16:9 aspect ratio

A 16:9 rectangle in which rectangles visualize the ratio. Note that the groupings are not square.

An LCD television set with a 16:9 image ratio.

16:9 (1.77:1 = 4²:3²) is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9.

Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television. This has replaced the old 4:3 aspect ratio.

History

Derivation of the 16:9 aspect ratio

The main figure shows 4:3, 5:3, 1.85:1, 2.2:1 and 2.35:1 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.

Dr. 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, when nobody was creating 16:9 videos. The popular choices in 1980 were: 1.33:1 (based on television standard's ratio at the time), 1.66:1 (the European "flat" ratio), 1.85:1 (the American "flat" ratio), 2.20:1 (the ratio of 70 mm films and Panavision) and 2.35:1 (the CinemaScope ratio for anamorphic widescreen films).

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 1.77:1. The value found by Powers is exactly the geometric mean of the extreme aspect ratios, 4:3 (1.33:1) and 2.35:1 (or 64:27, see also 21:9 aspect ratio for more information), √47/15 ≈ 1.770 which is coincidentally close to 16:9 (1.77:1). Applying the same geometric mean technique to 16:9 and 4:3 yields the 14:9 aspect ratio, which is likewise used as a compromise between these ratios.

While 16:9 (1.77:1) was initially selected as a compromise format, the subsequent popularity of HDTV broadcast has solidified 16:9 as perhaps the most important video aspect ratio in use. Most 4:3 (1.33:1) and 2.39:1 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 HD broadcast. 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 raster space. This has similarities to a filming technique called Open matte.

After the original 16:9 Action Plan of the early 1990s, the European Union has instituted the 16:9 Action Plan, just to accelerate the development of the advanced television services in 16:9 aspect ratio, both in PAL and also in HDTV. The Community fund for the 16:9 Action Plan amounted to €228 million.

In 2008 the computer industry started switching to 16:9 from 4:3 and 16:10 as the standard 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".

In 2011 Bennie Budler, product manager of IT products at Samsung South Africa, confirmed that monitors capable of 1920×1200 resolutions aren't 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". Since computer displays are advertised by their diagonal measure, for monitors with the same display area, a wide screen monitor will have a larger diagonal measure, thus sounding more impressive. Within limits, the amount of information that can be displayed, and the cost of the monitor depend more on area than on diagonal measure.

In March 2011 the 16:9 resolution 1920×1080 became the most common used resolution among Steam's users. The earlier most common resolution was 1680×1050 (16:10).

Properties

16:9 is the only widescreen aspect ratio natively supported by the DVD format. Anamorphic DVD transfers store the information as 5:4 (PAL) or 3:2 (NTSC) square pixels, which is set to expand to either 16:9 or 4:3, which the television or video player handles. For example, a PAL DVD with a full frame image may contain a video resolution of 720×576 (5:4 ratio), but a video player software will stretch this to 1024×576 square pixels with a 16:9 flag in order to recreate the correct aspect ratio.

DVD producers can also choose to show even wider ratios such as 1.85:1 and 2.39:1 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 have the capability to record in 16:9.

Super 16 mm film is frequently used for television production due to its lower cost, lack of need for soundtrack space on the film itself, and aspect ratio similar to 16:9.

Common resolutions

Common resolutions for 16:9 are listed in the table below:

Width	Height	Standard
256	144
426	240
640	360	nHD
768	432
800	450
848	480
854	480	FWVGA
960	540	qHD
1024	576
1280	720	HD
1366	768	WXGA
1600	900	HD+
1920	1080	Full HD
2048	1152
2560	1440	QHD
2880	1620
3200	1800	QHD+
3840	2160	4K UHD
4096	2304
5120	2880	5K
7680	4320	8K UHD
15360	8640	16K UHD

By country

In Europe

In Europe, 16:9 is the standard broadcast format for most TV channels and all HDTV broadcasts. Some countries adopted the format for analog television, first by using the PALplus standard (now obsolete) and then by simply using WSS signals on normal PAL broadcasts.

