I have a 4:3 TV and have set up the ES20D to display a 4:3 image.

When wthcing a 16:9 program on some channels - notably E4 & More4 - it gets confused and displays the picture vertically stretched (as if 16:9) but with black bars one both sides as well as top & bottom.

However on E4+1 it displays the programs in letterbox format.

Anyone know WTF is going on or alternatively know a quick way to swtich between 4:3 & letterbox?

This won't be much help to you Ethel, but I have a very similar problem with the same machine, in that widescreen broadcasts have a small bar top and bottom and the image is squashed. I posted this at the time:

http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=294063

I am corresponding with Panasonic about it, but so far all they have suggested is that my TV has switched itself to 16:9 when it shouldn't have, which isn't the case. I'm awaiting another response from them, I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

Hi

It's very interessting that you say a problem on E4 and More4 but ok on E4+1.

E4 and More4 are broadcast at a resolution of 544x576 where as E4+1 is broadcast at a resolution of 720x576.

When E4 started broadcasting this year my old OnDigital box was getting the aspect ratios wrong unless I set it to 16:9 tv. Then it acted correctly.

I would guess that the Panasonic recorder and my OnDigital box are not handling the 544x576 resolution correctly.

I can understand the OnDigital box not working but the Panasonic has only just come out so I expect they have got something wrong. Or maybe its the broadcaster.....