Skip to Content

Disney Plus to Start Streaming ‘The Simpsons’ in Original 4:3 Ratio by End of May

When Disney+ launched back in November, they formatted “The Simpsons” to a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, a big difference from the original 4:3 ratio. While the picture quality may be better, fans were unhappy how the 16:9 aspect ratio cropped out “many visual gags entirely,” The Verge noted.

Now, after many fans have spoken out, the company is going to format episodes back to the original 4:3 ratio, Disney+ announced on their Twitter account on Tuesday. The changes are expected to hit the streaming service by the end of May.

When the revered show premiered back in 1989, it was in the 4:3 ratio. The change to 16:9 didn’t come until 2009, in the middle of the 20th season. In 2015, FXX network tried to abate the situation by announcing that the early season would be available on to stream in 4:3 ratio on the Simpsons World app, The Verge noted. Because of that change, many fans assumed the show would be in 4:3 ratio when it launched on Disney+.


Stephanie Sengwe is writer based in New York who covers companies in the streaming industry including AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Roku, and Netflix . She also contributes daily news coverage on streaming services and devices for The Streamable.

DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.