HD Programming?

[Mystic]

I might have noticed this earlier, but never thought much of it, since it didn't really affect me, but while tuning into a Poker show last night, I noticed that the entire left side of the screen was missing. Half the head of the player was cut off, and I could only see one half of the two cards showing on the screen.

I have an HDTV set, and on most channels, they broadcast a program in widescreen and allow the viewer to stretch the programming to fill the top and bottom if they wish. I tried to adjust my settings, but without avail. I switched my widescreen to full screen with black bars on the sides, and the left side was still cut off.

The station ID bug was still visible on the right side, so the only part that was missing was the left side.

I guess I should say that I noticed this for the last little while during the program bumpers, such as Regis saying his you're watching GSN spiel, it looked like someone zoomed in the screen and cut off the sides.

Anybody know about this, or if there is something on my end that I can do to fix it?

The Classics seem to be fine, only the originals are zoomed in and the edges are cut off, left more than the right.

[saladbar1]

I do know that they are working on their GSN HD option (there's an image of it on the TV page), and a few days after I noticed that our TV had a message stating that the channel was down for maintenance. The subsequent shows were all squished into the 4:3 format (until later that day).

So there's something that's going on, not sure what though (nor am I sure of when GSN HD will be available for consumption).

EDIT: Some places do have the HD channel now apparently. Hopefully once it becomes more widespread they'll work out the bugs.

[DialgaChampion]

I've noticed the same thing on occasion while watching GSN - the picture seems to be cut off at times.

Looks like Shaw hasn't gotten hold of GSN HD yet, but if they do, looks like I'll have to get it so 1 VS 100 appears in better picture quality. Either that, or harrass DirecTV and DISH for why they continue to remain stuck in the lower section of North America.

[CaseyAbell]

GSN certainly screws up the aspect ratio now and then. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is a shoestring operation I'm watching by the standards of the broadcast networks and the cable biggies.

[matchgame74fan]

Other networks do this too sometimes, though not to this length. Certainly a pet peeve of mine in the current era of television.

[Mystic]

The only other instances of this on BellTV is on the two PBS channels.

WGBH cuts off the two edges of the screen, so the channel bug isn't visible, and any text is cut off, and KCTS has black bars on the top and bottom of the screen, even if it's a full screen program, and when it's full screen, the left and right edges are cut off, as well as the top and bottom!

GSN's Classic shows don't have this problem though, only the originals, Poker Shows and promo ads are cut off.

[matchgame74fan]

Actually, I've seen an episode of $25,000 Pyramid in which part of it wasn't stretched but was actually too narrow... like it was 5:4 instead of 4:3. Annoying. But yeah, that's the only time I've seen something like that happen with an older show.

[espnews26]

They are still doing it? I thought it would have been fixed by now.
MLB/NFL on FOX is notorious for this, especially those watching on a SDTV. Part of the on-screen scoreboard is cut off.

[catnap72]

Messed up a segment on Card Sharks today. Wish they'd pick one format and stick with it