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[goodcow]

This is something that's always bothered me... I know the regular networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, transmit widescreen HD versions of their shows if you have a capable television, but what about HBO, Showtime, etc.?

It's so damn annoying to have digital cable, yet all the movies show up in fullscreen. It gets a big fat WHY from me. Even if you don't have an HD tv, you should still have the option to watch everything letterboxed.

Can somebody with digital cable/satellite and a widescreen tv explain how it works for them?

 

[Error Macro]

No, they still won't be widescreen. You can artificially matte the picture on a widescreen TV if you wish. Even in 16:9 HDTV, the HBO's and Cinemax's and Showtime's crop scope (Panavision - 2:35) movies to 1.78:1.

 

[golem]

your cable company needs to have hbo-hd, cinemax-hd, etc to be able to get widescreen programming.

for example right now on VOOM, HBO-HD is showing Daredevil and Catch me if you Can in HD, Cinemax has Leathal Weapon and The Order, EncoreHD has Blade 2, and PlayboyHD has Loose Morals: In the Streets (but i dont subscribe to it.. yet.. haha)

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

On Comcast I get HBO HD, Showtime HD, Starz HD, Cinemax HD, a couple In-Demand HD channels etc.

 

[MIMIC]

With Adelphia Digital Cable, I get these in HD: ESPN, HBO, Cinemax, Starz!, Showtime, ABC, NBC, iN DEMAND 1, and iN DEMAND 2.

 

[goodcow]

With Adelphia Digital Cable, I get these in HD: ESPN, HBO, Cinemax, Starz!, Showtime, ABC, NBC, iN DEMAND 1, and iN DEMAND 2.

And if you don't have an HDTV, they show up in letterbox?

 

[Shogmaster]

And if you don't have an HDTV, they show up in letterbox?

You see blank black screen for those channels with sound only.

 

[Cooper]

You see blank black screen for those channels with sound only.

This might depend on which connection you use for your set top box. I have an HD STB hooked up to a 10 year old analog-only TV via S-video. The HD broadcasts come in letterboxed.

 

[Shogmaster]

This might depend on which connection you use for your set top box. I have an HD STB hooked up to a 10 year old analog-only TV via S-video. The HD broadcasts come in letterboxed.

No, it depends if you have a HD set top box or not. I have none, and I assumed that the question was if you didn't have one as well.

I might have assumed too much. I have a digital cable service, and when I get to the HD channels on my analog 27" TV without a HD set top box (which is likely if you don't have a HD TV ), all I get is sound.

 

[Cooper]

No, it depends if you have a HD set top box or not. I have none, and I assumed that the question was if you didn't have one as well.

I might have assumed too much. I have a digital cable service, and when I get to the HD channels on my analog 27" TV without a HD set top box (which is likely if you don't have a HD TV ), all I get is sound.

Okay, I had assumed that an HD-compatible STB was being used. The HD broadcasts actually look fairly nice on analog sets, like really well mastered DVDs. Anyway, carry on.