DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks for all your help. I have another question. Since Channel 6 WCSH has changed its news format, I do not get the whole picture. Both sides are cut off. It is like the picture is enlarged too much. Sometimes I don’t even see whole people or written information. I have the same TV. Do others have this problem, I wonder? Thank you. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t really have enough information to answer your question. The answer could vary, depending on how you get your TV (cable, satellite, antenna) or what kind of television you have.

You might just be able to adjust the aspect ratio on your TV to adjust the WCSH broadcast to your particular TV.

Sun Spots tried emailing WCSH to try to find out if what they have changed, but they have not responded.

You may have noticed that new televisions are long and narrow instead of squarish to fit the “letterbox” (long and narrow) format. This seems to be the wave of the future, but many times you can still adjust the displays to fit an old-fashioned squarish TV.

Sun Spots is sorry she cannot really answer your question. She has noticed a similar phenomenon when watching her sole channel, PBS, but chalked it up to the fact that her TV is ancient and tiny.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In the past we have watched the Ray Richardson show on WPME Channel 3. For the past few weeks we have been unable to get it. Is he still on and on what channel? Thank you. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots does not know why WPME changed its schedule and could find nothing online, but you can still listen to Ray on the radio. He’s on WLOB 1310 a.m. from  6 to 9 a.m. weekdays. You can also stream his show live online at www.wlobradio.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: My dad lives in Raymond. He has Dish network for his TV. Part of his package includes the MLB network. On several occasions his feed is blacked out for no apparent reason. When he calls the 800 number for assistance the person on the line attempts to sell him DirecTV. When he tries to explain what is going on, they continue to try to sell DirecTV.

They never answer his question as to why the station is blacked out. Any idea why? Thanks for any help we can get — Bill Merrill, wjm3bsandc@aol.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots got positively dizzy reading about Major League Baseball and the rules about blackouts. Only three things seem clear to her:

1. The rules on blackouts are extremely complicated and specific to channel (for example, a game might be available on MLB but not ESPN) and market (where you live).

2. Blackout rules are going to change in 2014 to allow more games to be viewed.

3. DirecTV has a special Extra Innings package deal with MLB. For $199.95, you can see “up to 80 out-of-market games a week.” This is probably why your father is getting the hard-sell. You can check out the details on the deal at www.directv.com/sports/mlb.

Neither sports nor television are strong areas for Sun Spots. Perhaps some baseball-game-watching fans will have more to offer on this topic.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Can you tell me how to get in touch with ION TV? Many thanks for all you do. — No Name via email

ANSWER: There is an email contact form at http://iontelevision.com/contact. They also offer a toll-free number, 888-467-2988.

Many questions are answered on their frequently asked questions page: http://iontelevision.com/faqs.

Sun Spots also found a mailing address for the headquarters (601 Clearwater Park Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33401), but she isn’t sure how helpful it will be. Her experience of late is that letters go unanswered. Perhaps companies are unwilling to pay someone to answer them? Or perhaps in the age of anthrax it’s a security issue and letters go unopened?

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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