Are HD channels letterbox (bars at top and bottom of screen) by default?

I have IO digital cable with 40 HD channels. The digital channels fill up the screen but the HD channels have bars on the top and bottom. They are in 16:9 format and I can use the picture options on my HDTV to make it fit the screen but will that degrade the image?

I don't think it is a issue with the set up just the media is broad-casted wider than 16:9.

There was a little misinformation on the whole wide screen aspect ratio for ATSC TV's for several years. The movie industry is still producing a large number of movies in panavision, cinema scope,etc...

That said a 16:9 TV will have smaller black bars than a 4:3 set. You really don't want to make a zoom setting, because you loose image quality, as well as you miss part of what the director wanted you to see.

In short check you video settings on the HD receiver are set to 16:9 to be sure but try to retain the image they way it way meant to be. Depends on the aspect ratio of you tv if there is a selection for 16:9 then no it will not. Yes it will degrade the file. Most movies are filmed in a wider format than 16:9 so in order to see the film in it's entirety, with nothing cut off, you will have bars at the top and bottom.

You can can zoom or squeeze to make it fill the screen, but I've always found it makes the people look "squatty" for a lack of a better word.

weeder HUH? They are in 16:9 format? OK so what format is your HDTV? The ones I am familar with are all 16:9 also so the image should fill your screen.

Do you have one of the older HDTV's that are 4:3? If so, do not change the options as you will loose some of the image. You will have to live with the black bars. The image will depend on your TV if your TV is 16:9 then it will not degrade the image, your digital stations would look wierd if you filled the screen on a 16:9, then you would want your digital stations to be letterboxed on the sides for best picture quality. If your tv is standard 4:3 then you can adjust for the 16:9 but for the best picture just leave it alone when you watch HD channels to view them as intended in 16:9.

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