Different HDTV signals?

I agree with Darrylhifi. I have also noticed on FOX and ESPN, many times a standard definition telecast is broadcast on their HDTV channel without being reformatted with bars on the sides. The image ends up being flattened. The Indy car race from Miami last Sunday on ESPN-HD and reruns of "That 70s Show" on FOX-HD are good examples. Kudos to CBS, NBC, and HBO who have long since addressed this problem.

Yes ESPN looks terrible except when they are truly broadcasting a game with High Def Camera's . From what I understand Fox , even when say showing a football game in widescreen , is not true high def, however they are upgrading , and should be full blown high def capable this year. Your right ESPN actually uses widescreen even when not broadcasting in high def , its just a stretched standard def picture. But , all minor issues , that eventually will pass. Hi Def when done properly is great !

something I really don't like is for example sometimes ER is shown in letterbox high definition format this really sucks I have a 16:9 screen why am I forced to watch this in letterbox screen having to look at black bars along the top and bottom above the pictures. It should be the full 16:9 screen. Another problem like on Showtime or HBO they will show a movie or boxing in high definition but only 4:3 aspect ratio I want it 16:9 or I don't even bother watching it would rather watch the standard definition in 16:9

Eldartford,

The remote control for my plasma has a button for the aspect as well. I used such feature a lot when I was using the S-video cable for regular TV watching while the component video input was reserved for the DVD. Now that I have the Yamaha AVR as my video switcher, which does all the video up conversion, I use only the component video cable for every thing. Thus, the problem does not exist any more. With the component video input, I can never adjust the aspect of the screen. What video input on the plasma that you use?

If you are watching Boxing on HBO or Showtime and it is in a 4:3 Format, it is not in high definition.