[Kojak]

I remember someone telling me before that channels are given the rights to some films as extras in a package. The main films in the package are bigger films and in the OAR and the others could be edits or crops, so if that is true, perhaps this was included and that's why it isn't OAR?

Anyway, Channel 5 have shown plenty of films before in their 2.35:1 OAR, so I don't think it is them cropping it, perhaps they are showing an older print they never got renewed from the distributor?

I think this is the first time The Hobbit (Desolation of Smaug) has been shown on Channel 5, though, which is why I am so perplexed. Previously it's been on ITV, who did show it in the OAR. Had it just been an older print that they'd had for years, then I'd understand - but I don't think it is. Not that it's a massive deal - just seems a little odd these days. I thought cropping films was a thing of the past.