Why was the UK DVD from Network not widescreen?

It's very annoying that Network in London released the UK DVD box set in 4:3 full screen instead of in widescreen as all three series were made and shown, right up to "Gold" the last series. Also a lot of the songs used were replaced with terrible music too. I recently ordered Series 1 from America as that is said to be widescreen 1.77:1 but it is not- it's the same pan & scan 4:3 print by Granada Ventures which Network released on DVD in the UK! Beware! I got a credit for it anyway.