Question on HD Broadcasts of shows with 4:3 OAR?
 

I just get over-the-air analog TV. I've seen promos for Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS) and The Wizard of Oz (the WB) being in high definition, and the commericals have the picture letterboxed. Do they lop off the tops and bottoms for shows like these when they present them in HD?

I'm curious about that too - I've been watching reruns of "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" on HDNet in 16:9 and they look gorgeous - is it just some kind of film transfer?

Andy Richter was probably shot for HD -- it's only a few years old.

As for the other quesiton, Rudolph was in 4:3 -- can't speak for Wizard of Oz, I don't have the WB in high def. I'd imagine it's 4:3 as well.

WoO was 1.37 : 1 which is as good as saying 4:3 (4.1 : 3). If it's in 16:9, then it's definitely being screwed with in some way.

Cheers,
Jon.

Didn't want to start a new thread for this, but it kinda fits:

I just got my HD box and have a 16:9 hdtv. I was watching ESPN HD the other night. They were showing a NBA double header. The first game, I believe, was the Spurs and Heat. It was shown in 16:9. However, the second game had the Lakers and the game was shown in 4:3.

Is there a reason why 1 game on ESPN gets the HD 16:9 treatment and the other gets HD 4:3 treatment?

The first game was the only one actually broadcast in HD. The Lakers/Suns game was only a standard broadcast.