[TriBruin]

It doesn't override the settings, it is broadcast that way. Instead of sending a 4x3 image, they send a 4x3 inside a 16x9 one with the bars on the sides. Your Tivo doesn't know it is really 4x3, it only sees a 16x9 image and just displays it.

Worse is when the broadcast a 4x3 stretched to 16x9 with no bars. Stretch-o-vision. You can't do anything about that either.

I prefer when a broadcaster add something other than simple black bars when broadcasting 4:3 on their 16:9 HD channel. CBS use a blue graphical pillars and ESPN has black and grey with ESPNHD on it. Makes it a little more obvious that you the pillars are in the original broadcast signal.