Oops. I meant to say "TV Standard", not "TV Format". Sorry for the confusion. The image you emailed to me shows that the correct value for PAL_B was saved in registry. MC should be using the value. Each time you choose a value, MC saves it and uses it the next time the tuner is loaded. If you keep seeing NTSC_M, something is wrong with the device driver.
Just to make sure we are on the same page, you change the value by doing the following:
1. TV Options... > Devices, select the device and click Configure...
2. On the resulting window, double-click "Video Capture Filter..." in the list under Advanced.
3. On the resulting property page(s), choose PAL_G or PAL_B.
4. Click OK, and OK, and OK (three times).
But the next time you go there, the value reverts to NTSC_M?