Seeking help to correct aspect ratio (export)

I have submitted a SD episode for television (PAL) and the station has rejected it due to it being:

"Fault: Wrong aspect ratio. Picture is 4:3 letter box rather than 16:9"

This episode was supplied to me (for making some edits) in HD NTSC (1920 x 1080, Display aspect ratio :16:9)
and I am using FCPx > Compressor to export it to SD PAL (16:9). (Previously accepted episodes were supplied to me in SD). When viewing locally, it looks to be a little less tall than 16:9, however, the file properties reveal the following specs, and I am wondering if anyone might identify how I can output a corrected aspect SD file from FCPx (via Compressor, assumedly).

Unaccepted file:

Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio : 9.018

The Compressor preset is set to "Pixel aspect ratio: PAL CCIR 601 (16:9) - 0.7031"
As you will note, it does show 16:9 aspect, but when checking the specs of previously accepted episodes, I note the following, which is different:

Accepted file:

Width : 720 pixels
Clean aperture width : 703 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Clean aperture height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.85:1
Original display aspect ratio : 5:4
Clean aperture display aspect ratio : 16:9

I am curious if the "Display aspect ratio" is my problem, and how to fix? Of course I can supply more specs if needed.

I am required to supply the corrected file overnight (it is night here now), so hoping for some speedy help, if available.

Many thanks,
Geoff

Hi,

It looks like they want Full Height Anamorphic (FHA) delivery and you have given them 16:9 letterbox on a 4:3 frame (720 x 576). Essentially they don't want back bars top and bottom.

Going through FHA here would be long and tedious but this is how to generate the correct file from a 16:9 timeline:

1. Select the project timeline and, from the File menu, Send to Compressor.

2. When it opens add the delivery codec to the job and then open the video tab in the inspector.

3. Set the dimensions to 720 x 576 from the drop down list

4. Set the Pixel aspect ratio to PAL 16:9 widescreen (0.7031)

5. Select the destination

6. Run the batch

The resulting file will be 4:3 with the 16:9 picture squashed horizontally to fit. If you look at it with QT Player it will be 16:9 because the metadata tells QTP to stretch it.

This is how SD widescreen works for broadcast.

I might be too late for you but this is the answer - hope you got it sorted.

Ian.