Peacock on an ultrawide monitor, live sport included
Peacock, the US streaming service, is known for live sport and events alongside films and series. Sport is produced in 16:9, films are often much wider, and on a 21:9 or 32:9 monitor in Chrome the two need opposite settings. This guide covers both.
Sport and films leave different gaps
A live broadcast fills a 16:9 frame edge to edge. On an ultrawide the only black is at the sides, but there is nothing to remove from the picture itself, so filling the screen means cutting or widening the broadcast. Films are the opposite: a 2.39 film arrives inside a 16:9 video with black bars above and below, and those bars can be removed with almost no loss.
| What you watch | 21:9 (3440×1440) | 32:9 (3840×1080) |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 live sport or event | 25.6% black | 50% black |
| 1.85 film in a 16:9 stream | 28.5% black | 52% black |
| 2.39 film in a 16:9 stream | 44.6% black | 62.8% black |
A 5120×1440 monitor has the same shape as 3840×1080, so the second column applies to it as well. Try your own screen in the black bar calculator.
Live sport: keep the score on screen
Broadcasters usually put the score and clock in a corner at the top of the picture, and sometimes extra graphics along the bottom. Crop removes 12.8% of a 16:9 broadcast at the top and at the bottom on 21:9, so that graphic is often the first thing to go. Some ways around it:
- Stretch (free): everything stays, the picture becomes 34% wider on 21:9. Wide camera angles of a field or a track hide it well.
- Elastic stretch (PRO): the middle, where the play usually is, stays natural and the edges stretch. The score graphic remains on screen, slightly wider. On a protected player like Peacock it uses a gentler, simpler version.
- Crop, then move the frame down: press Alt + Shift + Down to show the top of the picture with the score, and accept a bigger cut at the bottom instead.
- Partial zoom: zoom in only part of the way with Alt + mouse wheel. Thin bars remain and the cut at the top is small.
On a 32:9 screen a full crop would cut half of the picture height, so for sport elastic stretch or a partial zoom combined with stretch is usually the most watchable choice.
Films: let crop do the work
For a 2.39 film on 21:9 the answer is simple: choose 2.39 and fill with crop. The bars inside the stream disappear and practically nothing of the picture is cut. A 1.85 film keeps 77.4% of its height with crop, so check close-ups with Alt + C and move the frame if a head is cut. On 32:9, combine crop with a little zoom out or stretch, as for any wide film on a super ultrawide.
Step by step
- Add UltraFill to Google Chrome on Windows or macOS and pin the icon.
- Open a live event, a film or an episode on Peacock and go full screen.
- Open the UltraFill panel with the button at the top of the video, or Alt + U (Option + U on a Mac).
- Choose the format: 16:9 for sport and live events, 2.39 or 1.85 for films.
- Pick the fill mode and press Fill the screen, or Alt + Z.
- Hold Alt + C to compare with the original whenever you like.
Because Peacock protects its video with DRM, UltraFill cannot see the picture, so it cannot tell a match from a film by itself. When you switch from one to the other, change the format in the panel. For films and series, the title profile (PRO) remembers the setting per title, and auto-fill in full screen applies it straight away.
Sound for sport and films
Sound is where UltraFill helps sport the most. Clear dialog lifts the commentary above the crowd, volume leveling keeps a loud goal or a sudden break from blasting your speakers, and night mode compresses film soundtracks so you can watch late without waking the house. On Peacock these tools need one click on the UltraFill icon first, as described below.
What DRM changes
- Automatic bar detection does not work, because the browser hides protected frames from extensions. You choose the format.
- Denoise, ambient glow, the split before and after view and frame snapshots only work on unprotected video.
- Sound tools work after clicking the UltraFill icon in the toolbar, or pressing Alt + Shift + U (Option + Shift + U on a Mac), once per tab. Chrome then shows a small sharing badge, which is expected.
- Zoom, framing, rotate, flip and color and light work normally.
Questions
Why does live sport on Peacock leave black bars on my ultrawide?
Sport is broadcast in 16:9, which is narrower than a 21:9 or 32:9 screen. The player keeps the shape, so the extra width stays black.
Will filling the screen cut off the score?
With crop it can, because crop removes 12.8% at the top on 21:9. Use stretch or elastic stretch, or move the frame down with Alt + Shift + Down to keep the top of the picture.
What is the best fill mode for sport on a 32:9 monitor?
Elastic stretch (PRO), or a partial zoom combined with stretch. A full crop would cut half of the picture height.
Which format should I choose for films on Peacock?
2.39 for most wide films and 1.85 for films with only thin bars. Hold Alt + C to compare, and pick a wider format if bars remain.
Can UltraFill make the commentary easier to hear?
Yes. Clear dialog lifts voices above the crowd and volume leveling evens out loud moments. On Peacock, turn the sound tools on with the UltraFill icon or Alt + Shift + U first.
Does UltraFill detect the format automatically on Peacock?
No. Peacock protects its video, so Chrome does not let extensions read the picture. You choose the format, and PRO can remember it per title.
UltraFill is an independent extension and is not affiliated with Peacock or any other service mentioned on this page. Service names are used only to describe compatibility.