Country	Channel
Albania	All channels.
Andorra	Andorra Televisió.
Armenia	All channels.
Austria	All channels.
Azerbaijan	All channels (except Lider TV).
Belarus	All channels (except +TV, TV-3 Belarus).
Belgium	All channels.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	All channels.
Bulgaria	All channels.
Cyprus	All channels.
Croatia	HRT 1**, 2**, 3**, 4**, 5, RTL Televizija*, RTL 2*, Nova TV*, Doma TV*, RTL Kockica* Sportska Televizija**. Older programmes filmed in 4:3 are: *cropped **transmitted in their original format.
Czech Republic	All channels.
Denmark	All channels.
Estonia	All channels.
Finland	All channels.
France	All channels on digital terrestrial television Most subscription-based networks
Germany	All channels.
Georgia	All channels (except Rustavi 2, Comedy Arkhi, Ertsulovneba, Mall TV, Marneuli, Gurjaani).
Greece	All channels.
Hungary	All channels.
Iceland	All three national stations broadcast in 16:9 with occasional 4:3 programmes. Local stations still use 4:3.
Ireland	All channels.
Italy	All channels (expect TGS, Tele One and Video 66).
Kazakhstan	All channels (except STV, Muzlife).
Latvia	All channels.
Lithuania	All channels.
Luxembourg	RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, Luxe.tv.
Malta	All nationwide channels.
Moldova	TRM (Moldova 1, Moldova 2), GMG Group (Prime, Canal 2, Canal 3, Publika TV), ProTV Chishinau, N4, Jurnal TV, TV8, NTV-Moldova.
Monaco	Télé Monte Carlo & Monaco Info.
Montenegro	All channels.
Netherlands	All channels.
North Macedonia	All channels.
Norway	16:9 is the national standard for television – almost all channels conform to this format.
Poland	All channels.
Portugal	All channels.
Romania	Always on 16:9: Antena channels (Antena 1, Antena Stars, Antena 3, Happy, ZU TV, Antena Internațional), RCS & RDS channels (including Digi 24, U TV, Music Channel), Kiss TV, B1 TV, Telekom Sport, Look TV, Look Plus,Turner channels:(Cartoon Network, Boomerang Often on 16:9: TVR channels (TVR 1, TVR 2, TVR 3, TVRi), PRO channels (Pro TV, Pro 2, Pro X, Pro Cinema, Pro Gold, Pro TV Internațional), Kanal D Always on 4:3: Realitatea TV, România TV Always on 4:3 with 16:9 stretched: CNM channels (Național TV, Național 24 Plus, Favorit TV), TVR regional channels (TVR Cluj, TVR Craiova, TVR Iași, TVR Tîrgu-Mureș, TVR Timișoara), Prima TV.
Russia	All channels (except Spas, some channels from CTC Media (Che and CTC Love), some channels from VGTRK (Russian Bestseller, Russian Detective, Cinema, Sarafan, My Planete, Live Planet, History, Mama, Mult, Ani), 2x2, some channels from UTH Russia (U and Disney Channel)).
San Marino	San Marino RTV.
Serbia	All channels.
Slovakia	All nationwide channels.
Slovenia	All channels.
Spain	All channels.
Sweden	All channels.
Switzerland	All channels.
Turkey	All channels.
Ukraine	All nationwide channels (except UA:Ternopil, UA:Chernihiv, Eskulap TV, First Kiev, All News, Vintage TV, Rada TV, ChePe.Info, Glas, EWTN, Novyi Hristianskiy, Boutique TV).
United Kingdom	All terrestrial channels.

In Oceania

Country	Channel
Australia	All channels.
Fiji	All channels.
New Zealand	All channels.

In Asia

Japan's Hi-Vision originally started with a 5:3 ratio but converted when the international standards group introduced a wider ratio of 5​¹⁄₃ to 3 (=16:9).

Country	Channel
Afghanistan	All channels.
Bangladesh	SA TV.
Cambodia	All channels.
China	CCTV channels 1-15, CCTV-5+, CCTV News. 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	All major channels since digital television broadcasting started in 2007.
India	All HD channels. Most SD channels are still broadcasting in 4:3, either fullscreen on letterboxed.
Indonesia	16:9 native*: Kompas TV, BeritaSatu TV**, CNN Indonesia**, MetroTV, Trans7, Trans TV, CNBC Indonesia**, NET. 16:9 with inner 4:3***: RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar 4:3, upscaled/stretched to 16:9****: TVRI, MNCTV, antv, GTV, tvOne, iNews, rtv *Channels that are primarily broadcast in 16:9 sometimes are filled by 4:3 content which are either stretched or pillarboxed. **Only on digital cable/satellite ***Channels in this category broadcast in 16:9 HDTV along with inner 4:3 SDTV. Due to their visibility, some contents are either pillarboxed and windowboxed (especially in commercial ads and live sport games). Contents wider than 16:9 are usually letterboxed. They're usually stretched in SDTV mode. HD versions are limited to pay-TV services. ****These channels are still using 4:3 configuration. Stretched when broadcasting in 16:9 format. Some channels have limited original 16:9 video contents. Note: Nationwide TV channels listed above are classified according to their original configuration, sorted chronologically according to TV configuration update. Configuration for exclusively digital and local channels are may vary. Local version of nationwide channels may be different to their national version.
Iran	All channels.
Israel	All main channels, including but not limited to Hot&Yes.
Japan	Japan pioneered in its analogue HDTV system (MUSE) in 16:9 format, started in the 1980s. Currently all main channels have digital terrestrial television channels in 16:9 while being simulcast in analogue 4:3 format. Many satellite broadcast channels are being broadcast in 16:9 as well.
Jordan	All channels.
Kyrgyzstan	All channels.
Lebanon	LBCI.4:3 Shows are stretched National Broadcasting Network (Lebanon). Its in HD and has no 4:3 content Future Television.
Malaysia	All channels.
Mongolia	MNB & MN2, TM Television, TV5, TV6, TV8, Channel 25, Эx Орон, SBN, ETV, MNC, Eagle News TV, Edutainment TV, Star TV, SPS, Sportbox and SHUUD TV.
Myanmar	All channels.
Nepal	Kantipur Television Network AP1 TV News 24 (Nepal) TV Filmy
Oman	All channels.
Pakistan	All HD channels. Most SD channels are still broadcasting in 4:3, either in fullscreen or letterboxed
Philippines	16:9 native*: PTV, ABS-CBN HD***, S+A HD ***, ANC (both SD and HD)***, CNN Philippines, One PH,*** One News***, Hope Channel Philippines, 3ABN, Hope International, INCTV, Net 25 4:3 upscaled/stretched to 16:9**: ETC, 2nd Avenue, all BEAM's subchannels, Light Network, UNTV, Ang Dating Daan TV, SMNI, all ABS-CBN terrestrial channels (including TVPlus channels), TV5, 5 Plus, GMA 7 *channels that are squeezed/letterboxed to 4:3 on analog terrestrial transmissions nor no letterbox on widescreen-produced programs. **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. ***16:9 versions available on pay-TV services only.
Qatar	All Al Jazeera Sports channels, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English, Qatar TV HD, all Alkass channels.
Saudi Arabia	All channels.
Singapore	All MediaCorp channels, however 16:9 contents look squashed on older 4:3 sets. Also, all 4:3 contents including news clips are stretched as stretching is common.
South Korea	All major channels currently feature 16:9 aspect ratio.
Sri Lanka	Colombo TV.
Syria	All channels.
Taiwan	TTV HD, CTV HD, CTS HD, FTV HD, PTS HD, TVBS.
Thailand	All channels.
United Arab Emirates	All channels.
Vietnam	All of VTC HD's channels, VTV channels, HTV channels and K+'s channels (selected programmes), most of local channels.

In the Americas

Country	Channel
Argentina	All channels.
Barbados	All channels.
Bolivia	Always on 16:9: PAT, ATB. Often on 16:9: Bolivia TV.
Brazil	Almost all channels.
Canada	Almost all channels.
Chile	Canal 13HD, Chilevisión HD, TVN HD, MEGA HD.
Colombia	All channels, except Citytv
Costa Rica	All channels.
Dominican Republic	All channels.
Ecuador	All channels.
Jamaica	All channels.
Mexico	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 stations broadcast HD signal. 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, Cine Mexicano.
Panama	All channels.
Paraguay	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. (for example: SNT & Paravisión)
Peru	All nationalwide channels. Some regional networks still broadcast in 4:3.
United States	All HD channels. SD feeds (usually found on pay television) are usually letterboxed and downscaled to 4:3.
Uruguay	All channels.
Venezuela	All channels.

In Africa

Country	Channel
Algeria	Algérie 3 Echourouk TV
Angola	All channels.
Botswana	All channels.
Burkina Faso	All channels.
Cameroon	All channels.
Cape Verde	All channels.
Comoros	All channels.
Congo	All channels.
Djibouti	All channels.
Egypt	ERTU Channel 1, ON E, ON Drama, ON Sport, ON Sport 2, DMC, DMC Drama, CBC, CBC Drama, CBC Sofra, Extra News, Al Nahar One, Al Nahar Drama, Al Nahar Sport, TeN, Al Hayah, Al Hayah 2, Al Hayah Musalsalat.
Equatorial Guinea	All channels.
Eritrea	All channels.
Ethiopia	All channels.
Gabon	All channels.
Ghana	All channels.
Ivory Coast	All channels.
Kenya	All channels.
Lesotho	All channels.
Liberia	All channels.
Libya	Libya 24.
Madagascar	All channels.
Malawi	All channels.
Mali	All channels.
Morocco	Al Aoula.
Mozambique	All channels.
Mauritius	All channels.
Namibia	All channels.
Nigeria	All channels.
Rwanda	All channels.
Senegal	All channels.
Somalia	All channels.
South Africa	16:9 is the standard broadcast format for most digital channels and all HDTV broadcasts all main channels.
Sudan	All channels.
Togo	All channels.
Tunisia	All channels.
Uganda	All channels.
Zimbabwe	All channels.

See also

• Display aspect ratio
• High-definition television
• Display resolution
• 1080p / 1080i
• 24p
• 4:3
• 14:9
• 16:10
• 21:9

External links

• "NEC Monitor Technology Guide". NEC. Archived from the original on 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2006-07-24.