Question Re: HBO and THE WIRE

britbiker · 09-17-2006, 01:15 PM

Hey All,

O.k. here's the skinny - rather than go through my whole system and what I have - just know I have a 40 inch Sony Brand new, have Time Warner cable, HDTV DVR, pay for the HDTV channels blah blah.

So as I'm sitting here watching football in HD, it fills the entire screen, and I like that program "The Closer" on TNT - and that's in HDTV and fills the whole screen.

So I love HBO's "The Wire" and was floored last week when I tuned into find that it does NOT fill the whole screen. It's in HD, yes, but I'm floored The WIRE isn't filmed in 16:9 (or whatever it is that makes shows like "CSI" "The Closer" NFL Football, fill the *entire*screen. Just seems like HBO would film the Sopranos, The Wire, etc. in a way that fills the whole screen. I hope I'm making sense. I mean, the answer to my question could be that HBO just didn't film it's programs to fill the whole screen. Kind of a bummer because I mean if TNT is doing it, I would just assume a company as large and with the money that HBO has would know people want Sopranos, The Wire, etc., filmed in a way that fills the entire screen.

Anyone know why this does't happen? Thanks so much.

dels28 · 09-17-2006, 06:13 PM

I'm a big fan of the Wire and HBO orginial programming. This seasons Wire was not filmed in HD. HBO spent it's HD budget on Lucky Louie. Just kidding, but this has been discussed on other forums and HBO for some reason decided to not produce it in HD. If it were in HD, it would fill your screen. The Sopranos, Entourage, Comedy shows, etc. have been and are being produced in HD, 16x9, the Wire is not.

britbiker · 09-17-2006, 07:35 PM

Hey there,

Thanks so much for that education. You sound quite sure - and if you are, well, HBO truly dropped the ball on that one. Every. Single. Review of "The Wire" from the NY Times to web reviews - everyone says this show is one of the best shows on T.V. - I'm really surprised by HBO for doing that - and don't even tell me Lucky Louie is in Hi Def. That's painful to read. Thanks again for responding!

paulc · 09-18-2006, 09:55 AM

Actually, the fact that it's not in 16:9 does not necessarily mean it's not HD. It is absolutely possible to broadcast a real HD image in 4:3, and I've seen it done.

That being said, I am stunned. The Wire isn't one of those "do a season or two and cancel" so I seriously doubt it's a budget thing... there's got to me more to it than that! Only doing it in 4:3 may have a very serious effect on DVD sales as well...

britbiker · 09-18-2006, 03:32 PM

I wrote my previous answer a little confusing. Yes, it is in HD - it's obvious to me from the picture quality, but it's not filmed in 16:9. I mean have you seen the reviews for The Wire, they are outstanding this season and if TNT can put "The Closer" in 16:9 you would just assume, HBO would put all their top shows in 16:9. You're right it will affect DVD sales. Fire the person who made that decision.

dels28 · 09-18-2006, 09:34 PM

http://www./avs-vb/showthread.php?t=716980

britbiker · 09-19-2006, 02:36 PM

Hey thanks for that link to The Wire discussion. Total bummer and really a bad decision. Christ the show is in it's Forth season!

Lanny · 09-20-2006, 05:42 PM

As far as I know, the Wire has never been shown in HD.

brianwat · 09-22-2006, 07:41 PM

yes it's a big mistake not filming it in HD.

You could've got a clearer look at the Mayors "tool" last week!

Wasn't that a surprise.

mksimith2 · 03-26-2009, 01:10 AM

I've watched The Wire full seasons 1-3 so far and I've loved them. Really amazing television. But I just watched the first ep of season 4 and didn't like it much. Way to much Carcetti. Can't stand watching that guy, I have a real hatred of politicians and politics -- especially narcesistic self-righteous a-hole ones. & The school system looks like its going to be a boring story -- those kids playing around, dull. The gangs and policework and the dockworkers were all interesting. Oh, well. I'll keep going and see if it gets better.

09-17-2006, 01:15 PM	#1
britbiker NYC Time Warner Chick Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Posts: 41	Question Re: HBO and THE WIRE Hey All, O.k. here's the skinny - rather than go through my whole system and what I have - just know I have a 40 inch Sony Brand new, have Time Warner cable, HDTV DVR, pay for the HDTV channels blah blah. So as I'm sitting here watching football in HD, it fills the entire screen, and I like that program "The Closer" on TNT - and that's in HDTV and fills the whole screen. So I love HBO's "The Wire" and was floored last week when I tuned into find that it does NOT fill the whole screen. It's in HD, yes, but I'm floored The WIRE isn't filmed in 16:9 (or whatever it is that makes shows like "CSI" "The Closer" NFL Football, fill the entirescreen. Just seems like HBO would film the Sopranos, The Wire, etc. in a way that fills the whole screen. I hope I'm making sense. I mean, the answer to my question could be that HBO just didn't film it's programs to fill the whole screen. Kind of a bummer because I mean if TNT is doing it, I would just assume a company as large and with the money that HBO has would know people want Sopranos, The Wire, etc., filmed in a way that fills the entire screen. Anyone know why this does't happen? Thanks so much. __________________ Sony Bravia KDL40S2000 Sony DAV-FX500 (Home Theater in a Box) Cable: Time Warner NYC SA8300

