Washington, D.C. (April 21, 2008) -- Last week, I noted here in an article on ABC's This Week going high-def that network rival Fox News Sunday is not in HD.

Well, you would have thought that I had said the Pope isn't Catholic. Readers flooded my e-mail box with letters saying that Fox News Sunday has been in high-def for months.

"Hate to be nitpicking, but Fox News Sunday has been in HD for at least a year now," said one reader.

A few even said that I must be a liberal because I was purposely lying about the Fox news program, which is hosted by Chris Wallace.

There was just one problem with the complaints: They were all wrong. Fox News Sunday is broadcast in widescreen digital, which fills the HDTV screen but lacks the clarity and detail of a high-def picture.

Generally speaking, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being HD, the widescreen digital picture would be about a 6 -- better than a 4 x 3 analog picture but far short of an HDTV picture.

The effect, however, can fool the casual HD viewer into thinking that the image is high-def because real HD shows are in widescreen. Fox uses the same technique for other shows, such as Cops and Hell's Kitchen.

But Fox is not the only network to practice this sleight-of-hand with your picture. NBC, for instance, convinced millions last summer that its widescreen enhanced broadcast of Wimbledon was actually in high-def. And several basic cable networks such as A&E, TBS and The History Channel air much of their lineups in widescreen, but not real HD.


Crossing Jordan in 'Stretch-o-vision' on A&E.

Network executives usually say they broadcast in widescreen when the show isn't in HD as a service to owners of widescreen sets. They say the viewer would rather have the show fill the entire screen.

But that's nonsense. The networks know that many HD owners will think the show is in HD, which makes it more likely that they will tune in. Rather than spend the money to deliver a real HD picture, they are trying to trick their customers.

Today, I am calling on all networks to end this fraud immediately. If a show is not in HD, the networks should not broadcast it in widescreen -- unless it flashes an occasional on-screen message telling the viewer that the show is not in high-def.

HDTV is confusing enough for the average person. The networks don't have to add to that confusion by purposely manipulating the technology for the benefit of their ratings.

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Swanni (Phillip Swann) is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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