Stream Beta on Roku Screen Formatting

[bartimusmaximus]

I have two Roku devices - a Roku TV and a Roku Stick on another TV.  On both devices all the channels format correctly EXCEPT the Starz Encore channels (regular Starz is OK).  These channels appear to have the correct aspect ratio, but are only filling about 75% of the screen.  On my main TV using an Xfinity cable DVR box, the channels format correctly.

I've tried deleting and reinstalling the app and doing a Roku system restart.  No joy.

[Rustyben]

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@bartimusmaximus wrote:

I have two Roku devices - a Roku TV and a Roku Stick on another TV.  On both devices all the channels format correctly EXCEPT the Starz Encore channels (regular Starz is OK).  These channels appear to have the correct aspect ratio, but are only filling about 75% of the screen.  On my main TV using an Xfinity cable DVR box, the channels format correctly.

I've tried deleting and reinstalling the app and doing a Roku system restart.  No joy.

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try searching for s-t-a-r-z on your remote and select starz channel collectionl. look to the 4 digit numbers for the starz encore "HD".  look for channel Starz encore HD (mine is 1773). does that display in HD ?

[bartimusmaximus]

The STARZ Encore channel works OK because it's HD.  All the other STARZ Encore channels (e.g. SE Family, SE Action, SE Suspense, etc.) are not marked as HD channels and do not format correctly. 

I did search as you suggested and found them duplicated in the upper 1700 range, but they have the same problem. (They're not marked as HD channels, so I assume they're SD even though they're in the 1700 range.)

I do get other SD channels, such as Indie Plex and Retro Plex, that DO format correctly.

[wyoung8921]

Some SD channels will format by default for 4:3, some will format for 16:9. A lot of this is source material dependent. Same thing holds true for OTA subchannels, as some now are 16:9 but still 480i source material.

[Rustyben]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Format_Description

[bartimusmaximus]

OK, I think I understand this.

Our main TV in the living room is connected to our original Xfinity DVR box.  The feed coming through that box is "traditional cable" and not internet streaming video.  The guest room and kitchen TV's used to have the little Xfinity boxes, but I replaced those with Roku devices.

So, being streaming devices, the Roku devices act (or don't act) on the Active Format Descriptor in the stream; whereas the format control on what comes through the "traditional cable" is either done by the firmware in the DVR box or by Comcast before it gets there.

So the Starz SD channels are correctly formatted on the main TV because of manipulation done by comcast, and on the Roku devices it's not because the manipulation is controlled by Roku.  Is that correct?

[Rustyben]

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@bartimusmaximus wrote:

OK, I think I understand this.

Our main TV in the living room is connected to our original Xfinity DVR box.  The feed coming through that box is "traditional cable" and not internet streaming video.  The guest room and kitchen TV's used to have the little Xfinity boxes, but I replaced those with Roku devices.

So, being streaming devices, the Roku devices act (or don't act) on the Active Format Descriptor in the stream; whereas the format control on what comes through the "traditional cable" is either done by the firmware in the DVR box or by Comcast before it gets there.

So the Starz SD channels are correctly formatted on the main TV because of manipulation done by comcast, and on the Roku devices it's not because the manipulation is controlled by Roku.  Is that correct?

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any SD that is shown full screen or near full screen (16:9 or 14:9) has AFD which is read/handled by the 'sink' (TV/monitor). An AFD formatted channel where the format is ignored or stripped away will look like a postage stamp that is nearly square and shapes are squashed left to right (in a 1:1 format) - that is the worst handling of all. The Roku will not show HD unless the bill includes the line "HD technology fee" (either $0 or $10). that is a limitation of the beta channel at the moment.