NOS decides against showing World Cup in widescreen format - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

Analoguesat · 10-05-06, 07:23 PM

TV viewers in the Netherlands with a widescreen (16:9) receiver will not be able to take advantage of the widescreen format to watch the World Cup finals, which kick off in Germany in a month's time. Public broadcaster NOS has decided that it will broadcast all the matches in 4:3 format. This astonishing decision was made, according to NOS, because there are still a lot more TV sets with 4:3 screens than widescreen sets (about 2 million according to NOS). NOS says it believes that most viewers with a 4:3 set won't be happy viewing a 16:9 picture with a black band at the top and bottom, even though the BBC and the German public networks, which are available on cable here, have been doing that for years.

The lucky few who will be watching the World Cup in High Definition via cable will be able to see all the matches in 16:9 format. Other viewers will probably choose to watch some matches on the BBC.

Andy Sennitt comments: Experience in the UK has shown that people will upgrade if you offer them something better. If NOS had decided to show the World Cup in 16:9 format, and announced it weeks ago, sales of widescreen sets in the Netherlands would have mushroomed. Instead, all the hype has been about High Definition TV, and I suspect many members of the public (and probably more than a few journalists) are confusing this with widescreen. I have had a widescreen set for several years, and it's far better for watching things like football because you can see more of the surrounding players, and get a better feel for what's likely to happen. But if I choose to watch a match on the 4:3 set in my bedroom, the fact that the picture doesn't fill the entire screen is hardly noticeable. It's just something you get used to. I find the NOS decision curious and backward-looking. It means that TV here is lagging further and further behind what's considered state of the art in neighbouring countries.

Source - Media Network Weblog

Jimdefruit · 10-05-06, 08:18 PM

Probably more to do with their cameras than what the public want.

10-05-06, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Analoguesat manic midlander retired mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,668 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1,334 Times in 985 Posts	NOS decides against showing World Cup in widescreen format TV viewers in the Netherlands with a widescreen (16:9) receiver will not be able to take advantage of the widescreen format to watch the World Cup finals, which kick off in Germany in a month's time. Public broadcaster NOS has decided that it will broadcast all the matches in 4:3 format. This astonishing decision was made, according to NOS, because there are still a lot more TV sets with 4:3 screens than widescreen sets (about 2 million according to NOS). NOS says it believes that most viewers with a 4:3 set won't be happy viewing a 16:9 picture with a black band at the top and bottom, even though the BBC and the German public networks, which are available on cable here, have been doing that for years. The lucky few who will be watching the World Cup in High Definition via cable will be able to see all the matches in 16:9 format. Other viewers will probably choose to watch some matches on the BBC. Andy Sennitt comments: Experience in the UK has shown that people will upgrade if you offer them something better. If NOS had decided to show the World Cup in 16:9 format, and announced it weeks ago, sales of widescreen sets in the Netherlands would have mushroomed. Instead, all the hype has been about High Definition TV, and I suspect many members of the public (and probably more than a few journalists) are confusing this with widescreen. I have had a widescreen set for several years, and it's far better for watching things like football because you can see more of the surrounding players, and get a better feel for what's likely to happen. But if I choose to watch a match on the 4:3 set in my bedroom, the fact that the picture doesn't fill the entire screen is hardly noticeable. It's just something you get used to. I find the NOS decision curious and backward-looking. It means that TV here is lagging further and further behind what's considered state of the art in neighbouring countries. Source - Media Network Weblog __________________ Basic forum rules for both satellite & cable: no keys no patches no offering or asking for card shares Anyone pm'ing me for details of card sharing or anything to do with hacking cable will be banned immediately Analogue forever!!

10-05-06, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jimdefruit Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,858 Thanks: 20 Thanked 221 Times in 187 Posts	Re: NOS decides against showing World Cup in widescreen format Probably more to do with their cameras than what the public want. __________________ Dreambox 800 HD; Dreambox 7000s + VBox + Channel Master 1.2 with 36v actuator CM120 feedhorn and Invacom .3 LNB Skystar 2 PCI card with links to my Dreamboxes If you like what you see here, tell your friends.