Should I Get HDTV With My Cable TV Service

by Jamie Bessman on 2010/02/09

High-definition television, also referred to as HDTV, is a digital television broadcasting system that a larger portion of the world has begun to adopt. This new system has started to replace analog, or standard-definition broadcasting systems.

As bandwidth and standards for television programming have changed over the decades, high definition television options have been adopted by the Federal Communication Commission and TV industry.

Adoption of this type of broadcasting was slow to be picked up. Standardization was a difficult process due to technical and economic reasons, which prevented satellite distribution and recording. Japan, nonetheless, first made the switch from analog to digital, high-definition TV airing in 2007.

Europe first launched high-def capabilities in 2004. The United States was slower to abandon analog, but first saw HDTV in the 1990s when a large group of television companies banded together to introduce it. 1996 saw the first high-definition broadcast in North Carolina, with other states following thereafter.

The three main aspects of high-def TV are frame size, scanning system and frame rate, all of which are specific to this type of broadcast. This influences resolution, which is twice that of standard-def TV, allowing for greater detail.

HD television requires specific equipment, including a HD-ready television, tuner and cable box with cable card slot. Because equipment specifications vary by location, it is best to consult with cable professionals before purchase or installation.

Amongst worldwide TV viewers and customers, one of the most well-liked features of HDTV is recording capabilities. TiVo is the most famous version of such a feature, and it allows you to record and view more than one program at the same time. This also allows viewers to record programs while watching others at the same time.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission requires that cable companies provide customers with a set-top box for HD customers as a means of recording and storing.

Traditionally, these television products have been available for in-store purchase with in-home installation. Now, however, online purchases are becoming more common and available around the country.

Although with growing popularity prices have dropped, HG television sets can vary greatly in price. Some sell for as low as four hundred dollars, while some have gone for more than fifteen thousand dollars. With varying prices and qualities, televisions and equipment are available to almost any consumer.

There are several advantages to HD. This includes better picture quality, regardless of the screen size. Editing of the pictures allows for better video progression as opposed to the cutting short of frames in analog broadcasting. Also, stations can air several signals with the same bandwidth, also known as "multicasting". This new system also allows for additional and interactive content. The major disadvantage of this new system is that it is not compatible with analog TVs, which cannot decode or display the signals. This requires converters or the purchase of a new television set.

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