Freakishly distorted CNN Video

[moribundman]

It is bad enough when widescreen images are cropped on 4:3 tv screens. Ruins a movie. So did they unfortunate habit of occasionally squeezing a widescreen movie into a 4:3 screen. It is just as bad that people complained about letterboxed movie presentations on 4:3 tv screens.

What really stinks now is that, while widescreen tv screens have basically become standard, it does seemingly affect presentation of video where it really should have no effect at all: why on earth does the CNN website show all their silly little video clips, which are filmed in 4:3, present them totally distorted in 16:9? Everybody has shoulders like the Hulk and a round melon head. How unpleasing this is to watch. Why don't they just show the effing videos in the same effing format in which they were filmed? What pinhead and what cretins went along with deciding on distorted presentations, and for what harebrained reasons, I don't dare even guessing. Stupidity reigns.

 

[ALS]

You must one of the 26 people in the USA that actually watches CNN. I never thought I would ever meet one or come across a person that watches CNN. Just teasing you.

 

[moribundman]

Good point...

 

[MarkC]

Ah, but never forget who started 24 hours of news("news"?) in the first place. At least in the US. Thanks Ted. It's all pretty much the same: boring.

 

[moribundman]

I'm shallow. I'm talking about how those videos look, not about the content.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Fox isn't any better: Bill O'Reilly's head looks as big as a beach ball.

Oh wait, that's not distorted video...

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Quote:

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You must one of the 26 people in the USA that actually watches CNN. I never thought I would ever meet one or come across a person that watches CNN. Just teasing you.

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There's a LOT more than 26 people in the USA that watch CNN! You forgot to count all those who are waiting at airports and emergency rooms!

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Actually, I think CNN International probably has the biggest audience of all...it's not like you can get MSNBC or Fox too many places outside of the USA.

(Probably because that kind of news doesn't play too well...)

 

[Crashbox]

Quote:

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Ah, but never forget who started 24 hours of news("news"?) in the first place. At least in the US. Thanks Ted. It's all pretty much the same: boring.

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I thought the Satellite News Channel (long since defunct) was before CNN...? Then again, it's just my memory and it ain't what it used to be... It seems their seniority dates were at least close to each other...

Equally bad as distorted video is the apparent LACK OF SUPPORT ON WEBSITES for video on Linux machines- it really ticks me off.

 

[rpn453]

I know what you mean, Mori. I can't stand watching 4x3 images stretched out on a 16x9 screen. It seems to be how many people like to watch TV though. I used to get amusement from looking at the stocky midget version of myself on the side of a shiny car as a kid, so maybe some people think it's just a more amusing way to watch TV? If they're bored with the program, but can't peel themselves off the couch, they can be entertained by how the midget's arm stretches every time he raises it! They also get to see the chubby versions of all their favorite celebrities!

 

[dwendt44]

"Fox isn't any better: Bill O'Reilly's head looks as big as a beach ball."

It IS as big as a beach ball; he needs the room for his ego.

 

[The_Jeff]

You'd be suprised how many people with big, wide screen TVs stretch 4:3 video to fit.

They must figure, "I paid for these 50 inches, I'm going to use 'em all."

 

[ALS]

Quote:

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It IS as big as a beach ball; he needs the room for his ego.

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I'll Second that!

 

[moribundman]

Naw, look again. O'Reilly's head has actually been squeezed to fit (barely) on a 4:3 screen.