Streaming Recordings display in POSTAGE STAMP (BLACK BARS ON ALL SIDES)

It sounds like you are recording a 420p resolution, or worse.

Trying to watch it in HD or 4k would make the resulting picture smaller.

I appreciate the response. But to repeat I am using livestream on my laptop. My laptop screen resolution is 1920x1080. I did switch the CW channel to ‘HD’ channel and that did fix that channel for watching. Interestingly though taking NBC as example it did not matter if I used the HD channel or the non-HD channel, both display full screen when full screen selected.

But back to recording.  There is no option to set the resolution for a recording When you watch a channel this is an option for Low, High or Auto. But this has no impact for the recording. Again, as soon as I select to record a program, and then while recording it I watch it, the program displays in a postage stamp display. And the recording, when I play it back, is in postage stamp.

I’m starting to think this is just a defect in the xfinity recording service. But I’m surprised no one else has mentioned it which why I was wondering if I was doing something wrong.

Unfortunately, Comcast now converts any 1080i channels like NBC, ABC, etc. to a 720p signal. How the local channel sends the signal to Comcast may affect the picture. Some newer tv's may correct the problem.  The picture is always better when watching 1080i channels over the air with an antenna.