We are pleased to announce UKTV is going widescreen on Thursday 31st January 2008: [link] One of the main driving forces behind this was the overwhelming response we received to the survey we ran in 2007. Therefore we would like to thank everyone who took the time to contact us.

Please use this thread if you have any questions or comments relating to widescreen broadcasting on UKTV.

You say that you are going to broadcast older (i.e. 4:3) material untouched. I think that would be a shame if you did do that, since it means that a 16:9 TV will display your widescreen broadcasts properly but the 4:3 material will be stretched.

It would be much better if you framed the 4:3 material with black bars on the left and right hand side so that it matches the 16:9 ratio. Other channels, e.g. Sky Arts, do this.

PColmer I think you are confused.

We want UKTV to broadcast 4:3 programmes untouched.

We don't want them to broadcast them in a 16:9 frame.

With them going the way they are (which is what the vast majority of viewers want) you have the choice whether to watch correctly or to watch stretched. This way also means the whole resolution is used for the 4:3 picture and not 33% less.

If your TV is stretching 4:3 material to fill the 16:9 screen, then you have your TV set up wrong.

You should set your TV to 4:3 and set your digibox to use scart switching and set to 16:9. That way when 4:3 programmes are shown the TV pillarboxes the image (black bars left and right) itself and when widescreen programmes are shown the TV then switches to widescreen.

People hate it when TV channels pillarbox themselves, people want the TV to do it (will do if set up correctly).

It's good to see you have a page up with details on how to set-up the digital boxes for widescreen.

Will you also be making on-screen announcements, letting people know if they want to watch in widescreen they must make sure their satellite receiver, cable box or DTT box is set up for widescreen, as the number of people with widescreen TV sets yet have their boxes set to 4:3 Centre-Cut-Out and then stretch that to fill the screen is amazing!

Thank you for your comments.

I can confirm BexTech is correct. When we broadcast a 4:3 programme we will switch our 16:9 signal off and revert back to 4:3. For example, the way we show "Only Fools and Horses" now will be exactly the same come Thursday. We do not want to spoil people's enjoyment by cutting off some of the picture.

We're glad you found the set top box instructions useful. We have no plans to make these announcements on air as you only have a small amount of time to introduce the show. We will however, for the first couple of weeks, announce on air when the programme being shown is in widescreen wherever possible.

Maybe an on-screen message to visit UKTV for details on widescreen whilst the announcers mention what's on now / next etc.