TV buffs are all agog about the much publicized revolutionary TV viewing experience. The simple box with black and white moving pictures and tin-like audio has evolved into colored pictures and clearer stereophonic sounds. Innovations in TV production have not stopped there. Big names in TV production technology continued with the development of more innovative products that will provide consumers with more viewing satisfaction. TV viewing was transformed with the introduction of HDTV.

What exactly is HDTV?

This new technology that is associated with TV viewing refers to high definition television. If you are a TV fanatic or even if you only turn on the TV to watch the news you have probably noticed the small logo at the bottom of the screen of some television programs. This logo tells you that you can watch the program in HDTV. If you are viewing the program in a conventional TV the logo may stir your curiosity and entice you to visit the nearest showroom of TV providers. You wouldn’t want to be left out from enjoying the much hyped about high definition TV viewing experience.

HDTV has replaced the Standard Definition (SD) format which is considered to be of much poorer quality. Standard definition has low definition PAL system. The disparity in picture clarity was made more noticeable when large flat screen displays were introduced. Pal provides 414,720 pixels (720 across x 576 vertically). With this kind or resolution it is understandable why SD format would deliver grainy pictures. HD programming on the other hand can generate a whooping 2,073,600 pixels (1920 x 1080). Because 1080 lines are used instead of 576 lines, the pixels in each of these lines would be closer resulting to clearer pictures with highly and more stable images. Because of the more advanced and larger sound components, you get to enjoy sounds that are comparable to the sounds in a movie house. Picture and sound clarity though would not depend on the quality of the HD ready TV alone. The source of the broadcast has to be considered as well.

So you have made the big switch. You have joined the bandwagon of people excited with this TV viewing innovation. HDTV has replaced color TV just as it has replaced the black and white. This does not mean though that you can throw your old TV set because you have purchased an HD ready TV. Although more and more programs are broadcasted in high definition format, your favorite soap may still be in SD format.