I think what you are complaining about is windowboxing which is when a video is both letterboxed and pillarboxed.

Ok windowboxing then, but the comment is still pertinenet, IMO HD channels should "strive" to actually show HD content (especically movies that are readily available), the amount of windowboxing (both 4:3 and 16:9) is done too often and by too many Canadian channels.

The OAR is obviously ideal, most networks on both sides of the border tend to show all their HD content 1.78 which is a heck of a lot better than 4:3 "windowboxed" SD.

roger1818,
The director may intend that the picture be seen on television at 1.78 even if the cinema version is 1.85 ratio. The slightly larger width for a cinema screen may be irrelevant if the director shoots for 1.78 and protects the 1.85 ratio. Pan and scan may be required for 2.35 but for most 1.85 the most appropriate and least expensive treatment may be a simple center crop. The difference between 1.78 and 1.85 is just 75 pixels on each side. Stated differently, on an HDTV with a 30 wide screen, the difference is 1/2 inch on each side. Of course, the purists will still object.

Whenever I watch 1.85 movies on my HDTV on an HD channel (if the movie has not been reformatted for 1.78), I usually see thin black bars above and below the movie with my TV set for zero percent overscan. If the TV is set for the typical 16:9 (2-3% overscan), you don't notice anything different from anything else you watch on TV.

Let's get back to the topic of this thread - CBC-HD please. Thanks.

OK, back to CBCHD. Can someone maybe give me some advice on who I should be complaining to and how? Since the transition, I'm still getting everything on CBC boxed in, not sure what we're calling it now, vertical and horizontal bars. I've received no response from either CBC or Cogeco regarding my complaints.

OK, back to CBCHD. Can someone maybe give me some advice on who I should be complaining to and how? Since the transition, I'm still getting everything on CBC boxed in, not sure what we're calling it now, vertical and horizontal bars. I've received no response from either CBC or Cogeco regarding my complaints.
The new CBC digital transmitters, like Windsor, haven't fully transitioned to HD in prime time.

Here is official info from a Digital Home member who works at CBC:

We are having some difficulties implementing a new automation system to support all the new HD streams.

When there's a problem, we have to revert to the old SD system which is up converted for the digital transmitters this can result in undesirable aspect ratios. This only affects stations that converted to digital this month. Stations that were already HD have a fallback to a version of the old system which can produce HD without up conversion.

The vendor of the new system has staff in Toronto and in the UK working on these issues. New versions of software are being developed and tested daily.

The CBC Atlantic stations (that went digital on 8/31) are testing new automation software as we speak. In Windsor, the AM children's schedule is in HD, and as of today the afternoon schedule went HD. Hopefully primetime will be soon to follow.

There was also an EPG issue that was resolved.

See this topic for the full story: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144966

Thanks for the info Ken, I was hoping it was still just an issue of getting the bugs out. I guess I can deal with it as long as I know there's how at the end of the tunnel.

Well, yet another Sat. night in 4:3. :(

Yet another Saturday night without 5.1 sound in game...

Well, yet another Sat. night in 4:3. :(
The latest update from Marc is that the entire network will get full time HD capability on Monday 11/7/11. EPG is scheduled for 11/28/11.

Yet another Saturday night without 5.1 sound in game...

I talked to someone I know who is a sports audio engineer (though not currently for CBC) about this and he has a few ideas why this may be (I will try and paraphrase what he told me).

First of all CBC had a big shakeup this year with the main mixer they've had for the past 15 years leave. The guy who is doing the Toronto games is capable of doing 5.1, but depending on how the 5.1 mix gets transmitted, it could be easier mixing stereo.

Secondly, the addition of the Jets, has put a wrinkle into the way things are done for all Canadian broadcasters. More and more rental trucks are being used by other broadcasters so this is also likely true for the CBC. Rental trucks may or may not be able to do 5.1 and even if they do support it, it may not be the same as it is on their trucks. With Battle of the Blades going on, they have been using rental trucks in Toronto all season - so, until its finished, that will likely continue.

