A cathode ray tube having a tensioned shadow mask with elongated holes, i.e. holes with a length longer than 5 mm. The pattern of holes repeats itself after 5 or more rows and the relation between the number of rows after which the pattern repeats itself, the vertical pitch av and the horizontal pitch dh is given by av/dh≦n2≦8av/dh, most preferably n2≈2av/dh.