps Marc can answer this:

Yesterday, June 12, at 5:00PM the CBC Toronto schedule listed the movie "Ella Enchanted" as being broadcast in HD. The actual broadcast was 4:3. I'm guessing it was only SD, since IMDB shows the OAR as being 1.85:1.

This same thing happened when it was shown a while back.

Is this an incorrect listing in the schedule or a technical problem with the broadcast?

There were no technical problems. Ella Enchanted is an SD program. I've asked someone to look into the scheduling issue.

Hi Marc,

I have noticed that the weekday Kids CBC programs tend to start up to 5 minutes early. For example I like to record Animal Mechanicals for my daughter, which is scheduled to start at 7:30am weekdays, but I have to tell my HTPC to start recording 5 minutes early to ensure I catch the beginning. Even then I once cut off a bit of the opening. Other days it starts almost on time. The following programs also seem to start the same amount early, so it is as if the whole schedule is off.

On weekends, it seems to be okay.

Any idea why this is happening? I can provide a specific example of a day where it is particularly bad if you like. I am seeing this on CBOT OTA if that helps.

According to the people make the program the broadcast schedules, 7:25 is the correct start time. The listing on the website is incorrect. She will be taking steps to correct this inconsistency later today. Thanks for passing that on.

One thing I really resent is when a HD channel shows a letterbox or chopped sides show, instead of the proper wide screen version.

I have noticed more of this lately on CBC via OTA, not sure if it is because it bothers me, ie more inclined to notice the rampant letter-boxing done by many Vancouver / Victoria channels, or what the reason might be.

I used to think the CBC was one of the better Canadian networks for showing films in full 16:9 HD (even in the after midnight time slots) but lately I am noticing more letter-boxing, either 4:3 SD or 16:9 SD, including films that have been readily available in HD for a number of years.

At this moment the CBC is showing "The Aviator" (2004) in 4:3 SD letter-box format, and a few days ago they broadcasted a film with the most extreme 16:9 SD letter-boxing that I have ever seen. The latter was so excessively done with black bars all around the video that approximately 50% of the screen was blank. The actual film almost looked the size of some PIP channel, not quite, but pathetic nonetheless.

The fact that this much letter-boxing is still done in 2011 (almost 2012) is my biggest pet peeve with many Canadian HD channels. When I see a letter-boxed film on major network television I typically turn the channel and look for a better source,, the exception being old or small independent type films.

When will letter-boxing on HD channels become a thing of the past for content that is available in 16:9 HD? by 2015 or 2020?

Actually some films should be letterboxed if the OAR is 2.35:1 since HD is only a 16:9 Aspect Ratio. I think what you are complaining about is windowboxing which is when a video is both letterboxed and pillarboxed.

I would argue that most (not just some) films should be letter-boxed. 1.78 (16:9) is not used for cinematic productions. The most common aspect ratio used for movies is 1.85, but it is close enough that they can easily pan&scan the image to 16:9 without loosing (or adding) too much detail, but a purist would want it letter-boxed to experience the film as the director intended.

I agree that Window-boxing is annoying, but can be hard (though not impossible) to avoid when the film's aspect ratio is less than 1.78 (but not 1.33, which equates to 4:3).