Leno vs Letterman

[summerfun]

Leno looks fantastic in HD and 16:9

Letterman is in 4:3 but still looks fantastic. Is he using HD but just not the 16:9 format?

To that point, many shows, including local news seems to look much better on the HD channel even though I know they are not doing their show in HD.

Does just that fact that they are broadcasting in HD improve the quality even thought the original source is not HD?

[Sparkman87]

Letterman is still in SD, not HD yet.  When you are watching on the Digital channel, an SD program will look better than when it is broadcast on the analog channel.  But is still in SD.  That is why the programs you watch on the digital channel will look better.
Same reasoning why a signal on a DBS system looks so much better.  Or a cable co's Digital cable vs the origanal analog cable.
But with all of these, they are not necessarily broadcasting in HD.

[MikeRoz]

OK, this is just what I heard...

I heard from a few sources that Letterman will start broadcasting in HD in September.

Now, go spread the rumor!!

[Kevin Arnold]

Sometimes I have to wonder about CBS and Letterman. Ever since about 6 years ago Leno has consistantly beat Letterman in the ratings. Letterman seems to have a huge problem adapting and changing to compete. When Leno went HD I would have thought Letterman would have followed within a year. Instead they have languished and allowed Leno to continue to beat them. Is HD the big reason? No, of course not, but it does tell you if anyone at CBS is paying attention to what is happening. Letterman's show has changed very little since he moved to CBS and is tired, tired, tired. Why would you let your gem tarnish?