Digital and High-Definition Television

Digital TV (DTV) is an entirely new television broadcasting system that will ultimately replace today's analog system.

High-definition TV (HDTV) is the best quality DTV.

HDTV's sound and picture quality is five times better than today's analog TV. DTV also can be standard definition (SDTV) [good] or enhanced definition (EDTV) [better].

What you need to watch DTV or HDTV:

DTV (including HDTV) today is available over-the-air using a standard antenna or via digital cable or satellite. However you receive your TV signal, you will need DTV equipment to decode and view the SD, ED or HD quality DTV programming.

DTV equipment today may be purchased as a one- or two-part solution.

Integrated sets are a one-part solution - a digital tuner and monitor all in one, just as TVs always have been. The two-part solution consists of a DTV monitor paired with a DTV receiver/set-top box/tuner. To watch true HDTV, you must have a program originating in HDTV, an HDTV transmission, an HDTV tuner (receiver) and an HDTV monitor (display). Again, the receiver and monitor may come as a one- or two-part solution.

Analog TVs (today's TVs) are not obsolete.

All of the broadcast TV stations in the country have been loaned a second, separate channel to use for digital broadcasts. Until 85 percent of the nation's households are capable of receiving DTV programming (households with a DTV receiver), the broadcasters' analog channels will remain in use. The target deadline for the analog to DTV transition is December 31, 2006, but reaching 85 percent likely will take longer. When the transition is complete, analog TVs will need an inexpensive converter box to decode the DTV programming for display on the analog set.

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Definitions

Digital TV (DTV): Television delivered and displayed using computer code (digital technology).

Analog TV: Today's TV system using magnetic waves to transmit and display pictures and sound.

High-Definition Television (HDTV): The best digital television, widescreen (16 x 9) display with at least 720 progressive (p) scanning lines or 1080 interlaced (i) lines and Dolby digital surround sound.

Standard Definition TV (SDTV): Basic digital television transmission that may be displayed with fewer than 480p lines in 16 x 9 or 4 x 3 format.

Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV): Better digital television transmission with at least 480p, in a 16 x 9 or 4 x 3 display and Dolby digital surround sound.

4 x 3: Traditional TV "aspect ratio," that is, the screen's width as compared to its height.

16 x 9: "Widescreen" TV screen format that is closer to a movie screen than traditional TV.

Interlaced Scan: A way to scan vertical lines onto a TV picture by scanning all the odd lines first, then filling in the even lines (this happens in the blink of an eye).

Progressive Scan: A way to scan vertical lines onto a TV picture by scanning all the lines consecutively (progressively).

"HDTV Ready" TV: Term used by some advertising to indicate an analog TV with the display capability and inputs to be transformed into an HDTV with the addition of an HDTV tuner.

HDTV Monitor: Any monitor (display) with the inputs and capability to become an HDTV with the addition of an HDTV tuner.

Integrated HDTV: An HDTV that has the tuner built into the set. It does not need a separate set-top box.

HDTV Tuner (also decoder, receiver, set-top box): A standalone device capable of receiving and outputting HDTV signals.