When 16:9 to mainstream?

Video Asylum

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When is 16:9 to be become the mainstream broadcast aspect ratio? Alternatively, what are the best sources of information on the subject?
My decision to buy a 16:9 vs. 4:3 large screen TV rests, in part, on when 16:9 is expected to mainstream. I don't like how 4:3 broadcasts are stretched in wide screen format, and would rather wait till 16:9 mainstreams. Of course 16:9 is the aspect ratio of the "future." But how far into the future? 2006? 2015? If the latter, I could go for 4:3 now and then 16:9 later.
A related question is whether aspect ratio is definitively tied to broadcast conversion to digital (which is now likely to slip past 2006). Is digital necessarily 16:9? Can't digital be broadcast in 4:3?

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Topic - When 16:9 to mainstream? - Randall F 21:54:01 02/18/02 (7)

All HD will be in 16:9..... - Owen Meany 06:09:48 02/21/02 (2)

except the the HD that is broadcast in 4:3 - petew 10:21:13 02/22/02 (0)

Re: All HD will be in 16:9..... - sam9 09:40:20 02/21/02 (0)

what TV you guys have? nt - Ruben 21:20:47 02/19/02 (0)

Re: When 16:9 to mainstream? - Weather_B 08:18:22 02/19/02 (1)

Do I need HDTV to get the 16:9? - brians 21:36:37 02/19/02 (0)

Re: When 16:9 to mainstream? - mcdonley 04:21:52 02/19/02 (0)

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