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16:9 aspect ratio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"16x9" redirects here. For the TV series, see 16x9 (TV series).
A 16:9 rectangle in which rectangles visualize the ratio. The groupings are not square.
A television set with the 16:9 image ratio

16:9 is a widescreen aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9 units.

Once seen as an "exotic" aspect ratio,[1] since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for televisions and computer monitors, and is also the universal standard image format for the universal 1080p, 2160p and 4320p formats.

16:9 or "sixteen-nine" is the universal widescreen standard format[2] and Wide-aspect Clear-vision.[3] Japan's Hi-Vision originally started with a 15:9 ratio but converted when the international standards group introduced the wider ratio 16:9. Many digital video cameras have the capability to record in 16:9, and this is the only widescreen aspect ratio natively supported by Blu-ray Disc. It is also the native aspect ratio of the Blu-ray Disc, but Blu-ray Disc producers can also choose to show even a wider ratio such as 2.40:1 within the 16:9 frame adding Letterbox black bars within the image itself.[citation needed]

History

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Derivation of the 16:9 aspect ratio
The main figure shows 4:3 and 2.40:1 rectangles with the same area A, and 16:9 rectangles that covers (black) or is common to (grey) them. The calculation considers the extreme rectangles, where m and n are multipliers to maintain their respective aspect ratios and areas.

Kerns H. Powers, a member of the SMPTE Working Group on High-Definition Electronic Production, first proposed the 16:9 (1.77:1) aspect ratio in 1984.[4] The popular choices in 1980 were 4:3 (based on TV standard's ratio at the time), 15:9 (5:3) (the European "flat" 1.66:1 ratio), 1.85:1 (the American "flat" ratio) and 2.35:1 (the CinemaScope/Panavision) ratio for anamorphic widescreen.

Powers cut out rectangles with equal areas, shaped to match each of the popular aspect ratios. When overlapped with their center points aligned, he found that all of those aspect ratio rectangles fit within an outer rectangle with an aspect ratio of 1.77:1 and all of them also covered a smaller common inner rectangle with the same aspect ratio 1.78:1.[5] The value found by Powers is exactly the geometric mean of the extreme aspect ratios, 4:3 and 2.40:1,  ≈ 1.77 which is coincidentally close to 16:9. Applying the same geometric mean technique to 16:9 and 4:3 yields an aspect ratio of around 1.54:1, sometimes approximated as 14:9 (1.55:1), which is likewise used as a compromise between these ratios.[6]

While 16:9 (1.77:1) was initially selected as a compromise format, the subsequent popularity of HD broadcast has solidified 16:9 as perhaps the most common video aspect ratio in use.[7] Most 4:3 (1.33:1) and 21:9 video is now recorded using a "shoot and protect" technique that keeps the main action within a 16:9 (1.77:1) inner rectangle to facilitate 16:9 conversion and viewing.[8] Conversely it is quite common to use a technique known as center-cutting, to approach the challenge of presenting material shot (typically 16:9) to both an HD and legacy 4:3 audience simultaneously without having to compromise image size for either audience. Content creators frame critical content or graphics to fit within the 1.33:1 raster space. This has similarities to a filming technique called open matte.

In 1993, the European Union instituted the 16:9 Action Plan,[9] to accelerate the development of the advanced television services in 16:9 aspect ratio, both in PALplus (compatible with regular PAL broadcasts) and also in HD-MAC (an early HD format). The Community fund for the 16:9 Action Plan amounted to €228,000,000.

Over a long period in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the computer industry switched from 4:3 to 16:10 (1.60:1) and then to 16:9 as the most common aspect ratio for monitors and laptops. A 2008 report by DisplaySearch cited a number of reasons for this shift, including the ability for PC and monitor manufacturers to expand their product ranges by offering products with wider screens and higher resolutions, helping consumers to more easily adopt such products and "stimulating the growth of the notebook PC and LCD monitor market".[10] By using the same aspect ratio for both TVs and monitors, manufacturing can be streamlined and research costs reduced by not requiring two separate sets of equipment, and since a 16:9 is narrower than a 16:10 panel of the same length, more panels can be created per sheet of glass.[11][12][13]

In 2011, Bennie Budler, product manager of IT products at Samsung South Africa, confirmed that monitors with a native resolution of 1920 × 1200 were not being manufactured anymore. "It is all about reducing manufacturing costs. The new 16:9 aspect ratio panels are more cost-effective to manufacture locally than the previous 16:10 panels".[14]

In March 2011, the 16:9 resolution 1920 × 1080 became the most common used resolution among Steam's users. The previous most common resolution was 1680 × 1050 (16:10).[15] By July 2022, 16:9 resolutions are preferred by 77% of users (1920 × 1080 with 67%; 2560 × 1440 with 10%).[16]

Properties

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16:9 is the only widescreen aspect ratio natively supported by the DVD format. An anamorphic PAL region DVD video frame has a maximum resolution of 720 × 576p, but a video player software will stretch this to 1024 × 576p.

