# Why not dispense with low defination cable channels. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174 "2013-02-13T14:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/21 "2013-02-14T19:15:37Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Even when hotels have new LCD sets, they’re usually provided with an analog NTSC feed. 4:3 stretched on a locked hospitality model flat screen is not a enjoyable experience. I’ve _never_ stayed at a hotel with 16:9 LCD televisions receiving HD digital feeds. That drives me crazy. I was sure it was due to my budget choices for accommodations; don’t high end suites in Vegas have HDTV? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/22 "2013-02-14T19:33:03Z")
Why can’t they at least do what DirecTV does: If you have subscribed to HD, then the SD versions of the channels are hidden so that they aren’t selected. My daughter watches her shows which a black box around the entire screen, even though HD is available on a different channel. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/23 "2013-02-14T22:40:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Comcast provides digital to analog boxes at no charge. Not anymore in my area. They are now charging a monthly fee. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/24 "2013-02-14T23:10:22Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > 4:3 stretched on a locked hospitality model flat screen is not a enjoyable experience. I’ve _never_ stayed at a hotel with 16:9 LCD televisions receiving HD digital feeds. I have. Once. And it was just the major networks. Everything else was SD and stretched. (And what I find even more aggravating is that I have little doubt that the hotel made the right tactical choice in setting the SD channels to stretch. A lot of people just don’t seem to notice the distortion but think they’re being cheated by pillarboxing.) ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/25 "2013-02-15T01:04:46Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Why can’t they at least do what DirecTV does: If you have subscribed to HD, then the SD versions of the channels are hidden so that they aren’t selected. My daughter watches her shows which a black box around the entire screen, even though HD is available on a different channel. My sister does that too. If I catch her I’ll walk in and change the channel for her. I stay at Holiday Inn Expresses a lot and most of the ones that have flat panels seem to have appropriate feeds. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174/26 "2013-02-15T03:01:53Z")
I figure if they [can’t get it right on Air Force One](http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/8078825656/) there’s no hope for hotels. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-dispense-with-low-defination-cable-channels/650174.md?page=1)