If i may explain
Quite a few of the HD stations display programming in 4:3 mode.
example, A&E here, is available on an digital channel and also a HD channel.
A program i was watching last nite, it was letterboxed on the Digital channel but was letterboxed AND in 4:3 on the HD channel ..rendering my 42in plasma into a 27in screen i had 7yrs ago!! LOL
I have posted similar complaints before on another site and got flamed for it!!
I do not understand the people that find this perfectly acceptable and normal. I bought a widescreen 16:9 tv to experience...<GASP> a widescreen TV!! i know its crazy but its true
There are ways and technologies available to properly stretch programming..but ideally some day everything will be taped\filmed in widescreen(and most hollywood movies are afaik)
just something that bugs me and had to vent after what i saw last nite. I will not watch HD that does that (4:3) and thats a shame because otherwise HD is great. (discovery channel as an example)