Producers can also choose to show even wider ratios such as 1.85:1 and 2.4:1 within the 16:9 DVD frame by hard matting or adding black bars within the image itself. Some films which were made in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, such as the U.S.-Italian co-production Man of La Mancha and Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing, fit quite comfortably onto a 1.77:1 HDTV screen and have been issued as an enhanced version on DVD without the black bars. Many digital video cameras also have the capability to record in 16:9.

Common resolutions

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Common resolutions for the 16:9 ratio:

Width Height Name
640 360 nHD
854 480 FWVGA
960 540 qHD
1024 576 WSVGA
1280 720 HD
1366 768 FWXGA
1600 900 HD+
1920 1080 Full HD
2560 1440 QHD
3200 1800 QHD+
3840 2160 4K UHD
5120 2880 5K
7680 4320 8K UHD

Countries

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The second iteration of ended fullscreen become a widescreen format from the second 1998–2029 iteration. From the ended fullscreen become on widescreen on 1998–2009 iteration, 2010s iteration and 2020s iteration.

Africa

[edit]
Country Year of ended-fullscreen Year of complete Channel
 Algeria 2014 Algérie 3
Echourouk TV
 Angola 2020 2024 All channels.
 Benin 2022 All channels.
 Botswana 2021 2024 All channels.
 Burkina Faso 2021 All channels.
 Burundi 2022 All channels.
 Cameroon 2018 2020 All channels.
 Cape Verde 2019 All channels.
 Central African Republic 2021 All channels.
 Chad 2019 All channels.
 Comoros 2019 All channels.
 Congo 2022 All channels.
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 2020 2021 All channels.
 Djibouti 2021 All channels.
 Egypt 2009 2017 All channels.
 Equatorial Guinea 2019 2020 All channels.
 Eswatini 2022 All channels.
 Ethiopia 2016 2018 All channels.
 The Gambia 2022 All channels.
 Gabon 2019 2024 All channels.
 Ghana 2018 2022 All channels.
 Guinea 2019 2022 All channels.
 Guinea-Bissau 2020 All channels.
 Ivory Coast 2018 2024 All channels.
 Kenya 2015 2017 All channels.
 Lesotho 2017 2024 All channels.
 Liberia 2018 All channels.
 Libya 2019 2020 All channels.
 Madagascar 2016 2017 All channels.
 Malawi 2023 All channels.
 Mali 2017 2021 All channels.
 Mayotte 2022 All channels.
 Morocco 2011 2016 All channels.
 Mozambique 2021 2024 All channels.
 Mauritania 2021 All channels.
 Mauritius 2019 2021 All channels.
 Namibia 2020 All channels.
 Niger 2015 2019 All channels.
 Nigeria 2010 2014 All channels.
 Rwanda 2020 All channels.
 Sao Tome and Principe 2021 All channels.
 Senegal 2019 2020 All channels.
 Seychelles 2021 All channels.
 Sierra Leone 2022 All channels.
 Somalia 2020 All channels.
 South Africa 2011 2013 All channels.
 South Sudan 2022 All channels.
 Sudan 2017 2019 All channels.
 Tanzania 2014 2016 All channels.
 Togo 2019 All channels.
 Tunisia 2010 2015 All channels.
 Uganda 2018 2024 All channels.
 Zambia 2017 2019 All channels.
 Zimbabwe 2018 All channels.