This is a no-hockey thread. Any future posts about hockey will be deleted. Use the following Hockey thread?

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=143951

It looks like the CBC has got it's automation software problems resolved for the entire network, as CBET-DT in Windsor is passing HD in prime time.

I heard a few very brief audio issues during the 6pm news, little pops or snaps. So far Coronation Street seems fine.

Woo Hoo!

Wow, sooner than I thought. I was getting so annoyed with this, I started watching on CBC's streaming page. Glad to see Cori back the way it should be. :)

Anyone else in the Ottawa area experiencing sound problems with CBC News Channel (Rogers 26)?

For the last few days the sound for this channel, when fed through my surround sound system, is extremely garbled and all but inaudible. The sound is fine when I take the surround sound system out of the loop.

It's like the audio channels are getting mixed up or cross-fed. When I call Rogers they say the problem isn't evident on their end.

Thanks for your help.

Tony

Are you viewing this via an HD STB? This channel is remapped to the HD channel if you are. On the HD channel CBC, CBC NN (whenever they don't have a true DD5.1 programme) will send an improperly encoded DD5.1 signal - with only the LF & RF speakers active. This will sound different from other properly encoded channels, or DD2.0 channels with DPL decoding. This is discussed in the following FAQ:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17870

Perhaps you're also using the incorrect DSP in your AVR. The AVR should say something like "Dolby Digital" and the audio should be coming out the LF & RF speakers only when viewing this sort of channel, unless you have some sort of extra processing taking place in the AVR which would be "incorrect" for any channel. Of course on most channels, the dialogue will come out the center speaker when set to Dolby Pro Logic for DD2.0 and for properly encoded DD5.1.

Useful Post: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741

Sounds fine in Toronto on Rogers 26 through my sound system this morning.

I'm viewing via a HD PVR.

Last night I investigated a little further:

On channels (all Rogers, Ottawa) 008 & 514 HD CBO as well as 026 CBCNN HD the sound is garbled in my usual DSP setting. However, if I try other DSP settings, the sound on two of the DSP settings comes out clearly but from the rear speakers only.

On the equivalent SD channels (128 CBOT & 189 CBCNN) the sound is fine.

I'm no expert but this would indicate to me—that since the only problems I have are with CBC HD channels—that the problem stems from the CBC source.

I'm viewing via a HD PVR.

I'm no expert but this would indicate to me—that since the only problems I have are with CBC HD channels—that the problem stems from the CBC source.

But if it works for me and Rogers, I would say the problem lies with your receiver and/or set up
If some DSP modes work, and others don't, use one that works.

OttawaTony123: I agree with Marc, it sounds like you've got AVR setup/connection issues. I just tested Ch26 myself and as I stated earlier, the DD5.1 signal has audio out the LF & RF speakers when there is no additional processing in the AVR (Dolby Digital input/output). I suggest you run the test tones of your AVR to ensure that the setup and connections are correct. Make sure you have the main (LF & RF) speakers turned on (sometimes people push the Speaker A button by mistake turning these off - check to ensure you have audio from the Left Front and Right Front speakers). (The test tone function may have audio from those speakers even when they're turned off by the speaker switch)

If you still have problems after testing, please post in the AVR forum here, advising us of exactly what the problem is, what the make/model of the AVR is, what connection you're using from the STB to the AVR, make/model of the STB, what setting you're using in the STB (should be Dolby Digital), what DSP(s) you're running in the AVR, etc.

PS: You would likely hear something similar on CBC-HD (514) when they aren't airing a true DD5.1 signal. My guess is that the LF & RF speakers are turned off... And that the garbling you hear is caused by the use of an improper DSP which adds (inappropriate) echo to the mix and brings speakers into play that shouldn't be.

If it helps, I use an Onkyo receiver at home and a Pioneer at work (both are good on CBC). I avoid using DSP modes where possible as I want to hear programs as the Producer intended, without added effects synthesized at the receiver.