Apparatus for use in a VCR or laserdisc player for providing a signal indicative of the reproduction of wide-screen picture

A VCR or laserdisc player includes circuitry for detecting a code provided by VCR tapes, tape cassettes, or laser videodiscs, which indicates that the material recorded on the videotape or videodisc has been recorded in a compressed fashion to enable proper playback on a 16x9 television receiver. In response to detection of this code, the VCR or laserdisc player applies a DC signal to the chrominance output terminal of its S-Video connector. Circuitry in the television receiver detects the DC signal on the chrominance terminal of its S-Video input connector, and controls a wide-screen processor to expand the image by displaying it over the entire width of the 16x9 display screen.