Some channels lock their aspect ratio decode (zoom mode).
Also, I've sometimes seen goofy things like network pillar boxing a 4:3 show to fit a 16:9 HD signal, the affiliate letterboxing that image to get 4:3 (instead of zooming like they should have) and that then going through another stage or two of that and ending up on screen as a 7" on a 20" CRT.... It depends on how smart and or dumb the equipment, engineers and people directing the engineers are.... There are PLENTY of dumbasses out there that see a 4:3 show pillar boxed on their new 16:9 flat screen, and call the station to complain about 'those black bars on the sides'.
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