HDTV is digitally broadcast, because digital television (DTV) requires less bandwidth if sufficient video compression is used. HDTV technology was introduced in the U.S. in the 1990s by the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance, a group of television companies.
High-definition television potentially offers a much better picture quality than standard television. HD's greater clarity means the picture on screen can be less blurred and less fuzzy. HD also brings other benefits such as smoother motion, richer and more natural colors, and the ability to allow a variety of input devices to work together. Almost all commercially available HD is digital, so the system cannot produce a snowy or washed out image from a weak signal, effects from signal interference, such as herringbone patterns, or vertical rolling.
With HDTV the lack of imperfections in the television screen often seen on traditional television is another reason why many prefer high definition to analog.
As mentioned, problems such as snow caused from a weak signal, double images from ghosting or multi-path and picture sparkles from electromagnetic interference do not occur with HDTV digital broadcasts.
The colours will generally look more realistic, due to greater bandwidth. The visual information is about 2-5 times more detailed overall. The gaps between scanning lines are smaller or invisible. Legacy TV content that was shot and preserved on 35 mm film can now be viewed at nearly the same resolution at which it was originally photographed. A good analogy for television quality is looking through a window. HDTV offers a degree of clarity that is much closer to this.
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is broadcast along with standard HDTV video signals, allowing full surround sound capabilities. (Standard broadcast television signals usually only include monophonic or stereophonic audio. Stereo broadcasts can be encoded with Dolby Surround, an early home video surround format.) Both designs make more efficient use of electricity than SDTV designs of equivalent size, which can mean lower operating costs. LCD is a leader in energy conservation.
In Australia, the government originally planned an Analogue switch-off in 2008.
This has now been delayed to a "to be determined" date in 2010-2012. Until that time, free-to-air stations will be simulcast, along with digital only channels like ABC2. Government Legislation states that all locally-made free-to-air television shows must be in 16:9 Widescreen format since 1999 (the first in the world). Cable Television Networks are already being broadcasted in simulcast since 2004 and analogue cable services were switched-off in April 2007.
Ten's New HD Channel
Ten HD is an Australian free-to-air television channel expected to launch on December 16, 2007. The channel will be available to high definition digital television viewers, and is expected to show live sport, entertainment, films, documentaries, science fiction and news.
Ten HD was officially announced on September 14, 2007 and, although originally expected to be the first free to air commercial television channel introduced to metropolitan areas since 1988, PBL Media announced on September 27 the creation of a similar network, Nine HD, that would launch in November. However, Seven Media Group, in a surprise move, launched their HD offering, Seven HD, on October 15, 2007, two months before it was scheduled to begin. Therefore, Ten HD will likely be the third of the new HD channels to launch in 2007.
The channel will replace Network Ten's existing high definition service, a simulcast of its standard definition and analogue services. Due to an amendment of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 in 2006, the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Act 2006, television networks are now permitted to launch digital multi-channels, provided that they are broadcast exclusively in high definition.
Ten's parent company, and shareholder in metropolitan ratings system OzTAM, Ten Network Holdings Limited, began discussions with the ratings system operator to have digital multi-channels such as Ten HD and ABC2 included in television ratings for the first time on September 17, 2007. As well as this, in preparation for the launch of Ten HD, Ten's digital terrestrial channel line-up was updated on November 19, 2007, with changes consisting of LCN1 redirecting Network Ten's current high-definition simulcast.
Ten HD will broadcast programming consisting of news, live sporting events, entertainment, films, documentaries and science fiction. As well as this, themed programming line-ups will be broadcast on specified days, including Sci-Fi Saturday. At launch, it is anticipated that the channel will provide 50 hours per week of exclusive content including up to 11 hours of time-shifted programming from Network Ten, high-definition documentaries from the National Geographic Channel, as well as additional programming from popular Network Ten franchises such as Australian Idol, The Biggest Loser, Big Brother and So You Think You Can Dance.
Ten News will introduce an exclusive news bulletin for Ten HD, to be broadcast weekdays at 5:30pm. It has also been announced that the national weekend editions of Ten News will be time shifted from Network Ten onto Ten HD, an hour delayed at 6pm, in order to directly compete with Seven News and National Nine News.
Ten HD will be available exclusively in 1080i high definition from the network's five metropolitan stations, TEN Sydney, ATV Melbourne, TVQ Brisbane, ADS Adelaide, and NEW Perth. It is not known whether Network Ten's regional affiliates, Southern Cross Ten, Mildura Digital Television and Tasmanian Digital Television, will carry the new multi-channel.
Foxtel Digital will add the channel to its line-up in April 2008, when the subscription television provider is expected to launch its 'Foxtel HD' service.
Do I need a new TV?
No. For those that have Analogue TVs all that is required is a set-top box to convert your TV to HD/Digital TV.
Set-top Boxes
A set-top box (STB) or set-top unit (STU) is a device that connects to a television and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen.
In Australia set-top boxes are the principal means of receiving digital terrestrial broadcasts as comparably few television sets have in-built digital tuners. The Foxtel set-top boxes (including the Foxtel iQ unit) are also used to receive subscription television from Foxtel.
Globally, some boxes also have a built-in digital video recorder (or DVR) which often utilises the electronic programme guide scheduling data and records content to an internal hard drive.
These are available from as little as $50 and up to $500.
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