High-definition television

High-definition television (HDTV) describes a television or video system which provides a substantially higher image resolution than the previous generation of technologies. The term has been used since at least 1933;^[1] in more recent times, it refers to the generation following standard-definition television (SDTV). It is the current de facto standard video format used in most broadcasts: terrestrial broadcast television, cable television, satellite television.

(1280 × 720p): 921,600 pixels

720p

(1920 × 1080i) interlaced scan: 1,036,800 pixels (≈1.04 Mpx).

1080i

1080p

HDTV may be transmitted in various formats:

When transmitted at two megapixels per frame, HDTV provides about five times as many pixels as SD (standard-definition television). The increased resolution provides for a clearer, more detailed picture. In addition, progressive scan and higher frame rates result in a picture with less flicker and better rendering of fast motion.^[2] HDTV as is known today first started official broadcasting in 1989 in Japan, under the MUSE/Hi-Vision analog system.^[3] HDTV was widely adopted worldwide in the late 2000s.^[4]

originating in Europe and also used in much of Asia, Africa, and Australia

DVB

used in North America

ATSC

used in China and some neighboring countries

DTMB

used in two incompatible variations in Japan and South America

ISDB

used by mobile devices in South Korea

DMB

All modern high-definition broadcasts utilize digital television standards The major digital television broadcast standards used for terrestrial, cable, satellite, and mobile devices are:

These standards use a variety of video codecs, some of which are also used for internet video.

EIA monochrome: 4:3 aspect ratio, 1023 lines, 60 Hz

NHK color: 5:3 aspect ratio, 1125 lines, 60 Hz

NHK monochrome: 4:3 aspect ratio, 2125 lines, 50 Hz

BBC colour: 8:3 aspect ratio, 1501 lines, 60 Hz

[7]

Frame size in pixels is defined as number of horizontal pixels × number of vertical pixels, for example 1280 × 720 or 1920 × 1080. Often the number of horizontal pixels is implied from context and is omitted, as in the case of 720p and 1080p.

Scanning system is identified with the letter p for or i for interlaced scanning.

progressive scanning

Frame rate is identified as number of video frames per second. For interlaced systems, the number of frames per second should be specified, but it is not uncommon to see the field rate incorrectly used instead.

Display motion blur

Glossary of video terms

High Efficiency Video Coding

List of digital television deployments by country

Optimum HDTV viewing distance

(UHD or UHDTV)

Ultra-high-definition television

(1997), Defining Vision: The Battle for the Future of Television, New York: Harcourt Brace.

Joel Brinkley

by Philip J. Cianci (McFarland & Company, 2012)

High Definition Television: The Creation, Development and Implementation of HDTV Technology

(New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004)

Technology, Television, and Competition

– the Italian HDTV experience from 1980s to 2006 – in Italian – C.R.I.T./RAI

L'Alta Definizione a Torino 1986–2006

The HDTV Archive Project

History

European adoption