Most newer TVs (1080P or 4K using HDMI) have a setting, either under the user setup, HDMI setup, or as part of the stretch modes, which allows for 0% overscan, or 1:1 pixel mapping - List provided by Michael_TLV.
Sony ... Full Pixel
Panasonic ... HD Size 2
Samsung ... Screen Fit
LG ... Just Scan
Pioneer ... Dot by Dot
Sharp ... Dot by Dot, 1:1 Pixel Map
This mode was originally designed to be used with computers so you can see the entire desktop. This mode may also provide superior picture quality. If you use it with regular TV, you may end up seeing things that you should not be seeing. This includes white lines at the top of the screen (VBI-like Information), sometimes thin black bars, sometimes thin lines on the left or right edge of the screen ( black lines, coloured lines, etc).
This is due to the fact that the various affiliates don't always do a perfect job of upconverting, or centering the image on the screen, since TVs should be running with at least 2% overscan to avoid these issues.
You have a choice, you can either put up with these minor annoyances, or you can switch to the stretch mode (usually called wide, full or 16:9 on HD channels), or by changing the setting in the user setup menu to 1-2% overscan. instead of 0% / 1:1 pixel mapping, etc) - depends on the TV - usually outlined in the operating manual.
Sometimes the STB may be the cause of the issue and changing the STB may help, or the next firmware update may also help if you report the issue to your service provider.
See the following link for more on the topic:
DVD white line/tracking(?) at the top of recording - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums
Some TVs allow you to select/keep the stretch modes/overscan for each input. I would recommend that you use pixel/pixel for the DVD/BD input, where none of the annoyances mentioned above should occur and use Full/16:9 for the "TV" input. If you can put up with the annoyances above, then you can use the pixel/pixel mode, or change it when watching a programme where it bothers you. The pixel/pixel mode can provide a sharper image, depending on the input.
Another Tip: Some TVs have a user setting which allows you to move the picture up a few pixels - usually called vertical position or similar. In some cases this minor shift in picture may obscure the VBI information (or small black bars) at the top of the screen (not available on all TVs inputs or formats).
See the following post on Overscan:
FAQ - On Overscan - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums
Yet another Tip:
Some STBs send varying amounts of overscan depending on the output setting. For example:
1080i on BTV STBs often gives more overscan.
1080i on Rogers STBs often gives less overscan.
Shaw Direct STBs have different amounts of overscan for 1080i/0000 (Native/passthrough)
0% overscan may not work when using component video connections.
Edit in 2019: 10 years ago when I wrote this post, I used to see a lot of the minor annoyances if I used 0% overscan. Today, 10 years later, I rarely encounter things like the white lines on the top of the screen, etc. I guess it depends on which channels/programming you watch. I rarely watch anything that's not HD.
Sony ... Full Pixel
Panasonic ... HD Size 2
Samsung ... Screen Fit
LG ... Just Scan
Pioneer ... Dot by Dot
Sharp ... Dot by Dot, 1:1 Pixel Map
This mode was originally designed to be used with computers so you can see the entire desktop. This mode may also provide superior picture quality. If you use it with regular TV, you may end up seeing things that you should not be seeing. This includes white lines at the top of the screen (VBI-like Information), sometimes thin black bars, sometimes thin lines on the left or right edge of the screen ( black lines, coloured lines, etc).
This is due to the fact that the various affiliates don't always do a perfect job of upconverting, or centering the image on the screen, since TVs should be running with at least 2% overscan to avoid these issues.
You have a choice, you can either put up with these minor annoyances, or you can switch to the stretch mode (usually called wide, full or 16:9 on HD channels), or by changing the setting in the user setup menu to 1-2% overscan. instead of 0% / 1:1 pixel mapping, etc) - depends on the TV - usually outlined in the operating manual.
Sometimes the STB may be the cause of the issue and changing the STB may help, or the next firmware update may also help if you report the issue to your service provider.
See the following link for more on the topic:
DVD white line/tracking(?) at the top of recording - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums
Some TVs allow you to select/keep the stretch modes/overscan for each input. I would recommend that you use pixel/pixel for the DVD/BD input, where none of the annoyances mentioned above should occur and use Full/16:9 for the "TV" input. If you can put up with the annoyances above, then you can use the pixel/pixel mode, or change it when watching a programme where it bothers you. The pixel/pixel mode can provide a sharper image, depending on the input.
Another Tip: Some TVs have a user setting which allows you to move the picture up a few pixels - usually called vertical position or similar. In some cases this minor shift in picture may obscure the VBI information (or small black bars) at the top of the screen (not available on all TVs inputs or formats).
See the following post on Overscan:
FAQ - On Overscan - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums
Yet another Tip:
Some STBs send varying amounts of overscan depending on the output setting. For example:
1080i on BTV STBs often gives more overscan.
1080i on Rogers STBs often gives less overscan.
Shaw Direct STBs have different amounts of overscan for 1080i/0000 (Native/passthrough)
0% overscan may not work when using component video connections.
Edit in 2019: 10 years ago when I wrote this post, I used to see a lot of the minor annoyances if I used 0% overscan. Today, 10 years later, I rarely encounter things like the white lines on the top of the screen, etc. I guess it depends on which channels/programming you watch. I rarely watch anything that's not HD.
