HD screens? Not for me

A friend recently shelled out US $3000 for a full HD, 47” TV monitor. On the way home from the store, she called to say she would finally be rid of the CRT monitor that was an “eye sore” and an “embarrassment when friends came home”.

“And we’ll finally be able to watch our programmes in HD. Imagine!” she proclaimed.

An hour later, she was back on the phone moaning that all her favourite stars looked like they’d undergone some sort of ‘stretch’ therapy.

It’s difficult to understand why people purchase 16:9 screens in a region, where 99.5% of programmes are transmitted only for 4:3 viewing. At the last two editions of CABSAT, I have heard e-vision announce that it is ready to deliver HD to homes but it is also the only event at which I have ever heard the cable operator mention it.

In the May issue of Digital Studio, we profile two huge state-owned facilities that have installed HD kit in the hope that someday they will be ready for HD transmission. But when will this happen?

So far, the only operator that has taken any step in this direction is Showtime, which transmits its English Premier League games in widescreen.

An average user who wants to keep up to date with the news, their favourite soap or even the National Geographic will still have to see it in 4:3 although the latter recently launched an HD version of Nat Geo Wild for Sky viewers.

16:9 screens presently provide good viewing potential only to playstation enthusiasts or those who watch content on blu-ray discs.

For the rest of us, 16:9 is a waste of money and ruins our viewing experience.

Until operators make some progress in this direction, I shall hang on to my CRT.

Vijaya Cherian is the editor of Digital Studio.

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