HDTV Ц The NEW Must See TV

Articles on Television | Topics: television, tv, shows

by Ulysses Kelley

There are two different digital formats for TVs. One is SDTV, which means Standard Definition TV, and HDTV, which is the newest in TV technology. This must see new TV gives the SDTV a new look. The picture is so much clearer, sharper, and almost three-dimensional. HDTV has lifelike pictures and theater sound. It has a high resolution, which gives astonishing clarity. It's sharper, wider and more like a theater screen than a TV set. It is as clear as a computer monitor as it uses the same technology. Since most of us are use to the sharpness and clarity of our computer monitor, it means that we want the same technology when we watch our TV. This computer sharpness has to do with the amount of pixels used on a computer monitor. The lowest resolution is 640 x 768 pixels. Some monitors go as high as 1024 x 768.

Pixels are actually two words jammed together, ╛ picture and element. It's a tiny sample of video information and these tiny pixels are what make up the overall picture. A pixel per inch is the measure of sharpness on a television display screen. Resolution is based on the number of pixels displayed. One form of high-definition picture formats is composed of 1080 lines and each line has 1920 pixels.

This digital encoding system provides a sharp, clear picture. This encoding could soon make analog television sets obsolete. Once you've seen for yourself the clarity, depth and resolution of an HDTV you will want one. Many of the new satellite systems use digital encoding systems and then have to be converted to the analog format to fit your present TV. It looks great, but would look even better if it didn't have to be converted at all. Digital signals can be broadcast over the air, by cable, or transmitted by a satellite system to your home. It's then directed to your digital ready TV for clear and sharp pictures and terrific surround sound.

HDTV has the highest digital resolution of the new digital TV's. Right now, you are only seeing about 525 lines of resolution on your present analog TV. An HDTV with wide screen format has lines from 720 to 1080.

The usual TV set has a picture resolution of about 210,000 pixels. On HDTV sets, each picture contains around two million pixels. What does this mean to you? It means a picture with about ten times more detail than on a standard analog TV. This means wider images, more detailed picture, and Dolby surround sound, just like being at a movie theater. The HDTV movement has revolutionized the TV industry, much like it was revolutionized when they converted from black and white to color. Previously only the very rich could afford to put a home theater in their residence. Now with today's digital technology and sound, the average person can experience the thrill of having your very own theater. The wide screen format changed the movie audience experience and it now it is changing the home TV experience.

аBit of History

A good way to think about television—in fact all the media—is as a kind of telescope in the sky, flying around, constantly looking. Then from its perch in the sky, it zooms down to a single spot on the planet, a small group of people shooting each other. It takes this single event out of billions and billions of other little events and sends it zooming through space to television antennas, and then out through an electron gun into (on the average)Addison DeWitt: Your next move, it seems to me, should be toward television.
Miss Caswell: Tell me this. Do they have auditions for television?
Addison DeWitt: That’s all television is, my dear. Nothing but auditions.

—Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)

The wide screen allows for a panoramic view that fills our field of vision because our eyes are located side by side. It lends itself to more innovative video compositions and allows directors to compose shots that captivate and pull the audience into the movie or the playing field.

This new technology will demand changes that can be costly for the viewer and for the TV stations and media production companies. Newer technology means newer equipment and that translates into more expense. However, just as the new technology of CD's, VCR's and DVD players, the prices will eventually fall.

As of May of 1999, the Federal Communications Commission decided that digital television and HDTV should be the newest standard for broadcasting. The change over has begun with the FCC requiring the top TV networks to broadcast a digital signal in the ten biggest markets.

The networks plan to phase out all analog TV broadcasts by the end of 2006. Your TV won't be obsolete, but it will definitely not be the newest technology you can enjoy. After you have seen a movie or a sports event on HDTV, you'll be ready to make the big switch. Research the subject and know what you're looking for when you go to make the purchase.

We strive to provide only high quality articles on our website. If there is a specific angle on television that you would like us to cover, please contact us here.

Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "HDTV Ц The NEW Must See TV" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by MoviesFilms101.com.

Widescreen Wonders - Movie Quality with HDTV
By Mela Quinn
Ever go to the cinema and as you are watching the movie and eating popcorn wish you could replicate your enjoyable experience at home? Well the good news is you can with a widescreen HDTV. In a nutshell, HDTV is a widescreen wonder for television's greatest supporters, not to mention it has true movie quality brought to life....

Film Director
By Xuxa Young
There are basically two ways to get involved in a career in film production. One of them is the academic way, the other is the independent way....

Tips to Make a Video Podcast
By Maxine Ward
You too can be a great producer using a video Podcast. All you need is some creativity and some tools....

Watch Videos
By Quinton Richmond
Although it has been possible to watch videos online for a long time, the advertising industry is only now getting hip to the commercial possibilities. For a while, they figured that if people watch free movies online, they would drive the film studios out of business....