I'm getting ready to post a project that has mixed sources (like many projects these days): from multiple cameras (mostly JVC 250u), but most importantly from both SD and HDV in a 16:9 aspect ratio. This will ultimately be broadcast in HD 720p.

I'll do some masking, cropping, zooming, etc., but at the end of the day, the image I put on the deliverable tape will have consistent horizontal letterboxes and there won't be any vertical letterboxes.

Is there any way that in the broadcast image, the SD footage will not fill the screen horizontally (acquire vertical letterboxes)? It seems like it shouldn't, but I just wanted to double-check.

Thanks

Personally I'd just pillarbox it to 4x3 with no cropping or resizing. If you center crop the 4x3 picture to fit 16x9, it'll just end up looking like crap even in the SD downconverted broadcast. If you're feeling fancy you can put some flags on the sides to fill in the rest of the picture.