WB showing stretched material now?

[rgreenpc]

I was watching the WB last night (4/12) and they were showing a stretched picture ( no more bars )

Maybe we are getting closer to HD

[buckeyes]

I noticed on some of the movies on the WB that my receiver(Hughes E86)displays the icon that states that that particular program is in HD. Now just by looking at it you can tell it's not, but maybe they are planning on introducing it soon. That would be nice.

[Bschneider]

Sorry to disappoint but they are still 480i.

[rgreenpc]

they may be 480I still but they are stretching the pic ( no more grey bars )

[Bschneider]

First of all, I know for a fact that they are not stretching the picture.

Also, stations do not stretch 480i signals. They will stretch or condense a 720p and 1080i when the source is 4:3. Talking to a station engineer, there is not a encoder on the market that will stretch a 480i signal.

For example, WFLA (1080i) stretches to 14:9. WFTS (720p) stretches between 4:3 and 14:9. They actually change it periodically. WMOR (1080i) actually sends out 4:3 with grey bars.

ESPN-HD is 720p and will stretch a 4:3 picture.

So any 480i signal that has grey or black bars has to be done by the viewer meaning you.

[rgreenpc]

strange... as on my TV and STB the picture is no longer flanked by grey bars.....