I have only just noticed that even on a widescreen TV there are still black borders on the top and bottom of the screen.


Am I missing a set up item in my DVD player to stop this. Or has it always been that way and just noticed

If you're watching a DVD with 2:35:1 aspect ratio, this is correct. A lot of DVDs are 1:85:1, which will fit your screen perfectly without distortion, but the "proper" wide widescreen ones will give you black bars still to avoid distorting the image.

TV and other DVDs will be without black bars though.

1.85:1 will still give a slightly letterboxed image, as 16:9 TVs are 1.78:1

TV shows are shot in 16:9 (1.78:1) so - as mentioned above - won't give any letterboxing on a widescreen TV.


Also to the OP - there's a slight chance your DVD player is set to "4:3 letterboxed", which could be the problem (although it's more than likely the issue that Praxidike highlighted). Does the image itself appear "stretched" horizontally, or is it just cropped (but correctly proportioned)?


* If the proportions appear correct, then it's simply the case that the movie you're watching has been deliberately letterboxed (check the aspect ratio on the rear of the DVD case to confirm this)


* If it appears stretched horizontally, then you need to change the settings on your DVD player to "widescreen" (aka 'anamorphic widescreen' / 16:9)

As others have said a widescreen TV doesn't mean you won't get any bars, you'll still get them at the side for 4:3 programmes and top/bottom for 2.35:1. However a widescreen TV is a good compromise as it "sits in the middle".

Due to overscan its unlikely that a 1.85:1 ratio will give any black bars on most tv's ,and even if there was some they would be barely noticeable.

Similarly ,dvd's with movies presented at 1.66:1 should give a pillarboxed effect with sidebars but if you have a CRT you probably wont see those either

You'd be amazed how many people are dumb enough to watch 4:3 stretched to fit 16:9.

And there's even some clueless enough not to know how to set up their equipment and will watch a 4:3 l/b image stretched to fit the screen too.

Some people even claim it's the correct way to watch it, as it uses up all the screen. And there's no arguing with them when they say they're right either, they're happy to be ignorant about it.

Yep I corrected my brother's TV that was set up just like that, they'd been using it that way for a year and it only came to light when they asked me why title credits on films were missing the sides. All the fat people never seemed to bother them.

I would rather watch 4:3 stretched and fill the whole screen than have a square in the middle of my screen,but then again I can adjust how much width the picture is stretched by so the picture still fills the screen but doesn't over stretch beyond the edges.
Why are people being dumb if they prefer to watch TV the way they want to and not the way you want to?

I'm curious as to why you prefer to watch a distorted image? No criticism intended it's your TV and your decision, I've just never been given a good reason from anyone I've asked as to why they do it - it just seems so strange to me to pay good money for a TV and then ruin the image.

I cannot actually say that I notice any difference that bothers me.
I have a 36" screen so everything looks bigger than my old TV anyway.

It is of course personal preference if you want to see distorted pictures rather than the way the programme was made.

Granted most tv's now stretch the edges so that the middle part of the picture is not stretched but its still wrong.

I thought it was obvious that my "dumb" comment was aimed at those who watch thinking its correct without even realising what they are seeing.

You are obviously aware of what the set is doing and its your choice to watch it that way.

Its strange how after years of complaints from viewers sick of losing 50% of the picture on 4:3 versions of wide films that we now find ourselves with people who will watch a distorted picture just so there are no blank bits -all those years of campaigning to give us widescreen with blank bars lost on so many people

Watch Countdown in 4:3 stretched out to 16:9 paying particular attention to Carol's bum (not that you can miss it), you'll soon notice the difference.

It'll suit Ford Capri MK1 owners but you may be too young to know why.

Ill give you something even worse...

I went round my uncles the other day, nice new Bravia HD ready lcd tv...admittedly only connected to SD sky.

He was watching sky sports, with the sky box set to only output 4:3 and then stretched into "smart mode" (so some of the top and sides missing, with some stretching)

I pointed out he could change the sky settings so the outputted image would perfectly fit the screen. His response of "i know, but i prefer it this way" was utterly baffling. Half the info bar with the cricket score was cut off too, so you couldnt even properly see what the score was!

I've seen that a few times.

DVD and HD and new technology is wasted on much of the UK population.