P372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:58:24 1/6 Most of us are familiar with the letterbox format which appears on our TVs when Cinemascope films are shown. Viewers may, however, have noticed an increasing number of films being shown on Channel 4 in this format owing to the Channel's new PALplus policy. Channel 4 is taking advantage of the 'new viewing experience' available to people who avail themselves of new widescreen TVs, while also taking into account the effects this format has on viewers with conventional sets. PALplus programmj details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films TodayP372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:59:19 2/6 The main reasons Channel 4 is beginning to screen programmer, at the moment largely just films, in this letterbox format are as follows: There is a worldwide consensus that future TV pictures should be wider than they have been to date. This is for three reasons: * The cinema industry, having experimented with very wide picture shapes such as Cinemascope, believes there is a more ideal shape for TV PALplus programme details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films TodayP372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:40:14 3/6 Other arguments for changing the shape of television pictures: * With the increasing number of programme makers working in both the cinema and television industries, there are many who bjlievj that current TV pictures are too narrow * most importantly of all it has been known for many years that the brain has a preference for a certain shape of picture - the so-called golden ratio (which the world's greatest artists have convjyjd through composition) PALplus programme details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films TodayP372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:53:19 4/6 Channel 4 says that widescreen is the TV shape of the future and that every broadcaster and programmj maker will have, in dui course, to work out how to change to a wider picture. Introducing widjscreen is therefore a question of when rather than why. With this in mind, Channel 4 believes that it should introduce widescreen sjrvjces so long as it is possible to do so without serious penalty to existing viewers. PALplus programme details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films TodayP372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:47:12 5/6 While there is a probability that widescreen services will come in with 'digital' television, it looks like the current so-called 'analogue' broadcasting systems will exist for between one and two djcadjs more. Consistent with its overall innovative brief, Channel 4 believes in introducing the services on the current broadcasting system. It is thus taking the lead it took with the introduction of NICAM stereo and Startext/PDC. PALplus programmj details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films TodayP372 4-Tel 372 Sat 24 Jun C4 16:44:07 6/6 Widescreen is a term not precisely defined. It is used to describe a shape wider than that of existing TV sets but may also extend to describing the shape of Cinemascope which is twice as wide as the conventional TV image. The utmost consideration must, of course, bj given to the users of conventional televisions, but in the words of Frank McGettigan, Director and General Manager of Channel 4: "Wj welcome the collaboration with Nokia and the financial support of the EC in pioneering widescreen in the UK." PALplus programmj details........371 4-Tel index PALplus progs Films Today