Encore Ave HD broadcast Ben Hur in 16x9 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ttodd · 2010-01-18, 05:09 PM

I was on cloud nine when I saw for Canadian Broadcast on Encore Avenue HD was to broadcast Ben Hur on Sunday Jan 17th for 212 min.. The HD telecast colours was great to see....
BUT.,,, what a major Disappointment to see they only broadcast it in 1:78 instead of the OAR of 2:76.1 !!!!
WHY did they kept the Overture and Intermission in 2:76???,
but not the movie and especially not the Chariot Race..

Even the VHS tapes from the 80's had the intelligent promotion of showing the chariot race in 2:76 instead of 1:33 ., BUT all things aside it has to be one of two things ..
1. Was IT the studios that short changed us??,, or
2. was it an eager under-aged technician????

Now I can see why those idiots over at AMC HD telecast It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World in 1:78 as well- instead of 2:55 ,, they don't know anything anyway.,
But Encore Avenue,., come on ., they really dropped the ball on this and I can't trust their telecasts anymore...

Last month they broadcast MY GIRL (1991) in glorious anamorphic 1:78 and this movie isn't even available in letterbox on any of the sites.. So I know they are trying to get us the best in broadcasting for High Def .. BUT Ben Hur in 1:78 is not nice looking.. A full 25% lopped off the side or sides...
For the majority of the regular HD broadcasts they score an 9.0 .. but last nights show which was BTW also in Dolby stereo (2.0) instead of usual 5.1,, the whole thing scored maybe a six or less...
very very disappointed ...
am I the only one who feels this way? I bought the 4 disc set of Ben Hur two years ago and was looking forward the new 1080 transfer of this magnificent Movie ., and wanted to at least get a first hand look..
I guess the studios wabnt us to buy the Blu which I would anyway.. This telecast was to whet our whistle , instead it has made me want to wait a while till my temper cools..
comments???????

57 · 2010-01-18, 05:18 PM

The subject of OAR movies has come up many times on this forum. There's a link at the end of my post regarding the TMN aspects of this story (although the link and the other links there are a bit stale, the gist of the story is still true):

Basically, it comes down to the fact that the studios produce many different versions of their movies:

- OAR, 1.78:1, 1.33:1, with and without DD5.1. That's a lot of permutations and combinations.

Even when the Channel requests OAR and DD5.1, they don't always get it, although it seems to be getting better with time since we (TMN-land) seem to be getting lots more OAR and DD5.1 than in years gone by.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...ghlight=oar%2A

faston · 2010-01-19, 08:38 PM

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World was shot in Ultra Panavision which has a 2.76:1 ratio just like Ben Hur.

I recorded Mad(4)World and not only was it 1.76 but distorted as well. Looked to me like they had taken a 1.33:1 (4X3) version and just expanded and stretched it. Needless to say, I deleted it after watching only 30 seconds or so.

2010-01-18, 05:09 PM	#1
ttodd Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Coquitlam BC Posts: 92	Encore Ave HD broadcast Ben Hur in 16x9 I was on cloud nine when I saw for Canadian Broadcast on Encore Avenue HD was to broadcast Ben Hur on Sunday Jan 17th for 212 min.. The HD telecast colours was great to see.... BUT.,,, what a major Disappointment to see they only broadcast it in 1:78 instead of the OAR of 2:76.1 !!!! WHY did they kept the Overture and Intermission in 2:76???, but not the movie and especially not the Chariot Race.. Even the VHS tapes from the 80's had the intelligent promotion of showing the chariot race in 2:76 instead of 1:33 ., BUT all things aside it has to be one of two things .. 1. Was IT the studios that short changed us??,, or 2. was it an eager under-aged technician???? Now I can see why those idiots over at AMC HD telecast It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World in 1:78 as well- instead of 2:55 ,, they don't know anything anyway., But Encore Avenue,., come on ., they really dropped the ball on this and I can't trust their telecasts anymore... Last month they broadcast MY GIRL (1991) in glorious anamorphic 1:78 and this movie isn't even available in letterbox on any of the sites.. So I know they are trying to get us the best in broadcasting for High Def .. BUT Ben Hur in 1:78 is not nice looking.. A full 25% lopped off the side or sides... For the majority of the regular HD broadcasts they score an 9.0 .. but last nights show which was BTW also in Dolby stereo (2.0) instead of usual 5.1,, the whole thing scored maybe a six or less... very very disappointed ... am I the only one who feels this way? I bought the 4 disc set of Ben Hur two years ago and was looking forward the new 1080 transfer of this magnificent Movie ., and wanted to at least get a first hand look.. I guess the studios wabnt us to buy the Blu which I would anyway.. This telecast was to whet our whistle , instead it has made me want to wait a while till my temper cools.. comments???????

2010-01-18, 05:18 PM	#2
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,293	The subject of OAR movies has come up many times on this forum. There's a link at the end of my post regarding the TMN aspects of this story (although the link and the other links there are a bit stale, the gist of the story is still true): Basically, it comes down to the fact that the studios produce many different versions of their movies: - OAR, 1.78:1, 1.33:1, with and without DD5.1. That's a lot of permutations and combinations. Even when the Channel requests OAR and DD5.1, they don't always get it, although it seems to be getting better with time since we (TMN-land) seem to be getting lots more OAR and DD5.1 than in years gone by. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...ghlight=oar%2A __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

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2010-01-19, 08:38 PM	#3
faston Veteran Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,541	It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World was shot in Ultra Panavision which has a 2.76:1 ratio just like Ben Hur. I recorded Mad(4)World and not only was it 1.76 but distorted as well. Looked to me like they had taken a 1.33:1 (4X3) version and just expanded and stretched it. Needless to say, I deleted it after watching only 30 seconds or so.