PBS is trying to degrade my son's intelligence - Blu-ray Forum

Beta Man · 03-02-2010, 07:00 PM

PBS has gone too far..... this is an ongoing problem I just haven't ranted about yet......

Sometime either shortly before, or shortly after ( I can't recall which) the "Digital Switch" my local PBS station that my Satellite provider carries decided to cater to the lowest common denominator.... For a couple of months, the shows on the channel were window-boxed, but for a long time now, they've been "zooming in" on the image to remove the black bars......

Children's programming with a little image cropped off is no big deal you say????

WELL I DISAGREE!

My son is watching programming, and they spell out words, and put it on the screen, and it says "HOUS" HOUS????? What's that!!!! My son isn't learning German, and I'm pretty sure they aren't prepping him to learn about the Chaucer poem "Hous of Fame"

Where's the "E" ???? OH! That's right..... it's been cut off of the screen because Suzy-Homemaker can't be bothered to see Sesame Street or Martha Speaks with those pesky black bars!

Do you think the people at the Networks are sitting around saying "I bet the 2 year olds will be bothered by the window-boxing, we better zoom in"

NO!!! A bunch of ignorant parents out there probably called the stations and cable/satellite providers to say "Something was wrong"

So in retrospect, It may not be entirely PBS's fault, or the Satellite provider..... it's probably partially the fault of PEOPLE...... and we all know people have a long history of pretty much screwing up everything.

If my son doesn't get into MENSA, and grows up to be backwards, ignorant, and walks around with his thumb up his butt..... YOU.... SOCIETY! PEOPLE!!!! will have to deal with him.....

/rant

mikejet · 03-02-2010, 07:02 PM

Dude, PBS isn't what it used to be. Even Elmo sold out, he was recently on the Wendy Williams show singing her opening song.

I miss the days of Reading Rainbow and Mr. Rogers.

Batman1980 · 03-02-2010, 07:04 PM

LOL that's horrible, silly soccer moms ruining public television for everyone!

Beta Man · 03-02-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejet

Dude, PBS isn't what it used to be. Even Elmo sold out, he was recently on the Wendy Williams show singing her opening song.

I miss the days of Reading Rainbow and Mr. Rogers.

I've watched Curious George with my son for over a year, and all he's managed to do is count to 20!

Even my son can count higher than that!

DC_Street · 03-02-2010, 07:58 PM

sure it isn't a setting on your box or tv that needs to be changed?

Beta Man · 03-02-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC_Street

sure it isn't a setting on your box or tv that needs to be changed?

Positive....... It's just PBS too..... no other channels (at least that I've watched)

Clark Kent · 03-02-2010, 08:14 PM

PBS is having a much harder time staying relevant in a world with hundreds of niche channels. Their alternative programming to network television worked because they were one of the few alternatives twenty years ago. Viewers now have many more sources of programming, which makes PBS much less competitive.

LeAnn · 03-02-2010, 08:23 PM

I miss how things were when I was a kid. I miss the old sesame street, and especially the older cartoons.
Now when I watch things with my niece, it is all bright flashing colours, jumping from one topic to another etc. It is no wonder there is a higher rate of ADD/ADHD being noted.

Hammie · 03-02-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Positive....... It's just PBS too..... no other channels (at least that I've watched)

I've noticed this a couple of times on National Geographic and A&E and TBS. The credit (opening or closing) usually gives it away.

SquidPuppet · 03-02-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

PBS has gone too far..... this is an ongoing problem I just haven't ranted about yet......

Sometime either shortly before, or shortly after ( I can't recall which) the "Digital Switch" my local PBS station that my Satellite provider carries decided to cater to the lowest common denominator.... For a couple of months, the shows on the channel were window-boxed, but for a long time now, they've been "zooming in" on the image to remove the black bars......

Children's programming with a little image cropped off is no big deal you say????

WELL I DISAGREE!

My son is watching programming, and they spell out words, and put it on the screen, and it says "HOUS" HOUS????? What's that!!!! My son isn't learning German, and I'm pretty sure they aren't prepping him to learn about the Chaucer poem "Hous of Fame"

Where's the "E" ???? OH! That's right..... it's been cut off of the screen because Suzy-Homemaker can't be bothered to see Sesame Street or Martha Speaks with those pesky black bars!

