HDTV - The Future of Television

HDTV is growing in popularity and with good reason....

Many consider HDTV to be one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread. By providing wider pictures with enhanced details and the clear look of a movie screen, it's no wonder so many people are excited about this revolutionary product. In comparison to standard television, HDTV images hold twice the definition both vertically and horizontally and are a full 1/4 wider than a normal television set.

However, the biggest draw for HDTV is its clear picture. Plus, when you add in the the sound quality, you begin to understand why so many folks are rapidly swithching to HDTV. HDTV pictures contains close to 1100 lines in comparison to only 500 in a normal tv set. While you can possibly see the lines in a normal tv set, you will likely not detect the lines in an HDTV set.

There are a few varieties of hdtvs; hd traditional projection tvs, hd flat panel tvs, and hd advanced micro displays. The first is hd traditional projection tvs. This type of hdtv offers larger screen sizes and lower prices, but this hdtv also takes up more space, is quite heavy, and has a thinner viewing angle than other forms of hdtv. Next, is hd flat panel hdtv. This hdtv is thin and lighter and is a type of hdtv that can hang on a wall.

Most of these types of hdtv are HD ready and provide the widest viewing angle and the highest contrast. However, with this hdtv technology usually comes a higher price. Finally, there is the hd advanced micro displays. These hdtvs offer a lightweight design and advanced technology without the expense of flat panel hdtv. These hdtvs are hd ready and provide a big viewing angle, quality contrast, and have a replaceable light sources.
Tip! Cable and satellite operators don't distribute all the available free-to-air HDTV channels. In particular, many local free HDTV channels aren't carried on cable or satellite.

All signs point towards hdtv being the wave of television's future. With it's clarity, sound quality, and wider viewing angle, hdtv will likely become the standard for television viewing and broadcasting in the immediate future.

HDTV - Providing HDTV information. Learn about hdtv tuners, antennas, monitors, along with the various hdtv brands like Samsung, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi. Find out about plasma hdtvs and why they are so popular.

HDTV is Coming - For Better or Maybe Worse

America's TV stations currently broadcast their programs using analog signals. However, this will come to an end in on February 19, 2009 by which time all stations must have converted to digital signals.

The problem for many Americans is that their TVs cannot receive digital signals. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than 70 million TV sets that will become instantly obsolete when analog broadcasting ends.

How will this affect you?

If you subscribe to cable or satellite television, this change will probably have no effect on your televiewing. This is because satellite and cable broadcasters have more than four years to get ready for the changeover.

On the other hand, if you are one of about 20 million Americans who do not subscribe to either cable or satellite TV, you will have to do one of two things. First, you can buy an HDTV capable TV. The least expensive of these receivers currently sell for about $1,000 but prices are expected to drop substantially between now and 2009. Second, you can get a set-top converter box that will enable your analog TV set to receive digital signals.

What will these set-top boxes cost and where can you get one?

As of this writing, no one knows exactly what these converter boxes will cost and when they will be available. The good news is that the Federal Government has set aside about $1.5 billion dollars for vouchers that those who own only the outmoded analog TVs can use to buy the set-top converters. The vouchers will be for $40 and each household that have only analog TV receivers will be eligible to receive two.

So, get ready. HDTV is coming - for better or maybe worse.

There's another HD technology you should know about. It's called HD Radio and it enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally. These digital broadcasts provide listeners with radically improved audio quality, more radio channels through multicasting, and new data services. To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz.

Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of numerous articles on HD radio, the Internet and family finances.