Link to Interesting Explanation of aspect Ratio
Some 16.9 TVs do what they call "justification Mode" where they will take a 4.3 format and use an algorithm to translate to wide screen format. It works pretty well, for most of the picture, but it overly compensates on the sides and you notice the squeeze effect when character walk to the sides. I rarely even notice it anymore...you get used to it. You normally have the option of chooseing the zoom mode. This will fill the screen without distorting image, but you lose a % of the overall picture and vision that the director had for the scene.
The "black band" effect gets more annoying in the world of Front Projection projectors for some other reasons... but I'm rambling -- good question.
"I'm the dude -- man, this aggression will not stand"
