Why does captured broadcast TV content tend to go dark at high action scene

[wwenze]

Noticed it and curious for a few years now, the lowered brightness is noticeable during normal viewing of the broadcasted content and the difference can be shown to exist when compared against disc content which does not exhibit this behavior.

Wouldn't this problem have been solved with improved technology? What causes it anyway?

[jagabo]

Turn off all the auto contrast, color, etc. controls of your TV.

[robjv1]

Yeah, more likely some kind of AGC. Turn it off and you should be golden.

The one that drives me nuts are the people with the TVs that adjust the brightness/contrast based on how bright it detects that the room is.

[[_chef_]]

The answer is simple:
The broadcasted content has been transcoded to save bandwith. Usual since many years now.

You can notice that especially in hi action scenes...........