What Is HDTV?

How Is It Different From Normal Television?

HDTV is high-definition television, a television picture format made possible by digital broadcasting, or DTV. HDTV offers viewers images with six times the resolution of traditional television images and crystal-clear digital sound. Digital broadcasts use the same amount of bandwidth (6 megahertz) as used in the current analog system, but the efficiencies of DTV allow for the transmission of more information than the analog system. This translates into higher quality in picture and sound, and more flexibility in programming.

How Much Better Is the Quality?

Currently, television pictures are made up of 480 lines that are scanned horizontally. HDTV pictures are created by scanning 1,080 lines.Current sets have what would be the equivalent of 300,000 pixels, while an HDTV screen is composed of more than 2 million pixels.

High-resolution TV image

                                                     Low-resolution TV image

Having more pixels on your screen will dramatically improve the sharpness of your pictures, allowing you to see details like never before.HDTV sets also have wider, movie-theater-like screens that more closely approximate human peripheral vision, making it easier and more exciting to watch.

Is the Sound Different?

Complementing the lifelike pictures is digital sound with the possibility of 5.1 channels of Dolby Digital surround sound. Current analog broadcasts offer only two channels of audio, while HDTV can deliver true surround sound: front speakers on the right, center and left, along with two back speakers and a subwoofer.

Are HDTV Signals Broadcast on Special Frequencies?

No. HDTV broadcasts use the same channels as regular analog television. You should be able to receive DTV with any standard over-the-air antenna. The exact style of antenna that you will need for optimal reception may vary with your geographic location and distance to the transmission source.

How Long Will It Take for the Television World to Switch to the New Digital Technology?

The cutoff date for analog signal transmissions is Feb. 17, 2009.

Is HDTV Interactive Television?

Yes. With DTV, broadcasters can broadcast data in a process called "datacasting." Datacasting opens up the possibility of interactive television, empowering the viewer to make television-viewing a personalized experience.

With More Space, Can You Have More Channels?

We can squeeze in more than one "channel" of television and/or data into our digital signal. In special circumstances, we can simultaneously send a channel of high-definition TV (HD), up to two channels of standard-definition TV (SD) and/or a datastream. The process of broadcasting multiple video streams or "channels" is called multicasting. For example, in severe weather situations, we can send regular programming over one channel and weather information over the other channel(s). During sporting events, we can broadcast four games simultaneously, letting you choose which game to watch.

Where Can I Buy an HDTV Set? How Much Do They Cost?

You can purchase an HDTV set at any of your local electronics stores. Prices have dropped dramatically over the past few years, and they continue to drop. Plasmas, DLP, LCD and other "fixed pixel" HDTV displays are generally more expensive than the rear projection HDTV sets and the Direct View HDTV sets.

What Is the Difference Between an HDTV Set and a Digital-Ready TV Set?

An HDTV set is able to receive all digital formats, including HD, and display those formats in the appropriate resolution. A digital-ready TV set (or HDTV-ready) is designed to display digital images, including HD images, but is not designed with integrated tuners for digital signal reception. However, with an appropriate HDTV decoder box, HDTV-ready sets are capable of providing HD images. Be sure that what you are buying is a true HDTV. Some retailers sell "DTV Ready" sets that display DVD resolution images, but not HDTV resolution images. As with any major purchase, do your homework before buying a set. There are a number of resources online for further information.

Will My Current TV Set Be Obsolete?

You will be able to watch digital TV signals on your existing analog TV set with a set-top digital receiver. However, you will not be able to enjoy the crisp high-definition picture because your analog TV  lacks the HD display technology.

What About My VCR, DVD Player and Camcorder? Will I Be Able to Use Them With an HDTV Set?

HDTV sets are "backward compatible," meaning all existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on digital TV sets, though not necessarily in high definition. Video will be displayed in the best resolution that each of those products can provide, but the Tv cannot make the picture any better than that it is given from the device.