Oversized Postage Stamp Size Picture

Robotics

For years I didn’t have any issue of picture filling/fitting to screen. Been thru several cable boxes and TV’s and never an issue.
Sometimes after the first of the year (2025) on all local stations other than NBC CBS FOX ABC, the pictures look like what you see in these pics. I have never had to tell my TV or cable box to fit to screen…stretch, etc. It only happens on the stations like MeTV Grit Cozi Comet Bounce, etc.
Comcast claims they haven’t made any changes and to contact the local stations involved. Which I did (2 of them) and they say what they are sending out hasn’t changed for quite awhile.
Anyone else having this happen to them since shortly after the first of the year? Would be great if someone local to Richmond, Va. area to chime in.!

MacLeech

Robotics Make sure the box output is set to pass through or 1080 and it’s connected by HDMI

480 output or a coax output connection would do that.

Robotics

Robotics
I forgot to mention this is happening on both boxes in the house.
Both boxes are set properly 16:9, 1080p60 HD. Neither box has a pass though option.

I’m pretty sure it is happening at the front end for this area.
Like I said..it is only happening on the local sub-channels. All other channels are perfect.

I am starting to think this is the way it is going to be from here on out. Going on 3 months like this.
And both parties blame the other 🙄

EnasYorl

Robotics Some local channels are off air or studio links and may not be Full HD. 720P or 480i upscaled to 1080i so the aspect ratio is off.

Robotics

EnasYorl
Thanks for the info.
Maybe some equipment went bad that used to do the upscale. It worked fine for 20+ years compensating for picture sizes for older shows, switching back and forth depending on what was scale was being transmitted. and now it does this no longer.
I remember years ago it did this for a short time, but if you recorded that same show/channel, it was correct on the video from the DVR…but watching it normally, it’s a darn postage stamp size.
I give up lol.

Tshirt

Robotics Comcast claims

some times the customer facing side doesn’t know what technical services has actually done.

I’d wonder if the source/local channel made some change or that you’ve been moved to a “bandwidth saver” feed that sends a lower /different resolution. signal that does not work as before.

Robotics

Tshirt
Hard to say. Something isn’t working right. Why would they cut their own station logo in half not showing the whole thing?
That’s a dead giveaway to me right there that something has gone bad.
The tech that was here didn’t have a clue and I guess he has seen it before since he couldn’t explain it due to it looking normal to him.
Something has changed and no one is admitting to it 🙂
All I know at this point is Comcast says it WWBT TV and they are claiming its not them.

Rich221976

Too bad there isn’t a way to test the channel over the air to see what the picture is like there. Its possible that WWBT is transmitting the image as you are seeing it now instead of upscaling it.