Abstract: A system that intelligently manages the empty spaces on a digital television screen when video images other than the native aspect ratio of the screen are being displayed. These spaces are typically presented as black bars on either side and/or above and below a video image that is not the same aspect ratio as the aspect ratio that is native to the display screen. The invention allows for non-contrasting bars to minimize burning of the bar image onto screens that are susceptible to retention of a high contrast image. The invention also allows for the display of metadata such as current program related information and other data that may be of interest to the viewer.