HDTV 16:9 from networks?

Question

If you have a 16:9 hdtv will hdtv programming fill the whole screen?
Why don't dvd movies which advertise "widescreen" fill it out 100%, sometimes small bars are on top/bottom...

Answer 1

All HD tv stations usually format the programming into 16:9, so it will fit and fill a 16:9 TV.

As for DVD movies, that's a different story. It's because there are 3 different types of widescreen that the industry uses. 16:9 is 1.78 aspect ratio. There is also 1.85 and 2.35 aspect ratio. That is why there are black bars with some movies. If you can find a movie that has 1.78 aspect ratio, it will fill your 16:9 HDTV.

Answer 2

Hi. 16:9 ( or 1.77:1) is the aspect ratio of High Definition TV. To fill the whole screen, the program you are watching has to be transmitted in the 16:9 ratio.Some recent movies are filmed in that ratio to fill the whole screen. The majority of movies made over the years were filmed in various aspect ratios wider than 16:9.
CinemaScope was the first wide screen process developed in 1953. The aspect ratio was 2.35:1(which means the width of the screen is 2.35 times the height) Panavision , Todd-AO and others followed with an aspect ratio of 2.2:1 which is the most widely used process to-day. So when you see a movie photographed in one of these formats they are not going to completely fill your whole screen.But even so you will be seeing the entire frame of the picture with top and bottom bars.If your screen is fairly large it should not be too much of a problem. I hope this helps.

Cheers. Have a look at the link below.I think it may interest you.

http://www.dvdaust.com/film_formats.htm

Answer 3

There are 2 (two) major types of WIDE SCREEN movies...When you go to the movies and you notice that sometimes the curtains are in just a few yards on each side? That's for movies filmed in 1:85...These will fit your 16:9 screen with NO bars...Yes your TV is 1:78, but it's so close we don't notice the picture getting "squished" a little.

Now when those movie curtains are completely drawn back to the walls, that's for 2:35 or "Cinema Scope"...How the movie is filmed is completely up to the director...You'll find most action movies are in the wider or 2:35 format...This WIDER format gives you the little bars at the top and bottom of your TV.

Here's link explaining this with pictures of film and very few words...Click right here: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html

Answer 4

That is wide screen. If you have a Full and Wide Screen version of the same movie look at the difference in how much of the scene you see. Full screen is stretched to fill the screen. Wide screen is a wider view of what is on the screen.

The way the programming appears is based on how the Network is sending it. If you watch DiscoveryHD and then click to your local network the view will be different sometimes.

The source is just as important as the receiver. Look at the link I attached. You will be able to see the difference there also.

Answer 5

1) Yes.
2) Most movies, Panavision, are 2.35:1 When it is converted to 16:9 will give bars depending on the dvd editor.