Television question (creating a letterbox display)

[Dimwhit]

Off the wall question, but I thought I'd ask (not even sure if this is the right forum).

So I have a regular television, 4:3 aspect ratio. I'm getting annoyed that shows are being broadcast in widescreen and my TV, since it isn't a widescreen, cuts of the picture.

Is there a way I can force it to display letterbox? So I get the full picture, along with the lovely black bars on the top or bottom? I can't find a setting on the TV. Is there some cheap equipment I can buy to do it?

Probably a shot in the dark. But I'd hate to scrap a nice TV that's not very old.

 

[sycho]

You are pretty much SOL, since the broadcasters are the ones that crop the shows for the SD channels, not the TV.

The only thing you can do it get a HD tuner and tell it you have a 4:3 TV and to letterbox HD programs.

 

[Dimwhit]

You are pretty much SOL, since the broadcasters are the ones that crop the shows for the SD channels, not the TV.

The only thing you can do it get a HD tuner and tell it you have a 4:3 TV and to letterbox HD programs.

If an HD tuner will do that, I'd be happy. That's pretty much what I'm looking to do anyway. Thanks!

 

[Alican]

What country are you in and how do you receive your TV broadcasts (digital satellite? Digital terrestrial?)

 

[Dimwhit]

What country are you in and how do you receive your TV broadcasts (digital satellite? Digital terrestrial?)

US. Dish Network (so I guess digital satellite).