Americas

[edit]
Country/Territory Year of ended-fullscreen Year of complete Channel
 Antigua and Barbuda 2019 All channels.
 Argentina 2010 2015 All channels.
 Bahamas 2021 All channels.
 Barbados 2019 2024 All channels.
 Belize 2022 All channels.
 Bermuda 2014 2015 All channels.
 Bolivia 2017 2018 Always on 16:9: PAT and ATB.
Often on 16:9: Bolivia TV.
 Brazil 2006 2012 Channels change between 16:9 and 4:3 pillarbox depending on what's airing.
 British Virgin Islands 2021 All channels.
 Canada 2000 2005 All channels.
 Cayman Islands 2019 All channels.
 Chile 2012 2015 All channels. Expect Telecanal in 4.3 in ident 4:3 letterboxed in commercials.
 Colombia 2016 2018 All channels.
 Costa Rica 2015 2024 All channels.
 Cuba 2010 2018 All channels.
 Curaçao 2019 All channels.
 Dominica 2022 All channels.
 Dominican Republic 2015 2016 All channels.
 Ecuador 2014 2016 All channels.
 El Salvador 2018 All channels.
 Grenada 2019 2024 All channels.
 Guadeloupe 2019 All channels.
 Guatemala 2015 2016 All channels.
 Guyana 2020 All channels.
 Haiti 2019 All channels.
 Honduras 2015 2016 All channels.
 Jamaica 2018 2020 All channels.
 Mexico 2004 2013

Free-to-air television: Las Estrellas, FOROtv, Canal 5, NU9VE, Televisa Regional, Azteca Uno, Azteca 7, a+, adn40, Imagen Televisión, Excélsior TV, Canal Once, Canal 22, Una Voz con Todos, Teveunam, Milenio Televisión, Multimedios Televisión, Teleritmo, and some local HD stations.

Pay television: U, Golden, Golden Edge, TL Novelas, Bandamax, De Película, De Película Clásico, Ritmoson Latino, TDN, TeleHit, Distrito Comedia, Tiin, Az Noticias, Az Clic!, Az Mundo, Az Corazón, Az Cinema, 52MX, TVC, TVC Deportes, Pánico, Cinema Platino, and Cine Mexicano.

 Montserrat 2022 All channels.
 Nicaragua 2019 2024 All channels.
 Panama 2015 2017 All channels.
 Paraguay 2016 2024 Almost all channels on free-to-air television, especially HD feeds (ex.: RPC, NPY, Unicanal, channel 7 HD). SD feeds (usually found on pay television) are usually letterboxed and downscaled to 4:3 (ex.: SNT and Paravisión).
 Peru 2011 2017 All channels.
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2021` 2023 All channels.
 Saint Lucia 2021 2024 All channels.
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2020 All channels.
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2021 All channels.
 Suriname 2019 2024 All channels.
 Trinidad and Tobago 2018 2020 All channels.
 United States 1993 2009 All HD channels. SD feeds are usually letterboxed and downscaled to 4:3.
 U.S. Virgin Islands 2019 2020 All channels.
 Uruguay 2020 2024 All channels.
 Venezuela 2012 2016 All channels.

Asia

[edit]
Country/Territory Year of ended-fullscreen Year of complete Channel
 Afghanistan 2018 All channels.
 Bahrain 2019 2024 All channels.
 Bangladesh 2015 2018 RTV
SA TV
Somoy TV
 Bhutan 2021 All channels.
 Brunei 2021 2024 All channels (Radio Television Brunei).
 Cambodia 2021 2022 All channels.
 China 2003 2009 CCTV channels 1–15, CCTV-5+, all CGTN channels. Older contents in 4:3 and news contents are stretched on SD variants of these channels as stretching on SD channels is common.
 Hong Kong 2013 2018 All channels.
 India 2014 2015 All HD channels. Most SD channels are still broadcasting in 4:3, either fullscreen or letterboxed.
 Indonesia 2012 2016 All channels.
 Iran 2014 2019 All channels.
 Iraq 2019 2024 All channels.
 Israel 2011 2015 All channels.
 Japan 2007 2010

All channels.

Japan pioneered its analogue HDTV system (MUSE) in 16:9 format, which started in the 1980s. There were also analog NTSC-compatible widescreen broadcasts using the Clear-Vision system. Currently all main channels have digital terrestrial television channels in 16:9. Many satellite broadcast channels are being broadcast in 16:9 as well.

