Why are some channels in B&W and stretched?

[xtra]

Why are some of the channels black and white and kinda stretched vertically?
Just wondering.

 

[Cascade]

Which channels are you talking about?
The only thing I can think of is that you're watching a PAL broadcast.

 

[Mr Tony]

only b&w ones Ive seen are programs on Peoples Network, which are old b&w films

 

[xtra]

They are on Hispasat1C not all but some of the channels are B&W

 

[xtra]

Yep thats what they are PAL broadcasts. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mr Tony]

interesting that they are PAL and you can pick them up

 

[TuxCoder]

The Pansat 2500A does automatic conversion to/from PAL & NTSC. I think I've caught some PAL stations before, because while watching them I would see some frame rate glitch every second or so (and signal quality was just fine). PAL is 25 frames/sec, and NTSC is 30. Also, I remember the picture being cropped at the top and bottom...