Nothing to do with cars, but this forum has great multinational input and it might answer my query:

In the UK, it is almost impossible to buy a new TV which has the "old" 4:3 format. Everything is widescreen. So, I have a new widescreen TV which has a number of format options: "Automatic", 16:9, 4:3 and some others in between. Now the broadcast TV programmes are in a variety of formats - some channels broadcast entirely in widescreen, others never. Some broadcast programmes in widescreen, but adverts in 4:3. So, whatever I set the TV to, I am forever adjusting the screen to avoid distortion. To confuse the issue further, the Sky box allows me to have my TV output as "widescreen", but then half the programmes still need to be viewed in 4:3.

So the question is, are the broadcasting companies EVER going to agree on an international TV format so that eventually this will be uneccessary? Is US TV exclusively in 4:3 format - I think all the US imported programmes are either 4:3 or stretched to be widescreen (the edges are distored to fill the space)? What about continental Europe?

It does seem that this is a case of a solution to a non-existant problem. Any thoughts?

 

I have no answers for you, but does your 'automatic' mode make you feel like the telly is about to explode whenever it switches back and forth from 16:9 to 4:3?

It's crazy.

 

Yep - never use it. keeps switiching in the middle of films for no reason!

 

I have a Plasma and have it on Auto all the time. The pic is allways on the full screen. It is done so smart, that you don't see a difference to 4:3. No complaints here...

 

I got a new Pioneer plasma and the changing is ever so smooth. Well happy with it.