I love TVB!!

It's astro fault for not switching it to proper 16:9, like some channels in (SD) 16:9.

No... Nothing gonna do with 4K TV. No need to think until that far.
It's all about aspect ratio and video quality. Initially the channel is in SD 4:3 but now the channel provider provides the channel in HD 16:9. But Astro still offer the same channels in 4:3 without stretching/remove letterbox, so letterbox will appear at all times in order for 16:9 content to display correctly on 4:3 TV. But it won't look good for 16:9 TVs as viewers will see stretched image+letterbox.

Things become worse when the channel is airing a 4:3 programme in 16:9 HD channel. Pillarbox will be added from channel provider + unnecessary letterbox added from Astro = windowboxed (black bars on top, bottom, left and right sides).

Astro has this hidden agenda to display letterbox for 16:9 content on 4:3 channel is for the sake of marketing of HD service. If Astro transmit the channel in native 16:9 aspect ratio, majority of the customers won't be able to see the difference between SD and HD, making HD service (RM26.50/month) no longer a good selling point, and no longer something that is easier to persuade customers to subscribe to.

You can try compare it yourself with Astro Arena channel. Astro Arena is one of the native 16:9 SD channels on Astro. Make sure you're watching from HDMI. Ask yourself, how BIG is the difference you see between CH802 (SD) and ch802 (HD)? Now you know why Astro is reluctant to display all of its SD channels in natove 16:9? Astro only handpicked several SD channels to be in native 16:9 (NHK World, Bloomberg, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Astro Arena, Eurosport, FYI) and nobody knows what's the reason behind it.

When it shows letterbox, you will see the difference and having the tendency to subscribe to HD service because of its pictures quality differences. And eventually, Astro earn money.

On Astro, only in SD. But God knows why they still insist to transmit the channels in 4:3.

I was told by Astro via email that the reason why not all SD channels being transmitted in 16:9 is due to customers who still using a selected models of legacy Astro STB will not be able to watch the channel if it is in 16:9 where only the audio will be played but with black screen. However I'm not convinced by this, as they can still choose to transmit the channels in 4:3 but without any letterboxes that is currently added by them.

Surely there's a hidden reason for Astro to do this deliberately, and for sure they do not want the public to know.

You mean pillarbox (black bars at left and right sides)?
If you encounter this, you got to manually change viewing mode by pressing the change aspect ratio button on your remote control, choose LB Expand. The pillarbox added by channel provider (TVB) is meant for 4:3 SD programme to display in proper shape on 16:9 TV instead of stretching it to full screen.
This is all about aspect ratio, nothing gonna do with 4K TV.

That is called windowboxed, where blacks bars are visible at all corners of the screen. Yes, it is a mistake from Astro side by adding letterbox (top and bottom) of it.

The only solution is change to LB Expand when you see this when watching Xinghe or TVB Classic, at least the picture won't look too small.

Astro have more money. They can do anything they want. For HyppTV till today their not provide Dolby Digital 5.1/7.1 & PVR service due to lack of customer & slow UniFi rollout..

Need to think logic about this. Astro already more than 21 years for this business & HyppTV just 7 years and only use IPTV protocol. What i know is HyppTV can launch as many channel they want. Because it's unlimited from internet service. For Astro, they need to depend on existing & new satellite(if full) to launch more HD channel.

But we know that Measat 3b has more space to make Astro to launch 50+ more HD channel. But Astro is monopoly the market. And slowly or not to launch the channel because to earn more profits...

And most Astro subscriber, especially old Malay like to watch Ria & Prima channel. Because if you change the channel to english. They will not layan. Because the story always about action & horror(standard english TV Series ). That why i Astro focus to make more in-house content. All TV series, such as new gen layan one like anime, comedy & Korean show can just easily be download from the internet. And they not layan tv everyday. Balik rumah terus main phone. Buka games & Youtube...

No wonder Astro agressively to push Astro GO to the new level. They have more money. The future will change. So, about time they can improve streaming quality and so on..

Well u get what u pay

If can wait okay..

If seriously needs to change, then no choice. Expensive also must buy..

yerp , wait for middle this year , rumors say price will drop for the 2016 models

Yes. The channel provider (TVB) transmits in 16:9. Whenever they show old 4:3 programme, pillar box will be added by them.

Still, Astro will still transmit in 4:3 with letterbox because the feed is in 16:9.

In a nutshell, TVB transmit its feed in 16:9 + add pillarbox during old 4:3 programmes = pillarboxed in 16:9 frame + Astro transmit in 4:3 with letterbox = windowboxed.

yerp , cant wait for it

me still 40" full hd lcd tv  wait for mid this year to get better specs 2016 model at reasonable price , worth upgrade

And very soon 60 inci will be the new minimal standard like 22 to 24 for computer LCD hahahaha

Someone asks Astro relating to this, and this is what Astro replied.
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They don't seems to acknowledge that they are reluctant to use 4:3 aspect ratio with letterbox on it. As if they put all the blame to the channel providers.

Currently using 1080p tv. If I upgrade to 4k tv, will it make a difference in watching astro? Iinm, astro only broadcast in 720p right?

Wonder how good SD channels on Astro IPTV.
Astro use MPEG4 for SD channel in their IPTV service?..
Maybe cannot make 4K content in OD platform. Since PVR box not support 2160p or 2160i resolution. If "only" astro provide 1080p content on OD..