When a non-wide-screen program is broadcast on a High Definition channel, the provider (whether cable TV, satellite, or over-the-air broadcasters) will fill in that space by default with bars on the side of the screen. This happens because the aspect ratio for non-wide-screen is 4:3 and the aspect ratio for wide-screen is 16:9 (you do the math, it doesn’t fit :)
Providers usually use a black fill on these bars but where I live, we have one station that uses gray fill, and another that uses a sort of aquamarine color.
You can change the 4:3 aspect ratio to another ratio depending on your HD TV set. Usually the picture ends up looking funny, kind of stretched sideways, or if you use the “zoom” feature, then part of the outer picture will be cut off. These are just things we have to all get used to until everyone is broadcasting everything in full wide-screen High Definition. I suspect that this will not happen for 5 to 10 years.
Even programming that is in supposed HD, can still use 4:3 aspect ratios. I personally don’t consider anything that is not HD wide-screen to be truly HD but you’ll never get a TV station or cable station to admit that. They think that as long as it is digital and at a minimum of 720p Definition (full HD is 1080i or 1080p) then they’ve done their job. It is expensive to broadcast in full wide-screen HD but I suspect as time goes by, it will become more cost effective. The bottom line is the more customers that complain and/or demand full wide-screen HD, the more broadcasters will have to listen. So I suggest to call you provider or your local stations (if you are using an over-the-air antenna) and let them know what you think.
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