Cliff Benham wrote: > Were there any 14:9 CRT TVsets built and sold in the > UK or Europe? I don't know the specific answer to that question, however the EU is typically much less willing to leave things up to the marketplace than is the US govt. So, what is the intent of the EU wrt widescreen TV? ------------------------------ http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/topics/telecoms/regulatory/digital_broadcasting/documents/onpcom02_14rev1_14062002.pdf OPEN NETWORK PROVISION COMMITTEE Working Document Subject: The 2003 regulatory framework for electronic communications – Implications for broadcasting This document, prepared by DG Information Society, was originally discussed in the ONP Committee 10 April 2002 (ONPCOM 02-14)Document , and was referred to the DBEG (the Digital Broadcasting Expert Group) for further dicussions. [ ... ] 3.6 Wide-screen television Article 4(2) of the Access Directive addresses wide-screen television, as explained by the relevant parts of Recitals 4 and 8. Article 4(2) places an obligation on networks established for the distribution of television services to have the capability to redistribute wide-screen TV services and programmes in the appropriate wide-screen format. As Recital 8 makes clear, this obligation is intended to ensure that users are able to receive wide-screen programmes and services as they were originated by the broadcaster. Otherwise some network operators might convert wide-screen services and programmes back to the traditional 4:3 format before (re)transmission. The provision provides a measure of consumer protection for those who buy wide-screen sets (footnote 12). Recital 4 recalls that the 16:9 aspect ratio is the reference format for wide-screen services and programmes. This coincides with the screen proportions of wide-screen TV sets. Even wider formats are sometimes used for transmitting films, notably the 2.35:1 aspect ratio (footnote 13). Footnote 12. Wide-screen TV sets are expected to account for around 25% of the TV sets sold in Europe during 2002. Footnote 13. Wide-screen combines two elements: (1) the use of a wide-screen aspect ratio such as the 16:9 format, or even wider film aspect ratios such as 2.35:1, for programme origination; (2) use of a wide-screen display format, such as the 16:9 scanning raster on a 16:9 wide-screen receiver. ------------------------------------------------- I guess there's nothing said to prevent other aspect ratios than 16:9 for the screen dimensions, but 16:9 is the "reference format" and is "screen proportions of wide-screen TV sets." They didn't characterize it as "one among many." Note that in Footnote 13, the aspect ratios are describing content, not the TV dimensions. Seems fair to say that back in 2002, at any rate, this EU committee did not consider the existence of multiple wide screen ratios in TV sets to be a reality. Bert _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook – together at last. Get it now. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.