[Italfra1]

Newbie. Just had my HR20 - 700 installed today. I had no idea that my local HD channels would be broadcast with the black bars on each side. Can someone explain to me why this is happenning and if some type of upgrade in the future will eliminate this and give me full screen. Thanks.

 

[litzdog911]

Most all HD channels add the black bars on both sides of their 4:3 format programs to "pad" the format to 16:9. Remember, lots of video is still not recorded in 16:9 widescreen format. Check out ESPN-HD .... they actually use pretty bars with their logo instead of black bars.

 

[tonyd79]

Some around here use gray bars. And two stations (WBAL, NBC in Baltimore and MY24 in Baltmore) insist on stretch-o-vision. (I actually watch the WBAL-SD broadcasts when not HD so I don't feel nauseous.)

 

[HughJorgan]

for your locals wait until tonight... for the particular shows that are 16:9 you'll get full widescreen glory...

and yeah litz, I wish all the stations padded like ESPN does.

 

[litzdog911]

TNT-HD (Ch 75) also likes the "stretch-o-vision" instead of black or gray bars.

 

[tonyd79]

Another station I don't watch (well maybe basketball but that will be in full glory...although if they stretched that stuff, then they would all look normal height!).

Edit: Shhhh! Earl is in the thread, lurking...