What is HDTV? How is it different from normal video?

      HDTV is high-definition video format, a method of digital broadcasting that results in high-quality pictures and Dolby Digital surround sound.

       HDTV can transmit more than six times the information as the standard system. This translates to higher quality in picture and sound.

How Much Better Is The Quality?

      Currently, normal video pictures are made up of 525 lines that are scanned horizontally. HDTV pictures are created by scanning 1,080 lines. Adding twice the amount of lines multiplies the amount of pixels (the small dots that create the picture).

Comparing the two vdeo sources can give you a glimpse:

	Standard vdeo format	HDTV
Pixels	210,000	2.1 -2.4 million
Aspect ratio	4:3	16:9
Scan Lines	480	720 to 1080
Scan Method	Interlaced	Progressive or Interlaced
Sound	Mono or Stereo	Dolby Digital surround sound

         Current video format have about 300,000 pixels, while the HDTV is composed of more than 2 million pixels.

 

Here is a traditional video resolution:

Here is an HDTV image:

                  Having more pixels on your screen will also improve the sharpness of your pictures, allowing you to read on your television screen small text commonly found on computers.

Is The Sound Different?

            Complimenting the lifelike pictures are 5.1 channels of CD-quality digital audio. Current stereo TV sets offer only two channels of audio. HDTV delivers true surround sound: front speakers on the right, center and left, along with two back speakers and a subwoofer.