old tv shows in 16:9 - Blu-ray Forum

NotaStalker · 12-31-2008, 05:22 PM

so King of Queens has made its way to bluray and to my surprise was in 16:9 aspect ratio. Im not sure if this was the case for the dvd release as well? but regardless, the idea of MacGyver in hd and 16:9 simply boggles the mind. Anyone with info on this?

indiephantom · 12-31-2008, 05:27 PM

I know Homicide: Life on the Street was one of the first shows to shoot in 16:9 but was never broadcast that way. It debuted in 1993. The DVDs are full screen as I recall. The show is brilliant, though.

Joe Cain · 12-31-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiephantom

I know Homicide: Life on the Street was one of the first shows to shoot in 16:9 but was never broadcast that way. It debuted in 1993. The DVDs are full screen as I recall. The show is brilliant, though.

It was pretty brilliant. First I've ever heard of it being shot for 16:9, though. Where'd you come across that little nugget?

Spymaster · 12-31-2008, 05:46 PM

4x3 shows should never EVER be cropped to 16x9 for HD presentation. Bad, bad, bad.

NotaStalker · 12-31-2008, 06:04 PM

the thing is they werent cropped. there was added to the sides instead.

Spymaster · 12-31-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotaStalker

the thing is they werent cropped. there was added to the sides instead.

Really? Well that's certainly an interesting twist!

JamesKurtovich · 12-31-2008, 06:40 PM

I borrowed King of Queens on DVD from a friend and it is 16:9 - I was very surprised. I fiddled with my TV settings until I admitted the picture wasn't stretched to accomodate 16:9.

Red Hood · 12-31-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotaStalker

the thing is they werent cropped. there was added to the sides instead.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...D16x94x3-1.jpg

You can see that some is added to the sides while a good deal is lost from the bottom and some from the top.

LEHD · 12-31-2008, 08:07 PM

I hope that Friends is 16x9 and also that they can improve the PQ because is terrible

Spymaster · 12-31-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEHD

I hope that Friends is 16x9 and also that they can improve the PQ because is terrible

Don't think Friends was widescreen was it? Certainly not at the start...?

ricky_rocket · 12-31-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spymaster

Don't think Friends was widescreen was it? Certainly not at the start...?

I only remember it being 4X3 (1.33:1).

Jennifer Aniston was very thin, they could strech it a little bit and she'd still look normal. Courtney Cox on the other hand...

hanumang · 12-31-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotaStalker

but regardless, the idea of MacGyver in hd and 16:9 simply boggles the mind. Anyone with info on this?

For the most part, old TV shows were shot on 35 or Super 35 film, so they can be re-telecined - in shorthand, output to video from the original footage - as 16:9 transfers. I stress can because much depends on how the images are framed because, in most cases, you're gonna lose a little bit of picture off the top and bottom.

The 'best' example of this was the 1980's version of Knight Rider when it was broadcast on Universal HD back in 2006 - they re-telecined the 4:3 show to 16:9 to create those HD masters, cropping top and bottom a bit.

However, there is a serious cost involved in doing all this, not mention that you need to have Edit Decision Lists (telling you which pieces of film you'll need) for all episodes. Plus, depending on how well the film elements have survived over the years (of course, film degrades rapidly) they might need significant frame-by-frame restoration for them to look acceptable. That's only been done, at least to this point, for flicks that studios know will make serious coin (The Godfather films, for instance). Considering how much folks complain about grain on a $150 million film made 5 years ago, I can only image how much whining they'll be about a low-budget show from the 80s if its not restored and remastered.

All this puts Blu-ray at a huge disadvantage when compared to DVDs, which were typically created from broadcast [tape] masters. So studios, probably understandably, will only work (that far back in) the catalog once Blu-ray is a proven, everyman technology. Think DVD circa 2004...

Zaranyzerak · 12-31-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spymaster

4x3 shows should never EVER be cropped to 16x9 for HD presentation. Bad, bad, bad.

+infinity

If a DVD/Blu-ray release of a 4x3 show (meaning filmed, shown, and intended to be viewed 4x3) is released is anything other than 4x3, I don't buy it. I'm not paying full price for 60% of the original image. *coughKung Fu Season 1 and Dark Shadows Revivalcough*

It's infuriating. First, we beg and plead for Pan and Scan to go away so we can enjoy our movies in widescreen. Now that we finally have widescreen as the norm, we're getting our old 4x3 TV shows cropped. Same poop, different pile...

Just leave the dang aspect ratios ALONE, already!

