HDTV

The future of television is currently undergoing a major revolution with the introduction of HDTV (High Definition Television). Although HDTV currently only exists in a limited form, it is expected to be common in the marketplace by 2010, with the majority of new televisions equipped to handle an high definition signal.

HDTV is new technology which offers unparalleled picture quality, with huge improvements in both the depth and clarity of your picture. While conventional TV’s offered 576 visible lines, HDTV supplies 720 or 1028, enhancing your viewing experience in ways that have to be seen to be relieved.

Combined with the shift away from traditional CRT televisions to new LCD TVs or Plasma TVs, the television experience is now at a completely different level thanks to the innovations of HDTV technology.

If you are buying a new television, you should first of all check to see that it is HDTV compatible, otherwise you are going to need to replace it fairly soon. As a television should be able to last you for several years, it is worth spending a little extra to ensure that your new TV is equipped to benefit from the forthcoming explosion of HDTV programming because once you see how good it is, you are not going to miss out!

How does HDTV work?

HDTV or High Definition Television offers the highest quality picture available in the world of home entertainment. Instead of using the conventional 576 lines to plot a TV picture, HDTV uses 720 or 1080 lines. In addition, the pixels in each of those lines are closer. This results in a hugely improved picture quality, clarity and colour definition.

It is important to note however that the quality of the picture is only as good as the quality of the broadcasting and of your TV. Currently, HDTV exists only in a limited form however within the next year, much more programming will be available in HDTV quality. You can watch Freeview (576 lines) on a Plasma or LCD screen, but the quality will not be as good as Sky (1080 lines). Understandably, the better the quality of your TV, the better the quality of your picture.

The differences between 720p, 1080i and 1080p

When you are buying an HDTV, the first decision to make is whether you want a 720p or a 1080i. This refers to the number of lines the television is capable of displaying. The 720p is an image comprised of 1280 lines along the horizontal by 720 vertical lines. It shows the whole image in a single frame – that is, progressively.

The second is 1080i, which measures 1920 x 1080 lines and is displayed as two fields that are interlaced. You get a bit more detail with 1080i but the interlaced image is not as smooth as a progressively scanned one.

Although the 1080i models are generally more expensive, they do have increased capacity in terms of picture depth and clarity and do give a better picture.

The 1080p format, which is the absolute best form of HD is not used by broadcasters. Movies made in 1080p (e.g. the last three Star Wars films) might appear in Blu-ray and/or HD DVD format. Sony’s PlayStation 3 produces 1080p output.

Although the most common Tvs are 720p or 1080i, there are an increasing number of 1080p televisions appearing due to the huge demand from gaming or film enthusiasts who demand the absolute best quality picture to enhance their experience.

Should I choose a 1080i or 1080p TV?