HDTV Almanac - Who Has the Most HDTV?

[videograbber]

A great example of questionable HD is TCM, which, I guess, is one of the new HD channels on Dish. Since a large majority of the movies shown on TCM are in the original format, and some even silent, the format portion of HD is definitely not being met. However, if the picture is 1080i/p the density of the picture is there. So...?

I disagree. I don't think that's questionable at all. You're confusing aspect ratio and "screen filling", with HD. There is no "format portion" of HD.

True HD can be at ANY aspect ratio. And the original (OAR) is always best. Being in 16x9 (and filling your HD screen) is NOT a qualifier for being HD, as you seem to be indicating. 2.35, 1.66, or even 4x3 can all still be true HD. The criteria being that the content was sourced from HD material, and is delivered in 720p or 1080i. Black bars on the sides, or above/below don't affect its HD status in any way. Discriminating on that basis is bogus.

If that were the case, then the stunning HD quality copy I have of "The Wizard of Oz" on Blu-ray wouldn't qualify as HD, because there are black bars on the sides. That's a misconception that people need to start overcoming. I.e., equating HD as 16x9. E.g., TNT/TBS broadcast LOTS of non-HD. But it's all in 16x9. While TCM-HD broadcasting 4x3 can actually be true HD (I don't get it, so I can't say if they upconvert or not, while retaining the OAR).

- Tim

[akirby]

Yes, that's legitimate. However, my beef with them is that they love to promote what they're going to have, someday. Rather than what they're actually providing right now. More BS.

I wouldn't consider June 11th to be "someday". It's only 6 weeks away. Should they just wait until they have it to start advertising?

[videograbber]

In this particular case, no.

But you've missed my point (or just want to be argumentative). That doesn't invalidate the assessment I made in any way, as to their general practices. They will promote and hype things that are as much as a year away... as if they already had it. Like I said, BS. They're just as guilty of it as Dish.

- Tim

[ccclvib]

Black bars on the sides, or above/below don't affect its HD status in any way. Discriminating on that basis is bogus.

I brought this up because I have already had to explain that very thing to a couple of my peers who still expect their 16x9 LCD TV to have its screen filled, every pixel, all the time! I happen to agree with you, but it's tough to explain. And, in fact, I've given up with some others. They don't want to understand, just have a full picture on this thing they paid all that money for.

[akirby]

In this particular case, no.

But you've missed my point (or just want to be argumentative). That doesn't invalidate the assessment I made in any way, as to their general practices. They will promote and hype things that are as much as a year away... as if they already had it. Like I said, BS. They're just as guilty of it as Dish.

- Tim

Not trying to be argumentative, just fair. I don't recall DirecTV (or Dish for that matter) promoting and hyping things that are a year away. Care to share some examples?