@dc-united: According to Wikipedia, 16:9 wasn't actually in use by *anyone* when first proposed as the HD standard, but was an awkward compromise between competing systems. [en.wikipedia.org]

Isn't this confusing 4:3 v 16:9 with SD v HD, a bit? Here in England, we have SD channels that bounce from 4:3 to 16:9 according to the programme being screened, and there's some sort of signal widescreen TVs can understand to show the right thing. But my 4:3 TV can only show 16:9 shows with the sides cut off, while…