SD Channels worse with HDTV?

[oaktownboy]

anyone else notice this? Regular viewing looked better on my old CRT than it does now. With the majority of channels still not in HD (with ESPN Classic being my biggest gripe), I feel i should not have bought an HDTV until more channels were converted. Is this a problem for anyone else?

 

[tucker01]

Yep agreed. Annoys the piss out of me.

I always wonder if the cable company do that purposely.

I also have a free to air system, and the Standard definition is good, other then sporting events.

 

[oaktownboy]

I knew it wasn't just me. makes you wonder if having an HDTV is really worth it

 

[tucker01]

I only watch the High Def channels now though!

 

[KentDog]

I only watch the High Def channels now though!

Yes, but many of the high def channels still play a lot of SD broadcasting. Like oaktownboy, I can't stand watching ESPN boxing on ESPNHD with those stupid bars on the sides.

But I still think buying an HDTV is a good idea if you will use your TV. SD broadcasting is upconverted and will be better quality than non-upconverted footage depending on your TV. Plus the movie watching experience is much better with an HDTV, not to mention the cool factor of having an HDTV if you are a young kid (it still seems to impress a lot of people).

 

[tucker01]

Yeah I can see that, and it is very frustrating.

 

[min0 lee]

I can't stand watching ESPN boxing on ESPNHD with those stupid bars on the sides.

I don't get that, I did have that problem until I set my TV to accept all formats, now it automatically adjusts to the screen size.

Looking at my manual it says to leave it at Automatic....as an example it stretches a 4:3 format into a 16:9 , and it looks perfect.

 

[NeilPearson]

anyone else notice this? Regular viewing looked better on my old CRT than it does now. With the majority of channels still not in HD (with ESPN Classic being my biggest gripe), I feel i should not have bought an HDTV until more channels were converted. Is this a problem for anyone else?

Your new HDTV is likely a lot bigger than your old CRT. Your HDTV can display regular channels in the same resolution as your old CRT... the problem is those 480 lines of resolution are stretch over a lot larger an area, so the resolution doesn't look as fine.

If you want to see an old resolution screen look really sharp, buy a little 12" CRT... it will look as detailed as an HDTV broadcast

 

[min0 lee]

anyone else notice this? Regular viewing looked better on my old CRT than it does now. With the majority of channels still not in HD (with ESPN Classic being my biggest gripe), I feel i should not have bought an HDTV until more channels were converted. Is this a problem for anyone else?

It's still worth it, the same was said when color TV's first came out and the majority of shows were still filmed in Black and White.