The first digital HDTV system, which was standardized in 1998, is the American ATSC system, based on the MPEG-2 video compression standard. Besides many enhanced-definition formats, it comprises two high-definition resolutions: 720p60 (1280×720, progressive scan, 60 frames per second) and 1080i30 (1920×1080, interlaced scan, 30 frames per second). These two resolutions have since become the de facto standards for high-definition digital television. The European variant differs only by its refresh rates of 50 and 25 frames/second for 720 progressive and 1080 interlaced, respectively.

The development of HDTV will be also accelerated by the concomitant availability of new, more efficient compression standards than MPEG-2 (MPEG-4.10/H.264, WM9/VC1) as well as the new DVB-S2 satellite transmission standard which significantly increases the useful bit rate of a transponder, thanks to higher-order modulations and more powerful error-correction codes.

HDTV is all about giving you a bigger and better picture, better audio, and generally making your TV-watching experience more like a movie-watching experience. In fact, at its best, HDTV is so realistic that it’s often described as “looking through a window” — as if you’re really there, not just watching a program. The HDTV may be a CRT TV or Plasma TV or LCD TV. 720p and 1080i are the two HDTV standards, but you’ll also find a lot of digital TV material will be broadcast at lower resolutions that don’t quite make the grade as HDTV.

Choosing the right HDTV for you is not the easiest thing to do. HDTVs come in all sorts of different sizes and shapes. Some are flat-panels that you can hang on the wall; others are projection systems much like what you’d find in a movie theater. And, of course, there are HDTVs based on tubes that look just the way TVs have for decades (only with a better picture).

Two standard picture formats have been retained for broadcast HDTV applications, each existing in two variants (59.94 Hz or 50 Hz depending on continent):

• The 720p format: this is a progressive scan format with a horizontal resolution of 1280 pixels and a vertical resolution of 720 lines (or pixels).

• The 1280i format: this interlaced format offers a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels and a vertical resolution of 1080 lines (or pixels).

For these two formats, the horizontal and vertical resolution are equivalent (square pixels) because they have the same ratio as the aspect ratio of the picture (16:9).

When considering how to hook up your new HDTV, make sure to check what the maximum resolution is for each input. For example, many TVs today tout 1080p capability; upon closer investigation however, you may find that this resolution is only available with component or HDMI connections. And while we’re on the subject of connections, don’t fall for the hype around expensive cables. You know, the one’s with oxygen-free copper, litz wire, or shielded AC power cords.

Plasma HDTV TVs are thin and beautiful with good picture and good color. But burn in problem may occur. LCD TVs are similar to Plasma but no burn in. Some projection TVs are HDTVs. These are the TVs that project their picture from a smaller image source (either three small picture tubes, or a digital system known as a micro projector) onto a screen. The screen can be either part of the HDTV itself (rear projection) or a separate screen hung on your wall (front projection). The final category of HDTVs is based on the good old-fashioned picture tube — also known as the CRT, or cathode-ray tube. Pros: cheapest, great color, great blacks Cons: smallest screen, bulky, lower resolution than digital displays