why do these 2 channels show everything with the image "squeezed in" and those black bars on both sides of the screen? I don't watch them because of that; which is a shame because I'd like to. They have some shows that I'd like to see again.

(they even show all their commercials the same way)

That could just be your affiliate. I don't get Decades, but I do get Cozi, and while most of their programming is indeed shown with the bars on the sides, that's because they're being shown at their original aspect ratio. They're not getting squished.

I have my tv set up to see the shows as if they were first aired. Grit I noticed stretched out and I rarely see that channel. I really have any problem seeing my tv screen with retro shows.

I didn't know you could fix your TV to avoid that-how do you do it?

Well I remember seeing Hart to Hart on in my area channel 17 -Cozi then found a HD station showing the same channel and I could see the background side on the HD Station. Some stations I can't see much different and really don't miss much anyway. But newer shows say news, boy I do see a difference for I see a line with EWs blab blab on the left ,an ST on the right. So I go to the HD station and boom the screen will say NEWS blab blab STATE. I kind of like new shows year 2000+ show to see as much as I can and the 1950-1980 shows to be the way they were first shown Grit is one that stretches that people look so wide. Fiddle around it may make a difference to your viewing.

well, I've decided I may as well throw in the towel and start watching these channels. I was avoiding them for a while because they show everything "squeezed in" and with those black bars on either side of the screen. (I've heard they do that because they show everything in it's "original aspect ratio" but that explanation's never made sense to me) but I realize now that they're probably never going to change that so I've decided to just ignore it.

I hate that too but you can change the Ratio on your TV to get rid of that.

Decades has been airing old episodes of The Dick Cavett Show most weekdays, from his ABC run and PBS, etc. Some of those are very interesting, others I find very dull (depends on the guests, of course).

The main attraction for me is the Weekend Binge on Decades -- if it's a series I like, I'll watch a LOT of Decades from Saturday afternoon thru early Monday.

I hate that too but you can change the Ratio on your TV to get rid of that.
yes I know but you have do all this stuff like go to the back of the set, press some buttons, scan the set, get an antenna...and it sounds as if you have to be a TV repairman!!
Besides I'm in a wheelchair.

You can't change the ratio with the remote control? On both our TV's we can just use the remote, just takes a minute.

You can't change the ratio with the remote control? On both our TV's we can just use the remote, just takes a minute.
maybe but our TV didn't come with instructions so if we can I don't know how to.

You can't change the ratio with the remote control? On both our TV's we can just use the remote, just takes a minute.
All I do is push the zoom button on the remote and it goes full screen. I never have to do that with Cozi anyway as it looks good on my TV.

well, I've decided I may as well throw in the towel and start watching these channels. I was avoiding them for a while because they show everything "squeezed in" and with those black bars on either side of the screen. (I've heard they do that because they show everything in it's "original aspect ratio" but that explanation's never made sense to me) but I realize now that they're probably never going to change that so I've decided to just ignore it.

What about that explanation doesn't make sense to you? These shows were made to fill an old-fashioned, 4:3 TV screen. If they show them in widescreen, they have to zoom in and cut the top and bottom off.

I just lost Cozi in my area. Wasn't a great loss but I did enjoy it. In its place is a station called SBN. Some kind of religion station that show old Jimmy Swaggart revivial shows.

As for ratio size shows, I deal with it. Did notice one day I think it was METV that The Big Valley show was almost square in shape, versus a few weeks ago it was rectangle. It was a little too square for me, Not the show, the screen. I do like the show shown the way it was when first aired. Seldom see GRIT for their old shows are stretched out.