Do you think the people at the Networks are sitting around saying "I bet the 2 year olds will be bothered by the window-boxing, we better zoom in"

NO!!! A bunch of ignorant parents out there probably called the stations and cable/satellite providers to say "Something was wrong"

So in retrospect, It may not be entirely PBS's fault, or the Satellite provider..... it's probably partially the fault of PEOPLE...... and we all know people have a long history of pretty much screwing up everything.

If my son doesn't get into MENSA, and grows up to be backwards, ignorant, and walks around with his thumb up his butt..... YOU.... SOCIETY! PEOPLE!!!! will have to deal with him.....

/rant

Afternoon cocktails?

Beta Man · 03-02-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Afternoon cocktails?

I wish

Gotta stay sharp..... it's Foosball night

Sussudio · 03-02-2010, 09:22 PM

Take a look, it's in a book, it's reading raaaaaaaaaainbooooow

(I used to love watching that on PBS)

...Is it even still on the air?

Lord_Stewie · 03-02-2010, 09:30 PM

I enjoy watching Blue's Clues.

Beta you should get your son to watch that.

Its on Nickelodion. (Yeah I am an odd one).

toef · 03-02-2010, 09:31 PM

Is it 1.85:1, being zoomed in for 4:3?

Or is it 2.40:1 being zoomed in for 1.85 (or 4:3)?

If it's 2.40 being zoomed in, I think the problem is that Sesame Street is trying to get too cinematic, and they should switch to a standard widescreen.

I imagine it can't be 4:3 zoomed in to 1.85, because unless they're spelling words vertically, it wouldn't matter.

brettallica · 03-02-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeAnn

I miss how things were when I was a kid. I miss the old sesame street, and especially the older cartoons.
Now when I watch things with my niece, it is all bright flashing colours, jumping from one topic to another etc. It is no wonder there is a higher rate of ADD/ADHD being noted.

Same here. Things are just different now.

Anyone remember the pinball song from Sesame Street?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x72GXEgAnGA

"One two three FOUR FIVE six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve." Love that song, and the video that goes with it.

toef · 03-02-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettallica

Same here. Things are just different now.

Anyone remember the pinball song from Sesame Street?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x72GXEgAnGA

"One two three FOUR FIVE six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve." Love that song, and the video that goes with it.

That's a classic song.

The best show on PBS, though, was the Carmen Sandiego game show.

Lord_Stewie · 03-02-2010, 09:53 PM

I lost interests in PBS when they started with those creeps

[Show spoiler]

Mainly because the show was more mind numbing than anything I have encountered.

DetroitSportsFan · 03-02-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

PBS has gone too far..... this is an ongoing problem I just haven't ranted about yet......

Sometime either shortly before, or shortly after ( I can't recall which) the "Digital Switch" my local PBS station that my Satellite provider carries decided to cater to the lowest common denominator.... For a couple of months, the shows on the channel were window-boxed, but for a long time now, they've been "zooming in" on the image to remove the black bars......
/rant

We have 2 local PBS stations (Detroit & Ann Arbor) and they pull this every now and then. It usually gets corrected pretty quickly though.

Beta Man · 03-02-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

We have 2 local PBS stations (Detroit & Ann Arbor) and they pull this every now and then. It usually gets corrected pretty quickly though.

It's been ever since the "analog cutoff date" whenever that was....

buckshot · 03-03-2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

PBS has gone too far..... this is an ongoing problem I just haven't ranted about yet......

Sometime either shortly before, or shortly after ( I can't recall which) the "Digital Switch" my local PBS station that my Satellite provider carries decided to cater to the lowest common denominator.... For a couple of months, the shows on the channel were window-boxed, but for a long time now, they've been "zooming in" on the image to remove the black bars......

Children's programming with a little image cropped off is no big deal you say????

WELL I DISAGREE!

My son is watching programming, and they spell out words, and put it on the screen, and it says "HOUS" HOUS?????
/rant

isn't hous how the british and canadian spell hos?

