black bars explained

The station broadcasts in the 16x9 format. Any content that is in 4x3 format will show black bars on the sides. Content that was filmed in "widescreen" (formats > 4x3) will have black bars at the top and bottom if recorded to a 4x3 system without using the anamorphic process.

Here's an example: DVD is actually a 4x3 format. Using what's called the anamorphic process, a widescreen filmed is squeezed into the 4x3 format. When a widescreen display shows the anamorphic content, it unsqueezes the picture and, instead of black bars on the sides, you get a display filling picture. However, if the anamorphic process wasn't/isn't used -- early DVDs did not use the process -- you get a letterboxed image (top and bottom bars). And since this was/is recorded to a 4x3 system, bars appear on the sides as well.

So, in a nutshell, you're seeing exactly what you're supposed to see; therefore, you shouldn't blame PBS or any other station for sending you a picture in its native format.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Why do so many TV channels stick a letterbox pic into bars top/bottom/ both sides?? - Elizabeth 00:07:54 05/20/12 (10)

RE: Why do so many TV channels stick a letterbox pic into bars top/bottom/ both sides?? - Ben Van Dyk 06:21:44 05/21/12 (0)

black bars explained - Joe Murphy Jr 09:31:52 05/20/12 (8)

RE: black bars explained - Hornlover 08:25:53 05/21/12 (5)

agree - Joe Murphy Jr 14:14:22 05/21/12 (3)

Most new TVs already have that - jedrider 15:40:36 05/21/12 (2)

dedicated video processors are usually better - Joe Murphy Jr 17:05:37 05/21/12 (1)

RE: dedicated video processors are usually better - Rod H. 18:47:55 05/21/12 (0)

Why it bothers some people and not others?? - jedrider 10:54:56 05/21/12 (0)

RE: black bars explained - cdb 14:57:12 05/20/12 (1)

no, she's referring to windowboxing - Joe Murphy Jr 15:38:55 05/20/12 (0)

Follow Ups

black bars explained - Joe Murphy Jr 09:31:52 05/20/12 (8)

RE: black bars explained - Hornlover 08:25:53 05/21/12 (5)

agree - Joe Murphy Jr 14:14:22 05/21/12 (3)

Most new TVs already have that - jedrider 15:40:36 05/21/12 (2)

dedicated video processors are usually better - Joe Murphy Jr 17:05:37 05/21/12 (1)

RE: dedicated video processors are usually better - Rod H. 18:47:55 05/21/12 (0)

Why it bothers some people and not others?? - jedrider 10:54:56 05/21/12 (0)

RE: black bars explained - cdb 14:57:12 05/20/12 (1)

no, she's referring to windowboxing - Joe Murphy Jr 15:38:55 05/20/12 (0)

black bars explained

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