The Simpsons

[Mark Strube]

I've noticed on The Simpsons and some other FOX programming... the picture is in 4:3 format, not using the sides of the 16:9 frame, but at the top of the picture, there's a thin line going out to the edges of the frame, and you can see that there is picture going out that far thru the line. What's up with that? Is it supposed to be in widescreen and FOX6 is screwing it up?

[John L]

Yes I notice that too.  It makes me think that the picture was shot in widescreen and for some reason channel 6 is covering up the sides.  Little do they know a sliver of a picture on top is getting thru.  So if it is in Widescreen or HD, why does channel 6 cover it up?

-John L.

[foxeng]

If you look closely, you will see the image is repeated on both sides to fill out the 16:9 frame. It is the same trick used in sports with a 4:3 highlight that is repeated on the sides to fill out the 16:9 frame. The difference here is there is a black panel put over the 16:9 area to show only the 4:3. Simpsons are NOT produced in 16:9 or HD and because of the length of the run of the show, there is a slim to none chance the show will ever be produced in anything other than 4:3 480.