What is aspect ratio?
An aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of the TV screen. The aspect ratios differ because the television industry manufactures both standard-screen and wide-screen HDTV’s to appeal to consumer viewing preferences. A standard screen HDTV has a 4:3 aspect ratio. The screen is 4 units wide for every 3 units tall. A wide-screen HDTV is one-third wider than a standard-screen HDTV. The screen is 16 units wide for every 9 units tall.
4:3 (also known as 1.33:1) used to be the Academy Aspect Ratio (for movies) until the invention of TV proved to be taking away business. The Academy then decided to allow for “wider” movies. This has lasted to this date, and has allowed for many wider films to be released. 4:3 is the standard aspect ratio in the US as NTSC is the standard by which all stations broadcast their signals. Almost all TV’s manufactured in the US for the US have an aspect ratio of 4:3, with the exception of a few widescreen TV’s. The same can be said for almost all computer monitors. Widescreen monitors, are now starting to be made. The widescreen TV’s being made have an aspect ratio of 16:9 (also known as 1.78:1). Pioneer used to manufacture tv’s with a ratio of 16:10.7 (also known as 1.5:1), but has since abandoned it and gone in favor of 16:9. But why 16:9? This is the standard of HDTV in Japan, and offers a wide picture that compromises between 4:3 and 2.35:1. And sooner or later, HDTV in a digital form (
