Well, it looks like the Boomerang channel has finally succumbed to the world of faux HD...I've noticed over the past few days that they're now stretching the classic Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerrys to 16:9. Of course, Boomerang doesn't broadcast in HD, (at least, we're certainly not seeing an HD option on Directv) so the stretched shorts are now letterboxed SD on all four sides.

Over the years, I've been able to record a number of otherwise unreleased shorts off Boomerang, sorry to see them now screwing 'em up. Granted, Boomerang has been showing the same exact shorts for over a year now, but still a little disappointing.

I thought they been showing these shorts like that for the past few years already.

I thought they been showing these shorts like that for the past few years already.

Only a small handful of the old Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies and the Tom & Jerrys were like that. Until just a few days ago the great bulk of that stuff was still airing as fullscreen (top to bottom, anyway) unstretched SD 4:3, obviously with black on the sides if you were watching on a widescreen tv.

This is ridiculous. Why is Boomerang doing this when they don't even have a HD feed?

Although I rarely watch Boomerang now (I can still remember watching Boobs in the Woods and Quack Shot on it a year ago - and they looked perfectly fine), I will not tune in if they continue doing this. It's a shame that classic shorts have to be stretched horizontally (or squeezed vertically) on the few venues people can watch them on for free....

The channel on Optimum Cable is still in original (as should be) 4:3 full screen, I checked on my CRT TV (yes, I still have a CRT TV and I'm very happy with it).

Aaaand now it looks as though they’ve reversed course and are broadcasting in their previous format and aspect ratio. At least that’s what I’m seeing tonight on directv.

I guess they’re tinkering with things.

Yep, I'm now seeing the faux widescreen on my TV now. >:(

Yep, I'm now seeing the faux widescreen on my TV now. >:(

Agreed, that’s what I’ve seen while randomly dipping in and out over the last couple of days as well.

Boomerang UK has a HD version.

Boomerang UK has a HD version.

I think Boomerang in Europe is quite a different thing these days than Boomerang in the U.S. The European versions of the channel rebranded several years ago to feature a lot more newly produced content. But as far as I know, that rebranding did not happen in the States.

As much as I hate Boomerang's decision of airing their 4:3 shows in faux widescreen, they have been starting to air more of the Looney Tunes with the remastered DVD transfers (Baseball Bugs being a VERY good example).