HDTV question

[Bill O'Neill]

I am ignorant of the HDTV universe, so who can explain why CNN HD that I 
am watching here from a coffee shop in Middlebury, Vermont, on a 50" 
plasma-double-secret-probation-mega-large screen has "HD" wallpaper down 
each edge of the screen leaving what seems to be the old aspect ratio 
for content?

Also the "garbage-in garbage-out" axiom comes to mind when I observe 
various feeds to the program that are mixed poorly, etc.

Bill O'Neill