Shows that you feel really should have gone HD by now

[Shawn Hopkins]

What shows annoy you by being HD holdouts?

There's on that specifically bugs me. If you look at CBS' primetime schedule (http://www.cbs.com/info/schedule/index.php), you'll see that almost everything on it is HD, except for 48 Hours Mystery and The Amazing Race. I don't really care about 48 Hours Mystery but the Amazing Race's refusal to go HD baffles me. It's a show where people race around in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, it would be perfect for HD.

I don't think it's that the equipment is so much heavier, is it? I mean, Survivor is HD and they have to drag that stuff all over the jungle.

I still watch The Amazing Race but I just don't get why they don't keep up with the times and give HD viewers what they want.

[Ragebot]

Every single animated series, new or long-running.

[EinBebop]

I still watch The Amazing Race but I just don't get why they don't keep up with the times and give HD viewers what they want.Probably just comes down to where they feel the budget is best allocated. I know strong arguments can be made that they should go hd, but the producers apparently have higher priorities.

[Matt Hazuda]

Every single animated series, new or long-running.THe Simpsons will be going HD whenever new episodes begin again and King of the Hill debuted in HD last Sunday. South Park's entire next season will be in HD (http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/20/south-park-finally-goes-hd-in-season-13/) and the crew actually is going back and upgrading every single episode made into HD to go along with the Comedy Central HD channel launching. Most of Adult Swim's content is in HD at this point, it's just that CN confounds all by refusing to air it as such on their HD channel. Nearly all Disney-animated TV shows going back since 2000 or so are in HD and Toon Disney HD has aired them that way.

Really the only holdouts are 4Kids, Nickelodeon (who have an HD channel) and Seth Macfarlane's shows at this point, and all of those will eventually fall in line at some point.

[mr.happy]

I agree about animated shows. Too many of them have stuck around in SD-only. The Simpsons are supposed to go HD this or next month, though.

EDIT: Ah, beaten to it.

[Burgundy Ranger]

I don't really care about 48 Hours Mystery but the Amazing Race's refusal to go HD baffles me. It's a show where people race around in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, it would be perfect for HD.
You're right .... it screams to be in HD.

It's gotta be logistics, since a camera crew is assigned to every team and you don't know exactly everywhere they might have to be.


I mean, Survivor is HD and they have to drag that stuff all over the jungle.
Not as much as you might think. They really have just a handful of set places at which to shoot -- two pre-determined tribe camp sites, an exile site, the place for tribal councils, and scoped-out places for land-based and aquatic challenges.

[Tommy Lawson]

Power Rangers should be broadcast in HD now, especially since its source material, the Super Sentai series, has been broadcasting in high-definition on TV Asahi in Japan for a few years now.

[Mesousa]

Every single animated series, new or long-running.

Cartoon Network has an HD channel.

[SirLemming]

Cartoon Network has an HD channel.
This is the first I've heard of it. So maybe when it becomes more widespread they'll get more serious about it.

Animated shows have the toughest time making the switch -- they can't just reframe their camera shots, they have to draw on a different-sized canvas -- so I understand why there's so much foot-dragging, but at the same time it's also what I'm most eager to see. (And thankfully, in the digital age it's a much easier change to make.) The other thing working against it is the whole "cartoons are for kids" mindset, where they think it doesn't matter, or that kids will be baffled by letterboxing and so prefer to keep it 4:3. Adult Swim will probably lead the charge, as evidenced by the fact that several of their shows are already widescreen.

[chdr]

This is the first I've heard of it. So maybe when it becomes more widespread they'll get more serious about it.

Animated shows have the toughest time making the switch -- they can't just reframe their camera shots, they have to draw on a different-sized canvas -- so I understand why there's so much foot-dragging, but at the same time it's also what I'm most eager to see. (And thankfully, in the digital age it's a much easier change to make.) The other thing working against it is the whole "cartoons are for kids" mindset, where they think it doesn't matter, or that kids will be baffled by letterboxing and so prefer to keep it 4:3. Adult Swim will probably lead the charge, as evidenced by the fact that several of their shows are already widescreen.Actually, most of CN's recent programming is in HD (Chowder was accidentally shown letterboxed, once), and even says that the shows are in HD, on the Friday night block. They just show the HD shows in pan-and-scan.

[Vyse]

Actually, most of CN's recent programming is in HD (Chowder was accidentally shown letterboxed, once), and even says that the shows are in HD, on the Friday night block. They just show the HD shows in pan-and-scan.
Don't get me started on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim's "commitment" to HD. They have the shows. The only problem is that unless they're airing on Friday within 8-10 PM ET, the shows won't be in HD. :(:mad:The only channels that are worse when dealing with HD are MTV, VH1, and CMT. They have the feeds, they have the shows, but guess what? They're not being shown in HD. Unless, of course, the shows are on Palladia. (It's to the MTV Nets what HD Theater is to the Discovery clan).

I agree with Tommy Lawson that Power Rangers need to be in HD. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing the Nicktoons in HD and Ben 10 Alien Force, which isn't made in HD to begin with.