click here for definition of hos

03-02-2010, 07:00 PM	#1
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	PBS is trying to degrade my son's intelligence PBS has gone too far..... this is an ongoing problem I just haven't ranted about yet...... Sometime either shortly before, or shortly after ( I can't recall which) the "Digital Switch" my local PBS station that my Satellite provider carries decided to cater to the lowest common denominator.... For a couple of months, the shows on the channel were window-boxed, but for a long time now, they've been "zooming in" on the image to remove the black bars...... Children's programming with a little image cropped off is no big deal you say???? WELL I DISAGREE! My son is watching programming, and they spell out words, and put it on the screen, and it says "HOUS" HOUS????? What's that!!!! My son isn't learning German, and I'm pretty sure they aren't prepping him to learn about the Chaucer poem "Hous of Fame" Where's the "E" ???? OH! That's right..... it's been cut off of the screen because Suzy-Homemaker can't be bothered to see Sesame Street or Martha Speaks with those pesky black bars! Do you think the people at the Networks are sitting around saying "I bet the 2 year olds will be bothered by the window-boxing, we better zoom in" NO!!! A bunch of ignorant parents out there probably called the stations and cable/satellite providers to say "Something was wrong" So in retrospect, It may not be entirely PBS's fault, or the Satellite provider..... it's probably partially the fault of PEOPLE...... and we all know people have a long history of pretty much screwing up everything. If my son doesn't get into MENSA, and grows up to be backwards, ignorant, and walks around with his thumb up his butt..... YOU.... SOCIETY! PEOPLE!!!! will have to deal with him..... /rant Last edited by Beta Man; 03-02-2010 at 07:06 PM.

03-02-2010, 09:53 PM	#17
Lord_Stewie Blu-ray Baron Member since:May 2007 Blu-ray collection:396 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I lost interests in PBS when they started with those creeps [Show spoiler]Teletubbies. Mainly because the show was more mind numbing than anything I have encountered.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
My Son's current setup	Home Theater Galleries	quest88	22	08-29-2009 10:28 PM
Can using a mirror degrade quality?	Projectors	Trogdor2010	13	07-13-2009 05:40 AM
My son's first Star Wars experience. Which Trilogy First?	Movie Polls	Schrute Farms	97	02-03-2009 06:00 PM
PBS Carrier	Movies	biloutkast	0	01-14-2009 10:16 PM
Pbs	Blu-ray Movies - North America	Beta Man	3	04-08-2008 03:01 PM

03-02-2010, 07:02 PM	#2
mikejet Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Los Angeles, CA Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:29	Dude, PBS isn't what it used to be. Even Elmo sold out, he was recently on the Wendy Williams show singing her opening song. I miss the days of Reading Rainbow and Mr. Rogers.

03-02-2010, 07:04 PM	#3
Batman1980 Blu-ray Jedi Member since:Feb 2009 Location:District 13 Home Theater Gallery:8 4K collection:146 Blu-ray collection:394 DVD collection:57 Blu-ray reviews:22 Trading Score:48	LOL that's horrible, silly soccer moms ruining public television for everyone!

03-02-2010, 07:58 PM	#5
DC_Street Power Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Denver, CO Blu-ray collection:142 Trading Score:43	sure it isn't a setting on your box or tv that needs to be changed?

03-02-2010, 08:14 PM	#7
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	PBS is having a much harder time staying relevant in a world with hundreds of niche channels. Their alternative programming to network television worked because they were one of the few alternatives twenty years ago. Viewers now have many more sources of programming, which makes PBS much less competitive.

03-02-2010, 08:23 PM	#8
LeAnn Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Aug 2009 Home Theater Gallery:48 Blu-ray collection:303 Trading Score:9	I miss how things were when I was a kid. I miss the old sesame street, and especially the older cartoons. Now when I watch things with my niece, it is all bright flashing colours, jumping from one topic to another etc. It is no wonder there is a higher rate of ADD/ADHD being noted.

03-02-2010, 09:22 PM	#12
Sussudio Blu-ray Champion Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:11	Take a look, it's in a book, it's reading raaaaaaaaaainbooooow (I used to love watching that on PBS) ...Is it even still on the air?

03-02-2010, 09:30 PM	#13
Lord_Stewie Blu-ray Baron Member since:May 2007 Blu-ray collection:396 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I enjoy watching Blue's Clues. Beta you should get your son to watch that. Its on Nickelodion. (Yeah I am an odd one).

03-02-2010, 09:31 PM	#14
toef Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2008 Location:Isla Nublar 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:545 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:4	Is it 1.85:1, being zoomed in for 4:3? Or is it 2.40:1 being zoomed in for 1.85 (or 4:3)? If it's 2.40 being zoomed in, I think the problem is that Sesame Street is trying to get too cinematic, and they should switch to a standard widescreen. I imagine it can't be 4:3 zoomed in to 1.85, because unless they're spelling words vertically, it wouldn't matter.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals