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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Digital Television?
Digital television (DTV) is a huge leap forward in television technology compared to analog
television that has been widely available since the 1940s. DTV is delivered and displayed
using digital encoding, similar to the way a PC operates. By using digital technology, there
is no variation in picture and sound quality from the origination point until it is displayed on
your television. You always receive a high-quality picture without the wavy lines or static you
might sometimes get from a weak analog signal. Another feature of digital television is digital
surround sound using Dolby Digital technology, which is the same technology used to produce
the sound you hear in movie theaters.
What Is Standard-De
fi
nition Television?
Standard-de
fi
nition television (SDTV) is basic digital television programming delivered by your
service provider. Typically, the SDTV screen is the same, nearly square shape as an analog
television screen. Digital images on an SDTV set are crisp and clear—noticeably better than on
a standard analog television set using an antenna to receive over-the-air signals.
What Is High-De
fi
nition Television?
High-de
fi
nition television (HDTV) is a completely new way to send and receive television
broadcast signals. HDTV images are made up of pixels that are much smaller and closer
together than those used in standard analog television, and there are millions of them. Thus,
HDTV can display
fi
ve to six times the detail of analog television to deliver picture quality that is
much more realistic, dimensional, and precise. SDTV programs can be viewed on an HDTV.
Are Local TV Stations or Other Programmers Broadcasting in HDTV?
Many local TV stations and programmers are transmitting digital signals. However,
transmitting a digital signal does not mean transmitting an HDTV signal. Some stations are
using the new bandwidth to broadcast several standard-de
fi
nition channels. Most stations
and programmers, once they begin broadcasting in digital, are offering HD content from
their parent network (for example, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, and PBS). Contact your service
provider for more information.
Why Aren’t All the Shows I Watch in High-De
fi
nition?
A high-de
fi
nition program must originate in HD format and be broadcast in HD format.
Having an HDTV system does not mean that everything you watch will be viewed in high-
de
fi
nition. Getting the signal from a digital source also does not mean it is high-de
fi
nition.
Why Are Some HDTVs 4:3 Aspect Ratio and Others 16:9?
The aspect ratios differ because television manufacturers build both standard-screen and
wide-screen HDTVs to appeal to consumer viewing preferences. The two aspect ratios are
as follows:
• On standard-screen (4:3) HDTVs, the programming is displayed in letterbox format in
the middle of the screen. There are bars surrounding the picture.
• On wide-screen (16:9) HDTVs, the programming is displayed on the full screen.
What Is HDMI and Does it Support Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio?
The High-De
fi
nition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an uncompressed, all-digital audio/
video interface. The Dolby Digital audio format that provides up to 5.1 separate channels
of surround sound, and is the standard used for DVD-Video. HDMI supports standard,
enhanced, or high-de
fi
nition video, plus multi-channel digital audio, such as Dolby Digital
audio, on a single cable.
