topic Re: Picture issue in Sky Q

Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:22:44 GMT

I've started having a weird issue with the picture on my Q. It only affects shows that are not in full 16:9 format; ie ones that have the "black bars"* on them.

After a few seconds, the picture will stretch to fill the screen. I have only seen it happen with the streaming services right now as I'm not watching any shows on the standad channels that have the "black bars" on them.

I assume it's the box rather than my TV but I have no way to tell as I don't have another streaming stick to test against. (Hmm. I do have some apps on my TV so I might try one of those tomorrow.)

Anyone got any thoughts?

Thanks.

(* Yes, I know they're not really black bars but you know what I mean!)

Re: Picture issue

lettice — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 06:57:32 GMT

Do you have any examples of series or films that show this?

Plus, also mention what third party apps is this happening on

A picture of what is showing may help.

Re: Picture issue

Chodley — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 06:50:58 GMT

I would assume it's the TV and not the box.

Re: Picture issue

PandJ2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:05:07 GMT

@Chodley wrote:
I would assume it's the TV and not the box.

I would agree - check aspect settings for 'auto' / 'fill' or similiar.

Re: Picture issue

BenJoBanjo — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:30:08 GMT

@CarlW2020

Are the black bars either side of the content you are watching (pillarboxing) or at the top and bottom of the screen (letterboxing)?

Depending on how your TV is set up, 4:3 pillarboxed content (almost square) may be stretched horizontally to fill the 16:9 ratio of your TV.

Re: Picture issue

nigea99 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:07:26 GMT

@CarlW2020 wrote:

I've started having a weird issue with the picture on my Q. It only affects shows that are not in full 16:9 format; ie ones that have the "black bars"* on them.

After a few seconds, the picture will stretch to fill the screen. I have only seen it happen with the streaming services right now as I'm not watching any shows on the standad channels that have the "black bars" on them.

I assume it's the box rather than my TV but I have no way to tell as I don't have another streaming stick to test against. (Hmm. I do have some apps on my TV so I might try one of those tomorrow.)

Anyone got any thoughts?

Thanks.

(* Yes, I know they're not really black bars but you know what I mean!)

hi @CarlW2020

It depends on how the image is being sent & whether it is maintaing the 4:3 format & letting the TV make the decision on how to show it - in which case it is down to the 'Aspect' setting (most TVs call it that I think) which may have options like auto/zoom,16:9,4:3

For any HD Satellite channel I think they always broadcast in 16:9 and usually add the black bars either side to maintain the aspect ratio - I think some SD channels may use 4:3 to let the TV decide

Regarding the ratio, you probably know but:

The reality is that 4:3 content clearly is not the same as modern TV s screen ratio of 16:9 & thus something has to happen

Thus there are roughly three options

1) add black bars either side of the 4:3 image showing the full 4:3 image and ensuring that the 4:3 image is not distorted

2) fill the 16:9 screen by cutting off content either top & bottom - this may be done by adjusting how much is cut off either on the top vs bottom depending on where the action is (the same amount must be cut off -but may be adjusted up and down as to where)

3) fill the 16:9 screen by distorting the 4:3 content leaving all the 4:3 image to be shown but the picture is stretched - sometimes this is done by stretching more at the edges and leaving the central portion correct

Similar things may have to happen with any films shot in wider aspects (e.g. 2.39:1) which again are different to the the 16:9 physical screen (16:19 which is approx 1.78:1). In this case any black bars used are top & bottom.

This latter difference is what had to happen when Films not shot in 4:3 were shown on the older 4:3 TVs

In the UK the option to show films in those days was usually the one similar to 2) above and was known as Pan & Scan because they would Pan along the image to central the image on the action cutting off the edges of the film.

In Europe more often and in the UK occasionally we would see films in original aspect with the black bars top & bottom

I have always been a fan of seeing the whole image in the original aspect using option 1) to add back bars to fill the rest of the physical screen - this tends to be the usual method of showing 4:3 content now on HD/4K TVs

We know some people feel they are loosing out by having the back bars - which they are not - and would prefer either of the 2 options 2) & 3) to utilise the full screen but with either the loss of some of the action in option 2) or the distortion of option 3)

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:19:14 GMT

Sorry. Top and bottom. And my TV is set up to display all content correctly. It has only just started doing this.

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:19:45 GMT

Anything is possible 🙂

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:24:18 GMT

Kinda figured my explanation was accurate enough. 🤷‍♂️

It is happening on any programme on streaming services (Paramount, Disney, etc.) with shows that in anything other than 16:9 W/S.

