Please Explain High Definition Television

The FCC mandated a switch from the present analog TV to HDTV (High Definition TeleVision), by the year 2009. February 2009 if I remember correctly. After that date present non HDTV will no longer receive a broadcast signal.

Therefore, HDTV is more than the latest technology. It is more than the latest fad to boast about. It is something everyone must have. Fortunately, HDTV has many benefits.

If you do not have HD TV, make the switch. You'll enjoy it. Your old television set does not have the digital picture quality that the new HD TV do.

High definition television is proud of its digital superior picture. This is their fantastic feature.

High definition television show images with amazing details. When it focuses on a certain item, that item seems to be right in front of you.

HDTV also has balanced, quality digital audio. High-definition television's audio makes you feel like the person you are watching is sitting beside you and you are having a one-on-one conversation.

HDTV also eliminates ghost images. Having ghost images does not mean that there are several Caspers running around the screen. It means there is a blur around each images that make them look ghost like. These ghosts are not scary, but they are highly annoying.

The high definition television screen is stretched allowing you to see from a wider area. Everyone does not have to be in front of the television set to have a good view.

You can also see DVDs much better and with greater satisfaction. Because of the higher quality HDTV DVD player.

Analogue television sets have an aspect ratio of four to three (4:3). This ratio means that a television with a height of three feet would have a width of four feet.

The aspect ratio of a HDTV is a whopping sixteen to nine (16:9). This ratio means that a television with a height of three feet would have a width of 5'4"

The width of a HDTV screen is much greater than that of the present analogue TV. It is in fact, 33 percent wider.

This increased width is a huge improvement which allows you to see TV shows and movies as if you were watching them in a movie theater. Minus the snoring guy behind you and the annoying couple in front of you.

With HDTV, you will never have to experience the things that annoy you when you are at a movie theater.

If you do not realize it, when you are watching on a sixteen is to nine (16:9) screen you are using your peripheral vision. Using your peripheral vision makes you feel as if you are part of the scene not just watching it.

Norm Samat of ABC Monday night football did a feed about HDTV. She said that once you look at a pictures on your HDTV, you seem to entered a sort of trance because you actually see more of what is being shown.

In terms of football, the sixteen to nine (16:9) aspect ratio makes a big difference. In the old four to three (4:3) aspect ratio it is very difficult to cover the defense. But in HDTV they are part of the picture. You actually see more of the play and more of the development of the play.

This is just a portion of what you need to know about HDTV. Therefore, do more research before joining the revolution.

Professor Alfred Poor, an independent reviewer, has written an excellent resource for people needing help understanding and buying an HDTV.

Professor Poor's Guide to Buying HDTV

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