[mythtv-users] Is Wider better?

[Brian Wood]

Tristan McCann wrote:
>> If you look into the future tho, the FCC is pushing hard on getting
>> all broadcasts to HD, so you new 4:3 monitor will become the
>> non-preferred format pretty quickly.
> 
> 
> While the broadcast networks are being forced to go digital for their 
> over-the-air broadcasts by the FCC, competition between each other is 
> making them go HD. The FCC really does not care about HD, just digital. 
> A network is fully compliant even if they are broadcasting in 480i ATSC. 
> Competition, however, is going to make them all go HD before too long so 
> as to not lose eyeballs. Cable will follow suit.

There are different philosophies between the networks. Some see digital
as an opportunity for better resolution, and others see it as an
opportunity for more programs on a given channel.

Look at the difference between the CBS and the FOX affiliates (and the
O&Os) format decisions.

I suspect you will see a mix of things, more channels at 480i during the
daytime and perhaps 1080i during "prime time", not unlike the days when
you saw color broadcasts only at night.

It will be a long time before even a significant portion of the
programming is anything other than SD, certainly nobody is likely to
re-do a lot of re-runs (even if Hogan's Heroes is on HDTV, it is
certainly no funnier).