You know there must be something special on digital TV if Scooby-Doo is backing the technology (the Great Dane sold out and did an ad for DIRECTV!). High-definition television, also known as HDTV, is a digital television transmission system with improved resolution and qualities superior to those of traditional televisions. HDTV and digital television are often related in conversation as HDTV is always broadcast digitally as it required less bandwidth thanks to video compression.
High definition television can produce a much better quality picture than standard television due to its large number of lines of resolution. Digital signals have no problem with snowy or pale images, which are the direct result of very weak signals or signal interference. Programs broadcast on HDTV and received on digital-ready receivers allow for better reception, more realistic picture colors, and 2 to 5 times greater visual clarity than standard broadcast TV. This is because the spaces between the scan lines are much narrower. This means that nature shows, movies, sporting events and the like can be photographed on 35mm film and viewed at home in almost the same original resolution. (Try seeing Coppola’s Apocalypse Now Redux the way the director saw it!) In addition, HDTV systems typically bring Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound to the media package, allowing TV or movie viewers to listen to features full surround sound.
HDTV not only has several advantages over SDTV and other standard systems; but the casual home viewer (mainly used to an ordinary analog TV) also has to take into account the advantages that a digital system brings to the table. (Or in the dining room or living room, wherever!) As noted with HDTV, DTV occupies less bandwidth, and bandwidth also varies continuously, depending on the level of compression. Therefore, digital broadcasters can offer more digital channels in the same space, allowing special features such as HDTV and greater interactivity between the viewer and the network channel. Digital television also allows multiplexing capability, allowing viewers to tune in to more than one program on the same channel. Imagine watching more than one sporting event at the same time and on the same screen! Imagine watching two movies side by side and comparing notes. This is the perfect compromise for analog veterans who love to flip the channel. DTV also allows for electronic program guides, additional languages, and subtitles.
There is a great race in the broadcasting industry to offer the greatest variety of HD programming. Satellite companies seem to have an advantage over cable providers with Direct TV HD leading the way when it comes to the number of HD channels to choose from. Most providers offer HD receivers or upgrade options to HD DVR boxes.
In general, almost everyone, particularly a casual viewer who has been watching Discovery Channel on a small rectangular screen, agrees that DTV, and especially HDTV, has superior picture quality, quality improved audio and much easier reception than analog. generation undreamt of
If you’re a casual viewer wondering if the difference between HDTV and regular analog TV is worth it, then now really is the best time to switch, because very soon, all your favorite networks will be making the same switch, with or without you. . On February 17, 2009, US Network Television will cancel all full-power station analog terrestrial broadcasts in favor of digital broadcasts.
While you might try to apply for a government rebate for a digitally tuned converter box, the viewer in you is surely begging, not just for the status quo, but for hundreds of additional channels, all available on HDTV. With all the added color, sound, and interactivity, the TV simulation of life is one step closer to the real world.
