HDTV-Why All The Hype?

High Definition (HDTV) or HI-DEF is the highest level of resolution for a digital broadcast signal display. Today’s Hi-Def was introduced in the 1990’s and has since caught the fancy of the American public. As most of you know, all major U.S. broadcasters are mandated to switch from an analog to digital signal on February 17, 2009. Those of you fortunate enough to already have cable or satellite will not have to worry about the “Big Switch” to digital in 2009, because your signal is already in one of the above named digital formats. Only those who don’t have a digital signal coming into their home (i.e., satellite or cable) or those whose television can’t pick up a digital signal will have to buy a converter box that will allow their set to receive the digital signal.

Now, let’s first look at a common misconception. Many believe that the only digital format today is High Definition, but this is not the case. There is also Standard Definition (SDTV) and Enhanced definition (EDTV). SDTV is the more common format for digital television and then there is the higher-end HDTV. Many satellite and cable providers offer standard digital or maybe the enhanced format. The HDTV format is now offered by most for an extra upgrade fee. The (HDTV) video display has an aspect ratio of 16:9 instead of the 4:3 “square look” that most of us have been used to seeing for decades.

Well, what about HDTV. Why is there so much buzz? I’ll ask you one question. Have you seen the HDTV’s in your local electronic retail store? Have you noticed something markedly more detailed and clear about those pictures? Yea, I’m talking about the long and narrow televisions (aspect ratio 16:9) that are thin and sleek looking. I’m sure that you have noticed by now how people tend to gaze into those screens with a look of wonder and awe. Yea, that’s high definition. This video display format is markedly sharper and crisper than the digital standard and enhanced definition offerings as well as the old CRT (cathode-ray tube) sets. But don’t get me wrong, the CRT’s still deliver good picture quality and value, especially when used with a digital receiver.

You may ask why does HDTV look so much more crisp and real. It’s all in the digital signal and in the display resolution. The display resolution deals with the number of pixels (picture elements) that can be displayed per screen dimension. The more pixels represented, the greater your display resolution.

HDTV comes in a 720p, 1080i or 1080p. All these numbers generally represent display resolution. Alright, let’s take 720p-this stands for the number of vertical lines of resolution (720 horizontal scan lines) that are being displayed and the (p) is for progressive scan-the method by which horizontal display lines are scanned or read. So, 1080 (known as full HD) is a larger number of vertical lines being displayed which indicates a sharper, more defined picture overall than a 720 display. There is also the 1080i that has the same lines of vertical and horizontal display as the 1080p, but a different method of reading the horizontal line display called interlacing (i). The current HDTV market has definitely moved more toward progressive scan technology instead of interlacing which was more prominent earlier in the HDTV world.