 Jordan 2017 2018 All channels.
 Kuwait 2018 All channels.
 Kyrgyzstan 2017 All channels.
 Laos 2021 2024 All channels.
 Lebanon 2015 All channels.
 Malaysia 2014 2020 All channels.
 Maldives 2017 2018 All channels.
 Mongolia 2018 MNB
MN2
TM Television
TV5
TV6
TV8
Channel 25
Эx Орон
SBN
ETV
MNC
Eagle News TV
Edutainment TV
Star TV
SPS
Sportbox
SHUUD TV
 Myanmar 2017 2021 All channels.
   Nepal 2015 2018 Kantipur Television Network
AP1 TV
News 24
TV Filmy
Nepal Television
 North Korea 2020 All HD channels. Most SD channels are still broadcasting in 4:3, either fullscreen or letterboxed.
 Oman 2017 2024 All channels.
 Pakistan 2015 2017 All HD channels. Most SD channels are still broadcasting in 4:3, either fullscreen or letterboxed.
 Palestine 2021 All channels.
 Philippines 2017 2024

16:9 native:[a] PTV, ANC (both SD and HD),[b] Kapamilya Channel (both SD and HD),[b] A2Z, RPTV (both SD and HD), Aliw 23, One PH, One News (both SD and HD),[b] One Sports+,[b] Hope Channel Philippines, CCTN, CLTV36, Congress TV, 3ABN, Bilyonaryo News Channel, Cinema One, Hope International, INCTV, Net 25, Front Row Channel, Living Asia Channel, all Solar Entertainment channels (Shop TV, Solar All Access, Solar Sports, SolarFlix, and Solar Learning), DZRH News Television, TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Truth Channel, all TAP DMV channels (TAP TV, TAP Edge, TAP Movies, TAP Action Flix, TAP Sports, Premier Sports, Premier Tennis, and Premier Football), BuKo, NBA TV Philippines, PBA Rush, UAAP Varsity Channel, One Media Network, Metro Channel (both SD and HD), Myx, Prime TV, all BEAM TV subchannels (except Knowledge Channel), Sari-Sari Channel, SMNI, SMNI News Channel, IBC, All TV, GMA, GTV and its other subchannels, TV5 (both SD and HD), One Sports (both SD and HD), UNTV,[c] RJ DigiTV and its other subchannels, and TV Maria.

4:3 upscaled/stretched to 16:9:[d] Light TV, Cine Mo!, Jeepney TV, Knowledge Channel, and all Viva Communications channels (Celestial Movies Pinoy, Pinoy Box Office, Tagalized Movie Channel, and Viva Cinema).

 Qatar 2017 All beIN Sports channels, Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Mubasher, Qatar TV HD, and all Alkass channels.
 Saudi Arabia 2018 2020 All channels.
 Singapore 2015 2021 All channels. 16:9 contents are stretched because the format appears vertically stretched on older 4:3 sets. All 4:3 contents including news clips are also stretched.
 South Korea 2014 2022 All channels.
 Sri Lanka 2015 2019 All channels
 Syria 2017 2020 All channels.
 Taiwan 2011 2021 All channels.
 Tajikistan 2020 All channels.
 Thailand 2012 2016 All channels.
 Timor-Leste 2021 All channels.
 Turkey 2011 2014 All channels.
 Turkmenistan 2017 2020 All channels.
 United Arab Emirates 2020 2023 All channels.
 Uzbekistan 2017 2024 All channels.
 Vietnam 2014 2019 All channels.
 Yemen 2020 2022 All channels.
  1. ^ Channels that are squeezed/letterboxed to 4:3 on analog terrestrial transmissions nor no letterbox on widescreen-produced programs
  2. ^ a b c d 16:9 versions available on pay-TV services only
  3. ^ Some programs are aired in true 16:9 formatting
  4. ^ channels that are originally broadcasting in 4:3 on analog terrestrial, but upscaled or stretched to 16:9 for digital terrestrial television, cable and satellite

