On Demand ESPN content "The Last Dance" streams in SD (squished letterbox)

[mcmorris]

When I attempt to play any of the episodes of this NEW popular series which streams all over the world on Netflix, FIOS chooses to broadcast it in SD. 

I spent almost an hour on the phone with a very nice lady who, despite trying to see if it was something to do with my TV (of course it isnt), finally said that the person in NYC who she contacted said "that's the way they are broadcast".

Can someone please explain that.   What if Netflix said "oh...we don't broadcast HD on this movie..."

Come on FIOS... I don't want to ditch cable but....It plays as a stretched, distorted letterbox picture.   

Only the current/featured episode (which happens to be episode 5...all 6 are available), plays at full screen resolution.

Featured episode in HDFeatured episodeother episodes in SD

[clem21]

Does the info on the TV say it's SD? If so try to change the aspect ratio on the TV to get a normal 4/3 image. Don't know why it's in SD, but no reason to watch distorted!

[mcmorris]

"Info on the TV"

....as in the FIOS content/copywriting?   Isn't FIOS all the same service with the same info for all customers, generally?   To answer your question (hopefully), there is no HD or SD indication in the OnDemand menu.   

If anyone else could try to access these programs to see if you can get them in HD.

What is the purpose of having them up there in SD in 2020 (other than the company saving money on bandwidth)?   

[clem21]

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@mcmorris wrote:

"Info on the TV"

....as in the FIOS content/copywriting?   Isn't FIOS all the same service with the same info for all customers, generally?   To answer your question (hopefully), there is no HD or SD indication in the OnDemand menu.   

If anyone else could try to access these programs to see if you can get them in HD.

What is the purpose of having them up there in SD in 2020 (other than the company saving money on bandwidth)?   

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I have no idea why Verizon wouldn't have the show in HD, but if that's the case, which it sounds like based on your issue  you need to compensate for that in your TVs settings. When I said check info on your TV, I meant check the TV to see if it was getting a 1080i signal or a 480i signal. That way you'd know if Verizon or whoever is responsible for the streaming content is stretching the image, or your TV is doing it. I've seen some HD channels stretch SD content exactly the way you show, which cant be adjusted to be correct.

[mcmorris]

I def. tried playing with all the video settings on my Samsung TV.   But since one episode plays 1080i (as well as all channels and most other onDemand content), wouldn't that in and of itself indicate that whatever they have for content isn't HD.

My video settings give me the option for resolutions.   I played with every video setting and nothing changed the picture.  

[mcmorris]

The fact that I was on the phone with Verizon Fios and they told me that "that's the way the content is being streamed" after the conferred with a support person in New York City (so they said), really tells me all I need to know.

Unless there is a legitimate reason to not have that show available in HD, this is complacency and bad CRM.

There is no reason for me to keep cable.   I don't even want to know how much I pay for the 'privilege' of going through this experience.  

In the best of times, there is marginal customer experience for streaming problems.  The digital / onDemand component is clunky and limited.

[mcmorris]

I have this issue as well!   Verizon....what's the answer!