Tv Picture

I've noticed on a couple of networks the picture that appears on my TV is too wide for the screen. Fox for sure, and maybe CBS. We have HD cable. The TV is set by program.
This is something I've noticed in the last few months but I don't watch much TV so it may have been longer, and maybe other networks. Nothing on Google seems relevant and I haven't checked with Shaw Cable yet. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

I've noticed it, too. Probably something to do with them switching over to all digital soon, even for free networks. I got a letter from Comcast a couple of weeks ago letting me know I had to get an adapter box since my TV isn't digital. CBS has been on in my house for the last couple of hours, and it definitely looks like it was intended for widescreen while I have regular.

Luckily, since I just have the one TV and I've got their tiniest possible channel package, the box was free and won't cost me anything per month on my bill, either.

 

Yeah, over here, we have until April in this state. At least the Govt. here will supply and install and tune in H.D. boxes and antennas for anyone on Social Security payments. Guess that helps the poor people a little. I refuse to pay Foxtel extra just to watch H.D. movies and Docs. That's what I bought the bloody H.D. T.V. for.rolleyes

 

Have you tried pressing "format" on your remote?

 

I was told by a Dish TV Tech, that the signal must be transmitted in HD in
order for the TV to show HD.

 

That's what Comcast, at least, is switching over to starting mid-March. All broadcasts will be in HD, so if your TV is an older one you have to get the adapter (or buy a new TV). Which is better than the slow but steady removal of channels I used to get as they go to HD broadcast, I guess.

@PSCO2007: My remote does not have a "format" button. The shows are being broadcast in a format with which my TV is no longer compatible. And while I understand many people have gone out and purchased an HDTV, it simply is not in my budget for the foreseeable future.

 

Not sure if you want to make the switch; however the DirecTV box on my ancient 35" CRT Mitsubishi in the bedroom has no problems. I think this is due to the fact that (for the time being, anyway), DirecTV is broadcasting both a standard def and a HD format on two separate channels (e.g. 276 Discovery, 277 Discovery HD).

 

My point in this whole thing, in answer to the original question, as I said in my first post, is that Comcast is switching to all HD broadcast. As I said, they are giving me a free adapter box so I don't have to buy a new HDTV. Should I? Probably. Do I have an extra $500 or so lying around that I don't know what to do with? Nope. Could I save up for one? Maybe after I claw my way out from under more money owed in medical bills than my annual wages for three years, but I bet I will always be able to find something I would rather spend that much money on than a TV.

I'm not even remotely interested in switching to another company. As I said, I pay for their tiniest channel package (2-28), which costs me $21.95 per month, without it being an introductory price. I find it absolutely ridiculous that I have to pay for local channels in the first place, I'm surely not interested in paying even more money to do so. Left to my own devices, I would watch the news, and an occasional football or hockey game (although I typically go out to watch sports, since I am the only one in my house who enjoys watching them). There is no point to my paying over $100 per month for access to 847 channels I'm never going to watch.

 

You should be able to just get a digital adapter and get your local channels. http://customer.comcast.com/help-an...ference-between-cable-box-and-digital-adapter Of course this is almost like talking to a used car salesman. If you don't ask for it, they'll try to sell you something that costs 4 times as much.

Most any digital TV that's been recently made will have the digital tuner in it, and you wouldn't need that adapter at all. So if they charge a monthly fee for a digital cable box (spendy) or an adapter (affordable) you may just weigh the costs against getting a new TV. Pay if you do, pay if you don't kind of thing. Besides, if your current TV goes out you'll be buying a new one anyways most likely.

 

I've spent a bit of time checking settings, but we have two tvs 50" and 42",and the wide image is the same on both. I was thinking some kind of recent signal change.

 

My TV has "normal" just" "wide" "zoom"
Have you tried other settings?

 

I have Comcast and had a small box for the TV in the bedroom for over a year. How mine works if I don't have that little 4" square box the TV will tune in zero channels. If I bypass the small tuner even though it is a HD TV I get zero channels, a tech told me it was to stop people from stealing cable, as if they unscrew the null plug inside their box they still can't get TV as this box is a De-scrambler. True or not, who knows.

 

That is exactly what they are sending me, for free, after they sent me a letter telling me I would need one.