A friend gave me a Panasonic PT-47WX49 today and he the left and right sides of the screen are noticeably brighter than the center section. He told me it was the result of him watching content in only 4:3 format.

What I'm a little confused about is this particular set displays white side bars when viewing 4:3 content. Based upon what I read in this forum this effect seems to be backwards. I was thinking that the center should be brighter than the outsides.

If I were to remove the input to the TV while on and leave it on for a while with just the white bars on the display, would the sides eventually darken to match the center section? Also, does anyone know how to access the service menu? Any help would be appreciated.

Shouldn't those pillarbox bars be gray? Anyway, if you run everything in one of the stretched viewing modes for 4:3 material, or in native 16:9 (in other words, so that the screen always is filled with moving images) it may eventually even out a bit for you.

However, once burn-in has occurred it is permanent.

Shouldn't those pillarbox bars be gray? Anyway, if you run everything in one of the stretched viewing modes for 4:3 material, or in native 16:9 (in other words, so that the screen always is filled with moving images) it may eventually even out a bit for you.

However, once burn-in has occurred it is permanent.

Unless you got it "re-gunned" (new CRTs). But that'll be pricey. Depends on how much you love this TV otherwise. If you got it for free, than a re-gun may not seem so expensive.

You could always try the "snow" trick for a long period of time, it may help as well.

You could always try the "snow" trick for a long period of time, it may help as well.

Also true. Check out the Master Burn-In thread for info.