I have recently bought a Panasonic TX36PG50 telly and a Toshiba SD210E DVD player.However, despite setting my DVD at wide screen I am getting those horrible black bands at top and bottom.Do I need to do some more settings?If not,then whats the point of buying a widescreen TV if one cannot see a widescreen film properly (I tried Galdiators)?

I will appreciate help from you expert guys outhere.Please assume no previous knowledge of AV equipment.

thanks,

You have just asked probably the biggest FAQ regarding DVDs....

Your old tv was a ratio of 4:3. If you played widescreen films, you got black bars above and below to maintain the aspect ratio of the film. Your widescreen tv is ratio of 16:9 which still isn't wide enough for many films so the black bars still exist, albeit in a smaller state.

Why are the black bars horrible? If the tv was an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (like the films you mention), the black bars wouldn't be there but a plastic frame and air would be. What is the difference?

And, you are seeing the widescreen film correctly.

[Nic Rhodes]

Square pegs don't fit into round holes.

[delta]

You are seeing widescreen films 'properly' on your tv. Most films are made in the wider aspect rations than are in 16:9.

[Stuart Wright]

Duh sometimes I wonder why we bothered with the FAQ (above) which answers your question. Or why we got a forums service with a search facility - which if you search for 'black bars' in the topic titles also brings up a previous topic which exactly answers your question.

All new members are very welcome to the forums and we hope you find them useful, please PLEASE put a bit of effort into finding answers to your questions before you leap in and post.