# Why is this technique used when showing cell phone video on TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703 "2016-09-24T04:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/21 "2016-09-25T04:32:01Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’ don’t work in television news, and it drives me crazy. I don’t understand why phone cameras aren’t just programmed to warn the user that video will not display properly unless the phone is held correctly. You mean “will not display properly on a TV or computer screen.” It will look just fine on another phone or tablet held that way. Most videos taken with phones aren’t ever displayed on anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/22 "2016-09-25T04:32:58Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > But you just said you had complaints from people who thought YOU were covering up part of the video. Anyway, I seriously doubt that any competent news director would really think 5 seconds - or even 10 - is too long to clarify the source of a video. Especially considering that’s what’s always been done with viewer submitted film pre-internet. I assure you pacing is critical to the flow of a newscast, down to word count. News producers also know such a disclaimer is unnecessary and redundant. Keep in mind that until somewhat recently amateur video was rarely seen in a newscast, so it may have warranted that kind of mention. Now, it’s rare NOT to have cellphone video of some sort in a newscast. Anchors and reporters would be constantly disclaiming amateur video, which would quickly get more annoying than even the blurred background. People see so much iPhone video on tv and the Internet they don’t need to be told what they’re seeing. Some, unfortunately, need to be told how to shoot it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/23 "2016-09-25T06:25:15Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I’ve seen quite a few cell phone videos shown on TV news… > [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > I work in television news… One of my favourite things about the SDMB (and the internet generally) is even when somebody asks a question that may be a little off-the-beaten-track, we still have an experienced expert to provide a direct answer. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/24 "2016-09-25T06:48:28Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > That takes at least five seconds to say and no news director wants to slow down a newscast to do that. Seriously. Show the phone video to one side or as an inset (they do enough of that on news programmes and continuity announcements anyway), with the description as a displayed caption. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/25 "2016-09-25T06:51:07Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > Anchors and reporters would be constantly disclaiming amateur video, which would quickly get more annoying than even the blurred background. People see so much iPhone video on tv and the Internet they don’t need to be told what they’re seeing. But, come to think of it, there is an editorial question as much as a technical one: isn’t it in the TV company’s interests to distinguish viewer-submitted content from what’s been shot directly on its responsibility? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/26 "2016-09-25T07:53:15Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > But, come to think of it, there is an editorial question as much as a technical one: isn’t it in the TV company’s interests to distinguish viewer-submitted content from what’s been shot directly on its responsibility? Almost every viewer-submitted video I see on TV has something like “Source: [youtube.com](http://youtube.com)” or “Source: @sexybuns69/twitter” superimposed in a corner. I think making the newsreader give a long spiel about the technical qualities of viewer-submitted video before each video would be rather tedious to me, as a viewer. I think the fuzzy blown-up image along the sides is a very clever idea. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/27 "2016-09-25T08:09:00Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > I work in television news and this drives us crazy. Can’t understand how people still haven’t figured out how to properly shoot with their phones. . It’s too late, the battle is over on this one. Vertical video is here to stay (and yes it’s stupid). Blame Facebook and Snapchat for this. The Facebook app doesn’t give you the option to browse the time line in landscape mode, so people tend to keep their phones vertical and then snap away when they see something cool. Second Snapchat is actively promoting vertical video to advertisers selling it as “more natural for social media”. > **[Snapchat Persuades Brands to Go Vertical With Their Video](https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/snapchat-persuades-brands-go-vertical-their-video-164305/)** > > Snapchat is asking digital video advertisers if they are straight shooters. It’s complete nonsense because our eyes are horizontal, not vertical and the social media companies are the ones that have created vertical video by not supporting horizontal browsing and shooting modes as a default ! Also if I’m sitting down watching something on my phone (not in a crowded subway standing up) then holding my phone horizontally is more comfortable! But it’s too late, it’s here to stay because Facebook and Snapchat are just too big to fight, so get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/28 "2016-09-25T08:21:15Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > But, come to think of it, there is an editorial question as much as a technical one: isn’t it in the TV company’s interests to distinguish viewer-submitted content from what’s been shot directly on its responsibility? Yes, the anchor or reporter will always identify the source of the video, but there’s no need to explain why the video doesn’t span the full width of the television screen. