Why Are TVs Always Rectangular? The Real Reason Will Surpise You!

Written by Karan Sharma

Television is the heart of the global entertainment industry.

[{"selector":"#anim-12051e2f-5916-4de1-95c9-a0decca532ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

From news to movies, TV connects us to the world every day.

[{"selector":"#anim-66cdd20f-b06e-494f-8765-d718e7445fa6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

But have you ever noticed that TVs are always rectangular?

[{"selector":"#anim-78f166c1-9729-4702-b07c-baf380c8664e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This shape matches the standard screen ratio of 16:9.

[{"selector":"#anim-80b8569e-6ef3-48dc-8677-68e807569539","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Most movies, shows, and videos are created in this format.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e70d95f-c39b-48f7-a007-c73b3ff4471d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Rectangular screens show content without cutting any part.

[{"selector":"#anim-782c1935-e9eb-4f62-aced-586f7663cf0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Round or triangular TVs would crop or waste screen space.

[{"selector":"#anim-bbe20699-05ce-4259-880f-fda02661d22e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Early TVs were curved, but the display inside was still rectangular.

[{"selector":"#anim-8986cb5f-184e-48eb-846a-996e2dfd7a20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Human eyes and brains are more comfortable with straight frames.

[{"selector":"#anim-54abec17-45e0-4630-9edf-86b78f768e7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

That’s why rectangular TVs remain the perfect choice even today.

[{"selector":"#anim-76c003ce-d017-4935-9aa4-eef48c31c8f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]