RTÉ widescreen offers a narrow perspective to many viewers

IN September 2005, RTÉ commenced broadcasting in widescreen format. I applaud the national broadcaster on moving to this technology as widescreen is the way of the future.

However, while this ensures that widescreen TV owners get the most from their sets, viewing programmes transmitted in widescreen format (16:9) is far from ideal for anyone still in possession of a conventional 4:3 set.

For example, viewing a programme like The Sunday Game on a 4:3 set on an analogue platform results in black bars on the top and bottom of the screen giving what looks like a zoomed-out view of the game.

For 4:3 set-owners on a digital platform there is the option of viewing the game in 4:3 format where the left and right of the picture, including part of the time/score display, is not visible, or you can tolerate the hassle of going to the menu, selecting services and then the 4:3L format.

Again this view is far from ideal and will have to be changed back to 4:3 for the next programme transmitted in that format — RTÉ do not transmit all programmes in widescreen.

While every move to new technology obviously takes time, I’d like to know why we still have to pay 155 (soon 158) to the Government every year so that they can give a grant to RTÉ which is now broadcasting programmes in a format that a lot of TV licence-payers cannot get the most benefit from and, in some cases, it even reduces the quality of the service.

Furthermore, digital subscribers are already paying Sky or NTL a monthly fee for a package that includes RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2, while also having to pay a TV licence.

Surely this is double charging — all for the national broadcaster which is not even going to screen live coverage of one of the biggest sporting events ever to take place in this country — the Ryder Cup.

Richard Leahy

28 Daffodil Fields

Poulavone

Ballincollig

Co Cork