Here is some good news for Kapamilya viewers.
On Easter Sunday, April 1, newscasts on ABS-CBN Channel 2 began to air on 16:9 high definition. The conversion began with the 10:00 a.m. ‘News Patrol’, followed by the network’s flagship newscasts ‘TV Patrol’ (both weekend and weeknight editions) and ‘Bandila’ (both DZMM TeleRadyo and ABS-CBN editions).
Here is a comparison of ‘News Patrol’ in standard definition (pre-April 1) and in high definition (since April 1) in the following videos.
News Patrol in 4:3 standard definition (courtesy of ABS-CBN News)
News Patrol in 16:9 high definition (courtesy of ABS-CBN News)
The full implementation of ABS-CBN newscasts in HD marked the latest step in the network’s ongoing conversion to this new television technology. However, the changeover was not an easy one.
When ABS-CBN launched its 16:9 high definition feed in October 2015, only its entertainment programs were able to adopt this new technology. As such, ABS-CBN News programs remained in 4:3 standard definition, and whenever it was shown on ABS-CBN HD, black pillarboxes can be seen.
However, the news division was given a glimmer of hope in March 2016 when the ABS-CBN News Channel premiered its own HD feed. This enabled ABS-CBN News to utilize some of its newly-purchased HD cameras for live reports.
Despite that, Channel 2’s newscasts remained in 4:3 SD, mainly to compensate for the regional outlets’ slow adoption to HD technology. But as the impending switch to high definition became imminent, ABS-CBN realized the need for a change.
Thus came the launch of ABS-CBN’s high definition newscasts on Easter Sunday. It was an odd move to say the least, but it was perfect timing for the network since its news operations on television and radio resume around this time.
As mentioned earlier, ‘News Patrol’, ‘TV Patrol’ and ‘Bandila’ are now seen in 16:9 high definition, but they are not the only newscasts that made the move. Even DZMM TeleRadyo’s ‘Headline Pilipinas’ was also converted to 16:9 HD.
But not all newscasts changed over to the new standard. ‘TV Patrol”s regional versions continue to air in 4:3 SD, as are a majority of ABS-CBN Regional programs and even DZMM TeleRadyo.
Still, there is plenty of time for ABS-CBN to implement the new high definition standard to DZMM and the network’s regional affiliates. But for now, enjoy watching ‘TV Patrol’, ‘Bandila’ and all ABS-CBN newscasts in crystal clear 16:9 HD.
ABS-CBN HD is available exclusively on SkyCable channel 167 and to premium access subscribers on iWant TV. ANC HD is available exclusively on SkyCable channel 182 and to premium access subscribers on iWant TV.
From the Tube 
Hope this means the end of those distracting face pores that I keep noticing when watching TV Patrol.
If you’re watching on SD with letterboxes, you could be lucky. Otherwise, if you’re watching on HD, just ignore them.
Dapat gumamit ng 4:3 safe zone ang Studio 7, Loop Studio at DZMM. Pangit ang letterbox at stretch. Or else, subtitles sa ibabang black bar.
Pagpaensyahan na lang natin sila. Hindi kasi lahat ng footage ay naka-16:9 na. Some regional outlets still use SD cameras so matatagalan pa before ABS purchases more HD cameras para ipadala sa mga probinsya. Also, even ABS entertainment shows and sporting events are stretched and optimized for HD. In essence they’re just taking advantage of the new widescreen format and besides, kailangan na ring mag-keep up to the times dahil marami na ang bumibili at gumagamit ng LED TV at kakaunti na lang ang nanonood sa mala-box na TV of years past. Wala na tayong magagawa diyan dahil forward-thinking na ang approach ng ABS.
Ano kaya nangyari sa Musical Scoring ng Bandila, bakit biglang nawala? Napaso na ba yung royalty rights nila sa Rivermaya or Internal problem?
I don’t know. Ask ABS-CBN management.
yun din yung napansin ko since naging HD sila. Haha
Whatever the reason dapat i-explain talaga ng Rivermaya at ABS kung bakit hindi na ginagamit ang original theme ng Bandila. AFAIK iconic pa naman yung theme na ito.
Yan din yung napansin ko after nila mag-HD but don’t worry, bumalik na kagabi yung scoring.
It sounds much better kesa yung sobrang generic na score.
Wow these news headline and 2 newacast shows are now in HD that is perfect
ABS is taking this HD conversion step by step. It took three years but it was worth the wait.
Even The Score, Balitang Global and Salamat Dok Sunday are now also on HD
Even more good news.
Looks like GMA and UNTV are still stuck at 4:3 SD on newscast production, pero may hints soon na magkaka-HD na rin ang GMA.
ABS-CBN News might be a decade behind first-world news outlets pagdating sa HD broadcasts, just as the saying goes, better late than never. Ang kulang na lang is RNG, even TeleRadyo, and considering na may kamahalan ang HD cameras, abutin pa ng taon ang RNG stations (except Palawan) na magproduce ng content in HD.
ABS can wait for their RNGs to become HD-capable. After all full conversion to digital is still several years away. As for GMA, it was misleading to label one of their shows as ‘in HD’ considering na nasa 4:3 pa rin pag ipinalabas. It’s sad that they’re still reluctant in using letterboxes for the purposes of fitting a 16:9 broadcast to SD-only CRTs (which is in decline as LEDs become more available and cheaper).
They still have a lot of time to make these drastic moves so let’s wait and see what happens.
GMA really is #1 in misleading advertising. They lured us to believe na HD na ang News To Go, Balitanghali at Balita Pilipinas Ngayon sa “News TV” to end up getting dismayed and only received new graphics. Their PR department really is a mess.
Gozon should let go of his old mentality, lalo na sa pagpapalabas ng HD content to fit his TV na de-CRT naman.
UNTV is still producing news in 16:9, so I basically count both GMA and UNTV as already behind on HD newscasts.
*4:3
At least UNTV admitted that they’re still a few years away from airing in 16:9 HD. Eh yung GMA pa kaya? That stunt alone on News to Go was one of many in a series of questionable decisions na ginawa nila. No wonder they’re the 2 in the Top 2.
Not yet broadcast of DZMM TeleRadyo in HD?
Not yet.