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To watch any of our HD channels, you will need to have the appropriate equipment either a Freeview, Sky or Virgin HD box/card as well as an HD TV.
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No, instead, we provide funding for sign presented programming which are shown on the Community Channel’s new BSL zone. For information on what programming is available and where, please have a look at the Community Channel website for full details HERE.
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On-screen logos are very much a part of the multi-channel world and being competitive in this environment is tough. Channel 4 tries to maintain this competitiveness by making high quality programmes that people want to watch and by establishing loyalty, so that when a viewer is watching television, they watch Channel 4 channels rather than the hundreds of other choices.
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There's a common complaint from the viewing public that commercials sound too loud when compared with programmes.Why is this? To gain impact, commercial advertisers tend to "compress" the sound levels which means they lift them all up to the higher end - and this is what creates the greater impact. However, when compared against programmes which have a wider dynamic range - a wider variation in sound levels - this can cause irritation, because the two types of sound treatment don't sit very well together. Channel 4 has recognised this as a problem for viewers, and we use perceived loudness meters which give us a measure of the way the brain perceives the actual loudness of the sound. This allows us to adjust the levels of commercials and other interstitial material in accordance with Ofcom guidelines, so that they no longer cause irritation when compared with the wide majority of programme types transmitted by Channel 4. We continue to strive for an even perceived loudness through all our programming junctions on all our services.
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It is likely you've accidentally turned the audio description option on which is a service for blind viewers. Check your accessibility options. If you continue to have issues, please contact us letting us know what you were watching and on what platform (Freeview, Freesat or C4 streaming).
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It is an unfortunate reality that television audiences fall dramatically when credits start to roll and in the increasingly competitive multi-channel environment, all channels are under pressure to retain viewers. We have to use every opportunity at our disposal to let our viewers know what is on offer in subsequent schedules. An announcement over the end credits of a programme is an effective means of keeping our viewers informed and reduces the likelihood of their switching over. When we do schedule announcements during credits, we try to ensure that they are appropriate to the programme and remain sensitive to the context of the programme or film’s ending.
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Original HDTV programming is made in the 16x9 (1.78) aspect ratio, which fits the dimensions of HDTVs which are Widescreen. However, many theatrically released films are made in either the 1.85 or 2.35 aspect ratio, which is even wider than the 16x9 (1.78) aspect ratios of HDTVs.
Therefore, when viewing these films on an HDTV (if presented in their original theatrical aspect ratio) - you will see black bars at the top and bottom on your 16x9 screen, because we like to show you the film way it was meant to be seen on the cinema-screen. For upconverted legacy 4x3 programmes , you will sometimes see black bars on the left and right.
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Channel 4 originated transmissions provide for three aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9 that is safe for 14:9 viewing and 16:9. Using a 4:3 TV to view a 4:3 aspect ratio transmission is straight forward. When a 4:3 TV is used to view 16:9 safe for 14:9, what should happen is that the freeview box will zoom in a little to provide thin black bands top and bottom and cut a little of the sides of the picture off. This facility is intended to provide a reasonable compromise for viewers with 4:3 TVs. (14:9 is often used for analogue transmissions for the same reason).Note that some freeview boxes do not support this option and will produce a 16:9 letterbox display in this mode with thick black lines top and bottom, but the correct aspect ratio.A few types of box may become confused and not produce satisfactory pictures. When a 4:3 TV is used to view 16:9 programmes the pictures may be presented in one of two ways depending on the chosen option in the freeview box. Either in letterbox with thick black lines top and bottom or in centre cut out. Centre cut out enlarges the centre of the 16:9 image to fill the 4:3 screen and in so doing cuts off the sides of the picture. Note that some shows which are a mixture of 16:9 and 4:3 have to present the 4:3 with an area of black each side of the screen. If this is being watched in letterbox on a 4:3 TV, this will result in an area of black all around the image. E4 is transmitted with a different resolution setting from E4+1.Some boxes can give unexpected results as a result of this. If you are able to compare results/settings with friends and neighbours it may be helpful.
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Some of our old films have rather poor quality optical sound tracks. Many viewers find the original dynamic range of cinema films excessive so this is often reduced prior to transmission. This has the effect of further increasing the background noise in quiet passages. To counter this various types of audio processing are sometimes applied to reduce the background noise. Unfortunately this often has to be a compromise between noise and intelligibility. Other suggestions are to investigate the sound adjustments available on the TV and if available to try the effect boosting the high frequencies (treble) and cutting the low frequencies (bass) to improve intelligibility.
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Not necessarily, but usually. As well as an HDTV, it needs to have an HD decoder built-in, (or an external set top box) that can receive the HD signals and a TV service offering high-definition programmes, many of which are free. There was a confusing period in the late 2000’s where many TV’s said they were “HD Ready” but you need to check that they can decode an HD broadcast. If they can’t you may need an extra set-top-box.
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