Sometimes happens with the menus too.

So this...

becomes this...

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:25:02 GMT

No need. No settings have changed since this issue started within the last week.

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:18 GMT

UPDATE:

I just sat down to watch some telly and it seems it's now also happening on standard channels and a "full screen" picture.

It's only a subtle and it may not bother some people but it really bothers me! 😠

Still not sure if it's the TV or the Q though. The only other source I have is disc so I'll try one of those. If it happens with that then it's the TV. If not it's the Q.

Re: Picture issue

BenJoBanjo — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:33:14 GMT

@CarlW2020 wrote:
UPDATE:

I just sat down to watch some telly and it seems it's now also happening on standard channels and a "full screen" picture.

Still not sure if it's the TV or the Q though. The only other source I have is disc so I'll try one of those. If it happens with that then it's the TV. If not it's the Q.

What's the make/model of TV? Could someone have accidentally pressed the picture mode (or equivalent) button on the TV remote?

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:34:17 GMT

No there's only me here. It's a 6 year old Philips.

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:37:54 GMT

@CarlW2020 wrote:
UPDATE:

I just sat down to watch some telly and it seems it's now also happening on standard channels and a "full screen" picture.

It's only a subtle and it may not bother some people but it really bothers me! 😠

Still not sure if it's the TV or the Q though. The only other source I have is disc so I'll try one of those. If it happens with that then it's the TV. If not it's the Q.

I think I may have been imagining this as it's fine now. (Standard channel, full screen.)

Re: Picture issue

BenJoBanjo — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:49:21 GMT

@CarlW2020 wrote:
@CarlW2020 wrote:
UPDATE:

I just sat down to watch some telly and it seems it's now also happening on standard channels and a "full screen" picture.

It's only a subtle and it may not bother some people but it really bothers me! 😠

Still not sure if it's the TV or the Q though. The only other source I have is disc so I'll try one of those. If it happens with that then it's the TV. If not it's the Q.

I think I may have been imagining this as it's fine now. (Standard channel, full screen.)

Doing a quick Google on Philips TVs brings up this:

https://www.philips.co.uk/c-f/XC000015750/how-to-change-the-picture-format-of-philips-tv

It would definitely be worth using the remote from your TV just to check which format is currently selected. The TV may have somehow changed the format to Stretch, perhaps with a conflicting infrared command from your Sky remote.

Re: Picture issue

BenJoBanjo — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:01:30 GMT

@CarlW2020

Also might be worth checking the HDMI cable between your Q box and the TV. It may be that the signal is being interrupted briefly and the correct picture size information is not being passed to the TV.

Try removing the cable, checking for dust, then replace it. Perhaps try a different cable if you have one, or consider a new certified HDMI 2.1 cable to future proof yourself. They cost less than £10 on Amazon. Also check the video output settings on the Q box. If your TV is 4K and you have Q set to 2160P then try switching to the native 1080i for HD broadcasts, then switch it back to 2160P.

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:32:52 GMT

@BenJoBanjo wrote:
@CarlW2020 wrote:
@CarlW2020 wrote:
UPDATE:

I just sat down to watch some telly and it seems it's now also happening on standard channels and a "full screen" picture.

It's only a subtle and it may not bother some people but it really bothers me! 😠

Still not sure if it's the TV or the Q though. The only other source I have is disc so I'll try one of those. If it happens with that then it's the TV. If not it's the Q.

I think I may have been imagining this as it's fine now. (Standard channel, full screen.)
Doing a quick Google on Philips TVs brings up this:

https://www.philips.co.uk/c-f/XC000015750/how-to-change-the-picture-format-of-philips-tv

It would definitely be worth using the remote from your TV just to check which format is currently selected. The TV may have somehow changed the format to Stretch, perhaps with a conflicting infrared command from your Sky remote.

Thanks but I don't need that. As I said, nothing has changed except this new fault showing up,

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:34:03 GMT

FINAL UPDATE:

As the same thing happens with discs, that means it's the TV not the box 😠

Re: Picture issue

Chodley — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:36:16 GMT

I already knew that 😉

Must be possible to switch that off. Possible it's a fault but seems really niche. A setting might have changed (or been added) thanks to an automatic firmware update on the TV so it's worth double checking.

Re: Picture issue

CarlW2020 — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:45:02 GMT

It was actually my fault! 😳

I had forgotten that, the previous Saturday, I had watched a film on USB and had to change a picture format setting to make it the right AR.

Kinda didn't think it would affect anything else.