#Darren · 01-01-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaranyzerak

+infinity

If a DVD/Blu-ray release of a 4x3 show (meaning filmed, shown, and intended to be viewed 4x3) is released is anything other than 4x3, I don't buy it. I'm not paying full price for 60% of the original image. *coughKung Fu Season 1 and Dark Shadows Revivalcough*

It's infuriating. First, we beg and plead for Pan and Scan to go away so we can enjoy our movies in widescreen. Now that we finally have widescreen as the norm, we're getting our old 4x3 TV shows cropped. Same poop, different pile...

Just leave the dang aspect ratios ALONE, already!

^^^^^^^^^ THAT

kennerado · 01-01-2009, 04:23 AM

I've seen that done to Seinfeld, I KNOW that was 4:3 or the DVD's would be in widescreen.

Seeing it cropped to fit 16:9 looks so wrong.

The rumoured Blu-ray release better stay in 4:3.

#Darren · 01-01-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennerado

I've seen that done to Seinfeld, I KNOW that was 4:3 or the DVD's would be in widescreen.

Seeing it cropped to fit 16:9 looks so wrong.

The rumoured Blu-ray release better stay in 4:3.

Lonesome Dove lost a sale to me because of this issue.

Canada · 01-01-2009, 05:15 AM

Das Boot was shot in an aspect ratio of 1:85:1 but it was a mini series that premiered on German TV in 1982.

Afrobean · 01-01-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennerado

I've seen that done to Seinfeld, I KNOW that was 4:3 or the DVD's would be in widescreen.

Seeing it cropped to fit 16:9 looks so wrong.

The rumoured Blu-ray release better stay in 4:3.

Actually, I'd think the mastering that will appear on the potential BD release will be the same one they air in HD on cable and such. Slightly opened frame on the sides, with cropping on the top and bottom to get 16:9. I don't think they'll go back to the film again and retransfer it. Would you really think that they'd do that?

Blu_Ray_UK2007 · 01-01-2009, 10:01 PM

Where is KOQ avalible on blu?

Zaranyzerak · 01-01-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrobean

Actually, I'd think the mastering that will appear on the potential BD release will be the same one they air in HD on cable and such. Slightly opened frame on the sides, with cropping on the top and bottom to get 16:9. I don't think they'll go back to the film again and retransfer it. Would you really think that they'd do that?

For something that's a guaranteed MASSIVE seller like Seinfeld, I certainly do think they would do that if there was demand for it.

12-31-2008, 05:22 PM	#1
NotaStalker New Member Member since:Dec 2008	old tv shows in 16:9 so King of Queens has made its way to bluray and to my surprise was in 16:9 aspect ratio. Im not sure if this was the case for the dvd release as well? but regardless, the idea of MacGyver in hd and 16:9 simply boggles the mind. Anyone with info on this?

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12-31-2008, 05:27 PM	#2
indiephantom Active Member Member since:Jul 2008 Blu-ray reviews: 14	I know Homicide: Life on the Street was one of the first shows to shoot in 16:9 but was never broadcast that way. It debuted in 1993. The DVDs are full screen as I recall. The show is brilliant, though.

12-31-2008, 05:46 PM	#4
Spymaster Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Cheshire, UK Blu-ray collection:236	4x3 shows should never EVER be cropped to 16x9 for HD presentation. Bad, bad, bad.

12-31-2008, 06:04 PM	#5
NotaStalker New Member Member since:Dec 2008	the thing is they werent cropped. there was added to the sides instead.

12-31-2008, 06:40 PM	#7
JamesKurtovich Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Alaska Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:229 Blu-ray reviews:4 Trading Score:2	I borrowed King of Queens on DVD from a friend and it is 16:9 - I was very surprised. I fiddled with my TV settings until I admitted the picture wasn't stretched to accomodate 16:9.

12-31-2008, 08:07 PM	#9
LEHD Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:231 Blu-ray reviews:13	I hope that Friends is 16x9 and also that they can improve the PQ because is terrible

01-01-2009, 04:23 AM	#15
kennerado Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Melbourne, Australia Blu-ray collection:165 Trading Score:3	I've seen that done to Seinfeld, I KNOW that was 4:3 or the DVD's would be in widescreen. Seeing it cropped to fit 16:9 looks so wrong. The rumoured Blu-ray release better stay in 4:3.

01-01-2009, 05:15 AM	#17
Canada Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Victoria, BC Home Theater Gallery:17 4K collection:305 Blu-ray collection:1201 DVD collection:37 Blu-ray reviews:42	Das Boot was shot in an aspect ratio of 1:85:1 but it was a mini series that premiered on German TV in 1982.

01-01-2009, 10:01 PM	#19
Blu_Ray_UK2007 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Feb 2007 Location:UK 4K collection:164 Blu-ray collection:782 Trading Score:1	Where is KOQ avalible on blu?

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