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/29 "2016-09-25T08:23:45Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Almost every viewer-submitted video I see on TV has something like “Source: [youtube.com](http://youtube.com)” or “Source: @sexybuns69/twitter” superimposed in a corner. I think making the newsreader give a long spiel about the technical qualities of viewer-submitted video before each video would be rather tedious to me, as a viewer. I think the fuzzy blown-up image along the sides is a very clever idea. Just realized you beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/30 "2016-09-25T08:27:07Z")
[quote=“coremelt, post:27, topic:766703”] It’s too late, the battle is over on this one. Vertical video is here to stay (and yes it’s stupid). Blame Facebook and Snapchat for this. The Facebook app doesn’t give you the option to browse the time line in landscape mode, so people tend to keep their phones vertical and then snap away when they see something cool. Second Snapchat is actively promoting vertical video to advertisers selling it as “more natural for social media”. > **[Snapchat Persuades Brands to Go Vertical With Their Video](https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/snapchat-persuades-brands-go-vertical-their-video-164305/)** > > Snapchat is asking digital video advertisers if they are straight shooters. It’s complete nonsense because our eyes are horizontal, not vertical and the social media companies are the ones that have created vertical video by not supporting horizontal browsing and shooting modes as a default ! Also if I’m sitting down watching something on my phone (not in a crowded subway standing up) then holding my phone horizontally is more comfortable! But it’s too late, it’s here to stay because Facebook and Snapchat are just too big to fight, so get used to it.[/QUOTE Yep. It’s no less dumb than shooting tvshows in a 9x16 aspect and telling everyone to rotate their televisions. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/31 "2016-09-25T13:37:44Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > It’s complete nonsense because our eyes are horizontal, not vertical and the social media companies are the ones that have created vertical video by not supporting horizontal browsing and shooting modes as a default ! Hmm. I’m pretty sure “[portrait mode](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Mona_Lisa%2C_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg/170px-Mona_Lisa%2C_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg)” predates smartphones and social media. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/32 "2016-09-25T14:26:18Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Hmm. I’m pretty sure “[portrait mode](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Mona_Lisa%2C_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg/170px-Mona_Lisa%2C_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg)” predates smartphones and social media. For paintings, photographs, posters, publications, etc, yes. Obviously. But not for video. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/33 "2016-09-25T15:04:59Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > For paintings, photographs, posters, publications, etc, yes. Obviously. But not for video. The point is, “our eyes are horizontal” is a silly argument. Humans have been making vertically-oriented images for thousands of years. The limitation is in our video technology, not yet as flexible as our actual vision. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/34 "2016-09-25T15:29:22Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > The point is, “our eyes are horizontal” is a silly argument. Humans have been making vertically-oriented images for thousands of years. The limitation is in our video technology, not yet as flexible as our actual vision. From the earliest days of motion picture presentation, we’ve presented images that were, at most, square. From there we quickly transitioned into screens, whether projected or broadcast, that are longer horizontally than vertically. Over time this difference has only grown with movie and television screens getting wider and wider. Smartphones go against 100 hundred years of technological evolution. The other problem with broadcasting vertically-shot cellphone video is the shakiness of the image. The screen is so narrow the shooter has to move the camera a lot more to follow a moving image. You need a dramamine to watch some of the video that comes in. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/35 "2016-09-25T15:58:55Z")
> [@DonLogan](#): > > I knew this was the reason, but why not leave the panels black and just put the the “ActionNewsSe7en” logo on them? I think the motion in the blurred part is distracting and dumb viewers are likely to think they’re “missing some of the good stuff.” +2 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/36 "2016-09-25T18:28:22Z")
