Why Don't I Get Full Width on My New LCD TV?

Use your remote to set aspect ratio.

LCD TVs are usually less than 3 inches thick, which makes them a good option if you want to mount your TV on a wall. To get the most out of your new LCD TV, you need to know how picture sizing works.

Screen Dimensions

Traditional TV screens were designed with a 4:3 aspect ratio. This means that, for every 4 inches in length, the screen is 3 inches in height. LCD TVs have a 16:9 aspect ratio because that is the ratio used to broadcast high definition TV signals.

Program Considerations

By default, many LCD TVs switch to a 4:3 aspect ratio while displaying a non-high definition program. The screen will have black bars on the sides of the screen. If the TV did not display these programs with a 4:3 aspect ratio, the picture would look stretched and distorted. When the user switches to a high definition program, the TVs are designed to switch back to the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Prevention/Solution

LCD TV owners can usually program their TVs to display either 4:3 or 16 to 9 aspect ratios whenever they want. Use the "Menu" button on your remote to change the display to your desired settings. Normally, you can set defaults or change the settings for a single viewing. Many remotes have a "Picture Size" button that will quickly change the current aspect ratio.

References

• My Simon: Consumer Reports- Televisions
• Crutchfield: Understanding Aspect Ratio