09-17-2006, 06:13 PM	#2
dels28 Hoosier Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 687	I'm a big fan of the Wire and HBO orginial programming. This seasons Wire was not filmed in HD. HBO spent it's HD budget on Lucky Louie. Just kidding, but this has been discussed on other forums and HBO for some reason decided to not produce it in HD. If it were in HD, it would fill your screen. The Sopranos, Entourage, Comedy shows, etc. have been and are being produced in HD, 16x9, the Wire is not. __________________ Sony WEGA KDL-52XBR4 Daddy's Room Onkyo TX-SR705 Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet 100-Watt 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Klipsch 12" 650W Powered Subwoofer Logitech Harmony 880 HR 20-600& HR 21-200, Direct TV PS3 60GB, PS3 80GB HD-A30 HD-A2 Nintiendo Wii Sony WEGA KDF-55WF655 retired to family living room Ready Nas Pro Duo 1.5 TB Media Server

09-17-2006, 07:35 PM	#3
britbiker NYC Time Warner Chick Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Posts: 41	Thank you! Hey there, Thanks so much for that education. You sound quite sure - and if you are, well, HBO truly dropped the ball on that one. Every. Single. Review of "The Wire" from the NY Times to web reviews - everyone says this show is one of the best shows on T.V. - I'm really surprised by HBO for doing that - and don't even tell me Lucky Louie is in Hi Def. That's painful to read. Thanks again for responding! __________________ Sony Bravia KDL40S2000 Sony DAV-FX500 (Home Theater in a Box) Cable: Time Warner NYC SA8300

09-18-2006, 03:32 PM	#5
britbiker NYC Time Warner Chick Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Posts: 41	Excellent Point Paul I wrote my previous answer a little confusing. Yes, it is in HD - it's obvious to me from the picture quality, but it's not filmed in 16:9. I mean have you seen the reviews for The Wire, they are outstanding this season and if TNT can put "The Closer" in 16:9 you would just assume, HBO would put all their top shows in 16:9. You're right it will affect DVD sales. Fire the person who made that decision. __________________ Sony Bravia KDL40S2000 Sony DAV-FX500 (Home Theater in a Box) Cable: Time Warner NYC SA8300

09-18-2006, 09:34 PM	#6
dels28 Hoosier Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 687	http://www./avs-vb/showthread.php?t=716980 __________________ Sony WEGA KDL-52XBR4 Daddy's Room Onkyo TX-SR705 Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet 100-Watt 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Klipsch 12" 650W Powered Subwoofer Logitech Harmony 880 HR 20-600& HR 21-200, Direct TV PS3 60GB, PS3 80GB HD-A30 HD-A2 Nintiendo Wii Sony WEGA KDF-55WF655 retired to family living room Ready Nas Pro Duo 1.5 TB Media Server

09-18-2006, 09:55 AM	#4
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	Actually, the fact that it's not in 16:9 does not necessarily mean it's not HD. It is absolutely possible to broadcast a real HD image in 4:3, and I've seen it done. That being said, I am stunned. The Wire isn't one of those "do a season or two and cancel" so I seriously doubt it's a budget thing... there's got to me more to it than that! Only doing it in 4:3 may have a very serious effect on DVD sales as well...

09-19-2006, 02:36 PM	#7
britbiker NYC Time Warner Chick Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Posts: 41	Thanks you DELS! Hey thanks for that link to The Wire discussion. Total bummer and really a bad decision. Christ the show is in it's Forth season! __________________ Sony Bravia KDL40S2000 Sony DAV-FX500 (Home Theater in a Box) Cable: Time Warner NYC SA8300

09-20-2006, 05:42 PM	#8
Lanny High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Winthrop, MA Posts: 421	As far as I know, the Wire has never been shown in HD.

09-22-2006, 07:41 PM	#9
brianwat HD lover Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: long island Posts: 152	yes it's a big mistake not filming it in HD. You could've got a clearer look at the Mayors "tool" last week! Wasn't that a surprise.

03-26-2009, 01:10 AM	#10
mksimith2 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5	I've watched The Wire full seasons 1-3 so far and I've loved them. Really amazing television. But I just watched the first ep of season 4 and didn't like it much. Way to much Carcetti. Can't stand watching that guy, I have a real hatred of politicians and politics -- especially narcesistic self-righteous a-hole ones. & The school system looks like its going to be a boring story -- those kids playing around, dull. The gangs and policework and the dockworkers were all interesting. Oh, well. I'll keep going and see if it gets better.