Doug Finck, the General Manager of WPXT (Channel 51) in Portland has asked that I pose a question to my readers.
"Do viewers want to see anything in the black side bars?"
WPXT has some new video equipment that gives them the ability to insert graphics into the black side bars (known as PILLARS) on the sides of a TV show when not in High Definition. These pillars exist because digital TV stations like WPXT broadcast a full widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) picture even if the show being broadcast isn’t in HD or a 16:9 format. (i.e. if it’s only a 4:3 ratio on a 16:9 screen, you get pillars). Traditionally these pillars have been solid black and have served no purpose.
They now have the ability to fill those pillars with graphics. If you have seen an ESPN HD feed then you may have seen some of the things they do with the pillars. You may also notice on the evening network news when they receive footage from the field that is not in a 16:9 ratio, they fill the space with colors and textures.
And that gets to the heart of the question. Do viewers want to see anything in the pillars?
Should WPXT ignore their new-found technical capabilities and just leave the pillars black?
And if they do use "pillar fillers", should they be up all the time, or just during programs, or just during commercial breaks?
Doug and WPXT are interested in hearing from viewers, and the readers of this blog, about what they would like (and not like) in the pillars.
Please feel free to comment and be very honest. This is a great opportunity for us, the Maine TV watching community, to tell a local TV station how we really feel about something. It's a first, for me anyway, to see a local TV station ask the opinion of the viewership on issues like this. Doug Finck has been an avid supporter of this blog site so let's not let him down. Give him some feedback. I don't want to sway anyone's opinion so I will give my feedback to Doug separately.
Thanks,
3 comments:
My personal preference is to have some type of graphic on the side pillars when the program is on. During the commercials the pillars can go to black bars.
John
I like the graphics, as long as they're not so flashy that they distract from the main picture. People concerned about screen burn-in might appreciate it too.
WLBZ Bangor puts dark green bars on the sides. I like it because it differentiates the side bars from the black bars the converter box adds to the top and bottom for my 4:3 set. So I'd prefer even a solid dark color to black. Station IDs also look good on the sides.
How about selling ads? "Drink Coke" on either side would be fine as long as it doesn't move.
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