The Plasma TV Blog

A 16:9 aspect ratio is the ratio of height to length in the newer model Televisions commonly called wide screen Tvs. The first figure refers to the width of the horizontal and the second to the vertical. Most of the new generation Plasma, DLP, and LCD televisions are being offered with 16:9 aspect ratio. These new wide screen models are popular because they offer a better display of anamorphic DVD’s and HDTV broadcasts.

Although aspect ratio refers to the ratio length to width in the television screen, it also is used to denote the format of the video image itself. A video formatted to 4:3 is also known as 1.33, and the 16:9 is known as 1.78. This figure is calculated by dividing 16 by 9. Although the 1.78 is evenly matched with a 16:9 ratio screen, wide screen videos are not all recorded in a 1.78 aspect. There are several common aspects including some that are higher than 2.00. In effect, these ratios would be “too large” for the 16:9 screen, and would need adjustment, or would project an image with black lines, or some distortion. Most new films and HDTV broadcast use 1.78 or above and are very compatible with 16:9 screens.

Two other common expressions used in the discussion of aspect ratios are OAR, or Original Aspect Ratio, and MAR, or Modified Aspect Ratio. The OAR is the ratio that the video is originally filmed in, and can be adjusted by the film maker for artistic reason. The recent film Gladiator, for instance, was filmed in 2.40:1 OAR. The Modified Aspect Ratio refers to the ratio once the signal has been modified for display on a screen. Mar’s have historically been 1.33 or 4:3, but have mostly changed to 1.78 or 16:9 since the advent of HD wide screen televisions.