Wide Screen TV

Now then, before we get started there’s one very important question about widescreen TV – does it make people look fatter? Well, that wouldn’t be a bad thing for some of these stick thin young actresses would it, but it certainly means that I’ll have to hide some of the old home videos before we get one, I can’t risk that can I? Things are bad enough . . .

OK, seriously now, let’s look at some of the reasons why wide screen TV is quickly becoming the only TV to have, what’s the difference and why are they just about the only ones available in the stores these days? Except for a portable TV adorned with Barbie, Miley Cyrus or Spiderman they’ve just about cornered the entire market.

Why Choose a Wide Screen TV

Are you ready for a bit of math? Right then, what is a wide screen TV? I’ll tell you. The aspect ratio of televisions used to be pretty square, with a ratio of 4:3, but wide screen TV’s have an aspect ratio of 16:9 (yes, work it out, it would be 16:12 wouldn’t it?)

Well, although a wide screen TV might be more difficult to fit into the living room, we’ve actually all been watching it for years – at the movies. When films which were made to be screened at the movies are shown on television, they are necessarily cropped to fit with the TV screen, so you effectively miss out on some of the action. You might not have noticed people with an arm missing, but it does happen. You won’t be able to follow the story for watching out for it now will you? I’ve spoiled it all for you, sorry. Anyway, if you have a wide screen TV you’ll be able to see the whole screen, not just the middle bit.

There are other reasons why the whole world is turning wide screen:

• Many other programs are now being made in wide screen, and are likely to be for many years to come
•  When TV programs are made in the same format as films, it’s much easier to transfer each from one medium to another one – makes them more interchangeable
• There’s not only films which are better in wide screen, what about sports too! You’ll be able to see all of the action
• Wide screen TV’s give you much more scope for split-screen images

Love them or not, wide screen TV is here to stay, and if you need to replace your television set you’re going to find it difficult to find something which isn’t wide screen, unless, of course, you’re a fan of Spiderman!

How to watch Hulu and HBO on your iPad