[Burgundy Ranger]

Power Rangers should be broadcast in HD now, especially since its source material, the Super Sentai series, has been broadcasting in high-definition on TV Asahi in Japan for a few years now.
And, one step further, apparently KRDK IS done in HD but it seems no one told the CW and/or its affiliates because it isn't being delivered in HD.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I will note that the Amazing Race is still not in HD. One day we will be watching all of our TV programs on hard light holograms, except for the Amazing Race which will be bringing you all of its beautiful exotic locations in SD. It'll probably revert back to black and white, too. :)

[Blankments]

Even though I am not a big fan, I am still surprised of the lack of HD on The Biggest Loser. It might be a little odd to watch fat people work out in high definition, but it is one of NBC's most popular shows, and lesser shows by them have been HD.

[Vyse]

I will note that the Amazing Race is still not in HD. One day we will be watching all of our TV programs on hard light holograms, except for the Amazing Race which will be bringing you all of its beautiful exotic locations in SD. It'll probably revert back to black and white, too. :)I wonder the exact same thing. The Amazing Race would look awesome in HD, since it will be like a travelogue show on Discovery, Nat Geo, or Travel Channel but with random competitions. The only reason why I think they won't go HD is because of production issues in HD. Then again, I think HD cameras can now endure around-the-world crazy trips.

I would also like to note that since Monday, two of ESPN's biggest shows, Around The Horn and Pardon The Interruption, have finally begun airing in high-definition. Originally filmed at DC-based Atlantic Video, they finally moved in to new studios within ABC News' Washington DC location. They look good, but PTI's new wrap-around graphics remind me of ESPN's Draft coverage in HD; if you've seen ESPN's Draft coverage in HD, you know why. With ESPN U receiving a new studio set to coincide with the new college football season, there are now a few remaining shows the ESPN nets don't air in HD. Those include the ESPN Deportes shows, which are on a network that doesn't have an HD simulcast feed; ESPN Radio simulcast shows that aren't Mike And Mike In The Morning, since shows like The Herd and Scott Van Pelt are made in the can't-cram-HD-equipment-in-there ESPN Radio broadcasting booth; and Jim Rome is Burning, which is made in LA but surprisingly is not filmed at the HD-ready LA Live studios that house the 1 am Sportscenter.

Plus, The Soup finally began airing in HD earlier this month, joining an ever-increasing lineup of E!, Style, and G4 shows produced in the E! building that are now HD-native. I'm still mad that Comcast and DirecTV are going to be jerks about the carriages of those three nets' HD feeds on the satellite company.

Also, it's been a while since I've watched Ani-Monday, but is Ani-Monday now in HD? Really annoying to get horizontal letterboxes in top of the vertical letterboxes.

[TenPoundHammer]

Am I the only person who doesn't give a rip if it's in HD? Besides the width, I can barely tell the difference.

[The Penguin]

Am I the only person who doesn't give a rip if it's in HD? Besides the width, I can barely tell the difference.You must have a regular TV then because HD on an HD TV is glorious. I find even on a regular TV the image is a bit sharper, but the HD TV is what makes it worth it.

Plus, broadcast networks that don't even air in widescreen/letterbox are cutting off more and more of the picture as TV shows are now designed for HD more than ever.

[chalmers]

Am I the only person who doesn't give a rip if it's in HD? Besides the width, I can barely tell the difference.

I don't really care about HD either, but there is a difference. Try watching a football game in SD and then flip over to it in HD, there's a world of difference there. Even when I watch super old episodes of The Simpsons on Fox Chicago in SD, and then watch them on the HD feed, there is a noticeable difference.

[Lord Dalek]

Even though I am not a big fan, I am still surprised of the lack of HD on The Biggest Loser. It might be a little odd to watch fat people work out in high definition, but it is one of NBC's most popular shows, and lesser shows by them have been HD.
Biggest Loser is now in HD as of this season.

[defunctzombie]

If I wish for HD shows they will have to be broadcast because my cable company is selective about the HD channels they offer. I've got a bazillion HD NFL channels but no Comedy Central HD?

[Matt Hazuda]

About The Amazing Race not being in HD. I saw it mentioned in another forum that they use a lot of local crews for all the various locations they film in, and nearly none of them have HD production facilities, which is why the show isn't in HD (and probably will not be for a very long time, if ever).

[mumbo]

About The Amazing Race not being in HD. I saw it mentioned in another forum that they use a lot of local crews for all the various locations they film in, and nearly none of them have HD production facilities, which is why the show isn't in HD (and probably will not be for a very long time, if ever).
That would make a lot of sense.

I mean, the production logistics of The Amazing Race even emerging as a watchable program in the first place are pretty impressive, so I would imagine any change to that must have more obstacles than your typical TV show.

[Blankments]

Biggest Loser is now in HD as of this season.

D'oh! I watched actually a bit of it yesterday, and was going to post that I was wrong. Either way, it took them a while.