HDTV widescreen - Grey bars on side, not black?

Thanks for all the responses - i've checked all the settings many times on my own and with Sony tech support on the phone but there's no setting for the bars to be found.

Thanks Swamp, I posted the question on the av forum you suggested.

The gray bars are better for preventing burn-in but is really only important for plasma TVs.

Rwwear"The gray bars are better for preventing burn-in but is really only important for plasma TVs."
Where did this information come from?Link?

Well it is also true for CRTs but since we were discussing an LCD I didn't include CRTs. LCD TVs are not succeptable to burn in. They are but very slightly. I don't have a source. It is pretty common knowledge though. Okay here are some sources. http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv-plasmavslcd.shtml www.flattvpeople.com/tutorials/lcd-vs-plasma.asp www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/displays_LCD_vs_Plasma3.html

You'll have to read for yourselves to find the info.

What model TV and how is it connected? Where the bars are introduced may depend upon how the signal is being transmitted from the source. For example, there is SD material occasionally transmitted on HD channels, where the black bars are "supplied" by the broadcaster. For some formats, I believe it may be generated by the CATV box. In other cases, it is generated by the TV...

But, if you can't find a control for changing the bars on either your TV or the CATV box, sounds like it is pointless anyway...