Troubleshooting
Why are black bars appearing around the picture on my HD TV?
If you see black bars above and below, on either side, or all around the picture, it's because the program you're watching is being broadcast in a format that is different from what your TV is programmed to show (i.e. when watching a standard definition channel on an HD TV).
There is a variety of options to minimize the effect of the black bars on your screen.
Press the * button (star symbol under the number 7) repeatedly on your Bell remote control to cycle through available options:
For HD channels:
- Normal: Presents the program with no modifications.
- Stretch: Stretches the image and makes it wider.
- Partial Zoom: Stretches the image horizontally and vertically.
- Zoom: Stretches the image horizontally and vertically even more.
- Gray Bar: Adds gray bars to the sides of the image instead of black bars.
For SD channels:
- Normal: Presents the program with no modifications.
- Full Zoom: Stretches the image horizontally and vertically.
You can configure separate picture format settings for HD channels and SD channels. For example, you may choose Normal for all HD channels and Full Zoom for all SD channels.
Note: The settings you choose will apply to all channels (not just the one you're watching). To change the settings back, simply press the * button (star symbol under the number 7) again to toggle through the available options.
If you don't see an improvement, after adjusting the picture format settings on your receiver, you may need to change the picture format settings on your television. Please consult the owner's manual for your TV for more information.