Europe

[edit]
Country Year of ended-fullscreen Year of complete Channel
 Albania 2016 2024 All channels.
 Andorra 2016 All channels.
 Armenia 2015 2018 All channels.
 Austria 2011 2017 All channels.
 Azerbaijan 2016 2019 All channels.
 Belarus 2013 All channels.
 Belgium 2008 2012 All channels.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018 2024 All channels.
 Bulgaria 2014 All channels.
 Cyprus 2016 All channels.
 Croatia 2009 2011 All channels.
 Czech Republic 2012 2024 All channels.
 Denmark 2009 2013 All channels.
 Estonia 2011 2012 All channels.
 Finland 2010 2011 All channels.
 France 1999 2005 All channels.
 Germany 1998 2007 All channels.
 Georgia 2011 2024 All channels.
 Gibraltar 2015 All channels.
 Greece 2010 2012 All channels.
 Hungary 2014 2018 All channels.
 Iceland 2013 2018 All channels.
 Ireland 2010 2013 All channels.
 Italy 2000 2009 All channels.
 Kazakhstan 2018 2024 All channels.
 Kosovo 2019 All channels.
 Latvia 2012 2014 All channels.
 Lithuania 2012 2015 All channels.
 Luxembourg 2013 2018 All channels.
 Malta 2011 2012 All channels.
 Moldova 2010 All channels.
 Monaco 2013 2015 All channels.
 Montenegro 2015 2018 All channels.
 Netherlands 2000 2011 All channels.
 North Macedonia 2016 2018 All channels.
 Norway 2010 All channels.
 Poland 2011 2014 All channels.
 Portugal 2010 All channels.
 Romania 2014 2015 All channels.
 Russia 2009 2012 All channels.
 San Marino 2016 2024 All channels.
 Serbia 2014 2019 All channels.
 Slovakia 2018 All channels.
 Slovenia 2015 All channels.
 Spain 2006 2012 All channels.
 Sweden 2009 All channels.
  Switzerland 2011 2015 All channels.
 Ukraine 2018 All channels.
 United Kingdom 1998 2000 All channels.

Oceania

[edit]
Country/Territory Year of ended-fullscreen Year of complete Channel
 American Samoa 2013 2015 All channels.
 Australia 2009 2013 All channels.
 Cook Islands 2021 2024 All channels.
 Federated States of Micronesia 2021 All channels.
 Fiji 2015 2017 All channels.
 French Polynesia 2018 All channels.
 Guam 2016 All channels.
 Kiribati 2022 All channels.
 Marshall Islands 2021 All channels.
 Nauru 2024 All channels.
 New Caledonia 2022 All channels.
 New Zealand 2012 2014 All channels.
 Niue 2022 All channels.
 Palau 2021 All channels.
 Papua New Guinea 2019 2021 All channels.
 Samoa 2016 2018 All channels.
 Solomon Islands 2018 All channels.
 Tonga 2021 All channels.
 Tuvalu 2022 All channels.
 Vanuatu 2022 All channels.
 Wallis and Futuna 2021 All channels.

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 16:9.
  1. ^ Hoehler, Dieter (2008-06-03). "A Brief Review on HDTV in Europe in the early 90's". Live-Production.TV.
  2. ^ "Recommendation ITU-R BT.1197-1 Enhanced wide-screen PAL TV transmission system (the PALplus system)" (PDF). itu.int.
  3. ^ Recommendation ITU-R BT.1298 - Enhanced wide-screen NTSC TV transmission system (PDF). ITU. 1997.
  4. ^ Searching for the Perfect Aspect Ratio (PDF)
  5. ^ "Understanding Aspect Ratios" (Technical bulletin). CinemaSource. The CinemaSource Press. 2001. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
  6. ^ EN 5956091, "Method of showing 16:9 pictures on 4:3 displays", issued 1999-09-21 
  7. ^ "Why 16:9 aspect ratio was chosen for HD?". Guruprasad's Portal. 2014-06-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  8. ^ Baker, I (1999-08-25). "Safe areas for widescreen transmission" (PDF). EBU. CH: BBC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  9. ^ "Television in the 16:9 screen format" (legislation summary). EU: Europa. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  10. ^ "Product Planners and Marketers Must Act Before 16:9 Panels Replace Mainstream 16:10 Notebook PC and Monitor LCD Panels, New DisplaySearch Topical Report Advises". DisplaySearch. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  11. ^ "Display Ratio Change (again)". 2009-04-14. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  12. ^ "16:10 vs 16:9 - the monitor aspect ratio conundrum". 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  13. ^ "Resurgence of 16:10 Aspect Ratio Laptop Computers to Occupy 2% Share of Non-Apple Market in 2020, Says TrendForce". 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  14. ^ "Widescreen monitors: Where did 1920×1200 go? « Hardware « MyBroadband Tech and IT News". Mybroadband.co.za. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  15. ^ "Steam Hardware & Software Survey". Steam. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  16. ^ "Steam Hardware & Software Survey". store.steampowered.com.
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