To and from the wide screen: aspect ratio conversion

The 16:9 aspect ratio is a key feature of all proposed new and enhanced television systems; it will rapidly become the standard for television displays. More and more programme material is being made in this wide screen format and there is an increasing need for programme producers and broadcasters to work with both conventional and wide screen material. It would be quite intolerable if programme material were prevented from being used in a particular programme or channel because it had the `wrong´ aspect ratio. This paper briefly reviews the requirements for an aspect ratio converter equipment and describes some of the technical features of a currently available unit