Widescreen: Frequently Asked Questions

This guide has been written, and is maintained by, users of the Digital Spy forums, and is intended to provide readers with answers to the most common questions asked about widescreen television.

If you would like to suggest a question or answer for the guide, please email us at webmaster@digitalspy.co.uk.

Special credit in the writing of this guide goes to Exulus.

Last updated: September 21, 2003




01. What is widescreen?
02. How can I receive widescreen?
03. What are ratios?
04. Don't widescreen TVs just make people look fat?
05. What does anamorphic mean?















01. What is widescreen?

Widescreen is a TV viewing ratio allowing the viewer to see more of a particular programme. The most common ratio is 16:9, although other formats exist such as 2.35:1, particularly popular for films. 16:9 is mainly used for TV programmes and it is now compulsory for all UK adverts to be made in 16:9 ratio. Ratio will be explained in more detail later.

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02. How can I receive widescreen?

Normal analogue TV is broadcast in the traditional 14:9. To view true anamorphic widescreen programmes you will need to subscribe to either Digital Terrestrial, Digital Cable or Digital Satellite. DVD players will also output anamorphic widescreen films.

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03. What are ratios?

“Square” TVs have a ratio of 4:3. This means that for every 4 units horizontally, there are 3 units vertically. Widescreen TV’s are 16:9, therefore there is more screen space horizontally than a “square” TV. 14:9, used for analogue TV broadcasts, is a compromise between 4:3 and 16:9. On a 4:3 TV, you will see small black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

On a 4:3 TV, this is how certain ratios will appear:

4:3 ratio:


14:9 ratio:


16:9 ratio:


Note that as the ratio nears 16:9 (widescreen), more and more of the picture becomes visible. For digital users with a 4:3 TV, more of the picture can be seen by switching the set-top box output setting to “letterbox mode”.

On a 16:9 TV, this is how certain ratios will appear:

4:3 ratio:


14:9 ratio:


16:9 ratio:


Note that when there is a 4:3 signal, the picture is not stretched but there is a 4:3 picture in the centre with black bars down the side. 16:9 obviously looks the best, as the whole picture as the director intended can be seen and it fills the screen.

Many TVs are set up so that 4:3 and 14:9 signals are stretched to fill the 16:9 screen.

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04. Don't widescreen TVs just make people look fat?

No, they do not. This is a common misconception and the main reason why many people dislike the idea of widescreen TVs. The reason this may be seen in some high street stores is because the retailers have set up the TV incorrectly and the picture is either sourced from analogue terrestrial or the channel they have put it on is a 4:3 channel (such as MTV).

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05. What does anamorphic mean?

Anamorphic widescreen is where a 16:9 picture is broadcast “squashed” in a 4:3 frame. The widescreen TV then stretches the signal out and fills the screen. This does not result in a loss of quality.

This is the "squashed” widescreen signal:



The whole picture is shown (just like 16:9) however everything in the frame is squashed. The 16:9 TV will then stretch the image out so it looks like this:



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