> [@Victor\_Charlie](#): > > From the earliest days of motion picture presentation, we’ve presented images that were, at most, square. From there we quickly transitioned into screens, whether projected or broadcast, that are longer horizontally than vertically. Over time this difference has only grown with movie and television screens getting wider and wider. Smartphones go against 100 hundred years of technological evolution. That’s right, pretty much. Our concept of video presentation is still pretty young, and has been mostly tied to ideas about landscape scenes and earthbound narratives. We have seen some work with video projection onto objects, and onto surrounding enclosures (like planetarium domes). We’re just getting to some interesting work in this line under the banner of Virtual Reality. Anyway, most other visual forms have had much more than a hundred years of evolution, and have gone in many more directions, so I assume video forms will too. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/37 "2016-09-25T19:51:20Z")
On a recent trip I forgot to take my camera so I took pictures using my cellphone. The first time I did this to any major extent. I found it trivial to hold it in landscape mode. (Well, except my finger semi-covering the lens.) It was basically a no brainer. After all, _you look at the screen to line up things_. Of course you’re going to notice the orientation. If anything, it seems like people would have to train themselves to take portrait pictures by default. Portrait vs. landscape should reflect the object being filmed (Statue of Liberty: portrait, Queen Mary: landscape). But if the display device is known ahead of time (e.g. a TV screen), then suitable orientation for that rules. Modern TV sets and movie screens are landscape oriented because our visual field is. Take a yard stick (meter for our non-US friends) and hold it in the middle a foot in front of your face. Note that horizontally you can see more of it than vertically\*. This does indeed reflect the number and positions of our eyes. - I have deep-set eyes so the difference to me is quite large. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/38 "2016-09-26T01:03:06Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > The point is, “our eyes are horizontal” is a silly argument. No it’s valid and correct, our field of view is about 180 degrees horizontally and 135 degrees, giving an aspect ratio of 1.333:1, equal to standard (non wide screen) TV. Landscape mode fits our visual system better than portrait, that’s a biological fact. > **[Field of view](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_view)** > > The field of view (FOV) is the angular extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment. In the case of optical instruments or sensors, it is a solid angle through which a detector is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. It is further relevant in photography. > In the context of human and primate vision, the term 'field of view' is typically used only in reference to restrictions on what is visible due to external apparatus, such as when wearing spectaclesor virtual reality goggl... Photography and paintings in Portrait mode were for a specific purpose, eg when you are painting a standing person on their own (or a head and shoulders), or when you want to emphasise the vertical aspect in a composition. Vertical video is very seldom done with any conscious choice that vertical is the better choice for the scene you are shooting, it’s used from laziness or ignorance (or both). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703/39 "2016-09-26T01:21:04Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The photo sensor is rectangular. You would have to somehow rotate it 90 degrees when holding the phone vertically. Or you would have to install a much larger, more expensive, square sensor of which only a rectangular slice would be used in either orientation. Either solution is unlikely, given that people who want to shoot video properly know how to do it and it works just fine. > > ETA: Actually I suppose it wouldn’t have to be square. You could make it + shaped. Still not gonna happen, tho. ISTM, that it could record either way in either orientation, but rotating the phone is a good quick way to get it to record one way or the other. Also, imagine trying to see what you’re recording in widescreen when you hold the screen in ‘vertical mode’. It would be really tiny. As for why people do it, you can come up with a million reasons, but in the end, at least in my opinion, I think most people (that do it) do it because it’s a lot easier. Recording something with your phone horizontal usually requires two hands to hold on to it since you have to grab it by the edges so you don’t cover the lens. This also means making any changes (settings, zoom, start, stop) can be difficult. Keeping it vertical is ‘native’. It’s how you usually hold it, you can hold it one handed, you might even be able to hit some of the buttons with the same hand, but if not, you don’t risk dropping it by using your other hand. Now I’m kind of curious if I can force my phone into horizontal always, even when I hold it vertically (even if it reduces the quality a bit). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-technique-used-when-showing-cell-phone-video-on-tv/766703.md?page=1)