Imagine the difference between black-and-white TV and color TV. Really focus on the experience, especially what you can see and what you can’t see. That’s how different the HDTV picture is compared with a standard TV picture.
The HDTV signal sends far more digital information to a newer TV that is capable of capturing and displaying larger amounts of information in the form of better sound, a wide-screen format and a much sharper picture.
The best way to experience it? Go to a store with standard TV and HDTV next to each other. Notice the expressions on the faces of the fans in the stands or the athletes on the sidelines. See the names on the backs of jerseys or a race car driver’s name painted on the outside of his car. Better sound lets nature shows jump to life so forest trees moan while bending in a roaring wind, and a frog’s splashy leap in a jungle puddle leaves a series of tinkling in its wake.
COMING SOON: According to the Federal Communications Commission, all TV broadcasters must switch from the older analog signal to the newer digital signals by Dec. 31, 2006. By 2007 all but the smallest TV sets must include tuners that receive digital signals.
But don’t throw out your non-HDTV set just yet.
Within the digital TV spectrum are a wide variety of signals. They include a standard broadcast and the two high-definition broadcasts at the high end of digital signals.
The old signals will be around until at least 85 percent of American households have converted to digital television. And even then, you can always buy a digital converter to upgrade your old TV set to get digital TV without the great picture.
DELIVERY: If you get your television over the air, you’ll need an HDTV set with the special built-in antenna to bring in the new signal.
If you get your TV shows through cable or satellite, call your provider to see if HDTV is offered in your area and what it will cost.
You’ll need an HDTV monitor and to either buy or rent the converter to receive those special signals.
WHY ISN’T EVERYTHING IN HDTV? It’s expensive. And because a relatively small number of people have HDTV sets, networks have been unwilling to pay for it. But as TV set prices drop and networks roll out cooler, high-profile HD programming (i.e. the Super Bowl, top-rated dramas), more people will buy into HDTV.
The marketing group NPD Group reports that for the year-long period ending Sept. 30, more than 2.4 million HDTV sets were sold in the U.S.
That’s about 50 percent more than the previous year and three times the number sold two years ago.
ON NOW: Your local WMAQ-Ch. 5 broadcasts digitally, so high-definition programming is available, most notably NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
The same is true for WBBM-Ch. 2, which offers select NFL and college football games on CBS, as well as a variety of primetime shows such as “CSI.”
WLS-Ch. 7’s digital broadcast offers Monday Night Football as well as an expanding list of ABC prime-time dramas, including “The Practice” and “Alias.”
WGN-TV announced last week that beginning in April 2004, all Cubs, White Sox and Bulls home game telecasts will be produced in HDTV format.
WFLD-Ch. 32 broadcasts digitally, and the Fox Network expects to offer HD programming in select markets by the end of next year.
Complete lists can usually be found at network Web sites.
Entire channels dedicated to HD shows include: ESPN-HD, HBO-HD, Showtime-HD, DiscoveryHD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Pay Per View HD. These channels offer HD programming around the clock but arrive via cable or satellite delivery.
According to www.hd.net, HDNet and HDNet Movies (co-founded by Mark Cuban, who owns the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks) show a variety of live sports as well TV shows, films, concerts and news.
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On the Web
www.hdtvpub.com: It has a search function that lets you find out what’s available in your zip code.
www.hdtv.net: HDTV advocates lay out more information
on the format.
www.nab.org: The
National Association of Broadcasters charts stations using digital broadcasts.
www.atsc.org: The
Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc. is an international, non-profit organization developing
voluntary standards for digital television.
