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WAKE UP PEOPLE – The End is Nigh
The end of 4×3 SD television, that is. Consider this:
1) Currently broadcasters must continue to support the large number of 4×3 TVs that pick up their analog signal. After the digital transition next February, everyone will have either cable TV or a set top box that will have the capability of letterboxing 16×9 programming on a 4×3 TV, thus letting broadcasters off the hook having to directly support 4×3 screens.
2) It is impractical to produce both 4×3 and 16×9 programming simultaneously.
3) The number of 16×9 screens is at 33% rapidly heading for 50%. 4×3 new TV sales are negligable.
4) 4×3 programming on a 16×9 screen looks like crap.
These four factors, along with inter-market competition, will ensure that broadcasters switch to 16×9 format en masse probably by the end of next year. And of course I mean 16×9 HD, since it would be silly to stick with SD at this point.
It seems that Cable interests apparently have the clout with the FCC to eliminate multi-channel must-carry. This more or less kills the practicality of the multi-channel SD options that broadcasters were promised. So ultimately they are likely to provide only a single channel of HD within their assigned bandwidth. But even if they do continue to produce SD programming, it is going to be 16×9 to accomodate the soon-to-be majority of 16×9 TVs.
My point is that this transition is going to be much sooner and much quicker than most people expect – including people in the production business.
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4 Replies
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I haven’t shot 4:3 footage in 2 years, it’s ended long ago. A client has never pushed for 4:3 after they see the 2 side by side.
Vince
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All too true,
I have been working with a 1080i PAL camera, and going back over old work I did in 2006.
That is mini tape recorded in 1080i PAL but edited in PAL 720 by 576 pixels; admittedly in 16:9 arrangement, but still frightful to look at when compared to 1080i, or 720p.
Now, I ask myself, what was it that made me think that it was OK to download 1080i to SD PAL 720 by 576, but the only answer is , go back and start again from mini tapes .. but I couldn’t face it.For me now I want to retain film integrity right through.
Look at these various speed cameras we have at good prices.Question to you … before the end comes.
Can I download very old VHS tapes to say 720p or 1080i.?
I know what you think, that they have no definition anyway: but it is analog isn’t it? .. and I would like to convert to HD and see what it looks like.
And I would be able to use the pixels.
paulscottfilms -
Does that mean I can look forward to ridding my desk with my trusty and reliable workhorse, the Sony PVW-2800?
While I edit with a Xena LH HD Premiere Pro system, a bulk of my dub requests are still on BetaCam SP, and therefore, all 4×3 SD.
More and more, clients are requesting DV or DVCAM as opposed to the still-standard Beta tape, but none have yet requested a DVCPRO100 master.
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James Orlowski
RYNO Production, Inc.
http://www.rynoproduction.com
800-860-7966
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