| Digital Television Q & A |
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| What
is Digital Television (DTV)? Digital Television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television. Because DTV is delivered digitally, it allows for the delivery of a signal virtually free of interference. DTV broadcasters will be able to offer television with movie-quality pictures and Dolby digital surround sound, along with a variety of other enhancements. Why Are American broadcasters switching to DTV? DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. In the same bandwidth in which a broadcaster provides one analog programming channel, a broadcaster may provide a super sharp "high definition" (HDTV) program or multiple "standard definition" DTV programs simultaneously. Providing several program streams on one broadcast channel is called "multicasting." The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the level of picture detail, also known as "resolution," desired in each programming stream. A broadcaster can also use DTV to provide interactivity and data services that were not possible with analog technology. Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves, allowing those portions of the airwaves to be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (police, fire departments, rescue squads, etc.). What Is High Definition TV (HDTV)? HDTV is a type of DTV service. HDTV provides high resolution programming in a widescreen format. A current analog TV picture is made up of 480 horizontal lines. An HDTV picture can have up to 1080 lines, allowing for stunning picture detail. Widescreen format refers to an image's aspect ratio, which is a comparison of screen width to screen height. Analog television has an aspect ratio of 4 by 3, which means the screen is 4 units wide by 3 units high. The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16 by 9, the same as the wide scope of a movie theater screen. HDTV programs can include Dolby Digital surround sound, the same digital sound system used in movie theaters and DVDs. When Will the DTV Transition Be Complete? As of May 2003, more than 1,000 stations were on the air with DTV signals, and every major TV market was served by at least one DTV station. The target date set by Congress for the completion of the transition to DTV is December 31, 2006. However, that date may be extended until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. At that point, broadcasting on the analog channels will end and that spectrum will be put to other uses. Until the transition to DTV is completed, television stations are required to broadcast on both their digital and analog channels. How Do I Get DTV? A listing of the operational DTV stations is available here. Receiving the DTV signals over the air requires an antenna and a new DTV receiver that can decode the digital signals. In general, an antenna that provides quality reception of over-the-air analog TV signals will work for DTV reception. Satellite TV providers and some cable systems offer DTV programming. Subscribers should check with their service providers to see what programming is available in their area. Cable and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) subscribers need a new DTV receiver and other special equipment to receive DTV programming. Will I Need a New TV? Your current television will work as it does now until analog broadcasting stops. Under federal law, analog service will continue until DTV service and equipment are widely available. Even after the transition is over, your current TV will not become obsolete. A converter box can be used to receive DTV signals and change them into the format of your current television. Converters for over-the-air broadcasts are available at retail stores. However, even with a converter, your current analog television is not capable of displaying the full picture quality of DTV. To enjoy the full picture quality, you will need to purchase a DTV set. Subscribers to cable and DBS services should contact their providers regarding converters for those services. What Do DTV Sets Look Like and What Will They Cost? Most DTV sets have wider, more rectangular screens than current analog TVs. This widescreen format allows for wider images that are more like those in a movie theater. As with current TV sets, a range of sizes is available. As with most new consumer electronics technologies, DTV sets have become less expensive since their introduction. It is expected that prices will continue to decrease over time. Prices vary depending on screen size, display technology, and other features. What Is the Difference Between Integrated DTV and DTV Monitors? An Integrated DTV set is a digital television with a digital decoder or DTV receiver built in to it. This means that, if you live in an area served by a DTV broadcast station, you will not need any additional equipment, with the exception of an antenna (preferably an outdoor antenna) to receive over-the-air DTV broadcast programming. These units are usually capable of receiving and displaying the current analog signals also. By contrast, a DTV monitor is capable of displaying DTV but requires additional equipment because it is simply a display device similar to a computer monitor. A DTV set-top decoder must be purchased and connected between an antenna and the monitor to receive and display over-the-air DTV programming. In order to receive either cable or direct broadcast satellite (DBS) DTV programming, an additional set-top decoder is needed. You should confirm with the retailer that the DTV receiver or set-top decoder is compatible with the DTV monitor that is being purchased. Most of these monitors do have a built in analog receiver and can display regular analog TV programming. They can also display standard resolution video from DVD players and VCRs. Will Integrated DTV and DTV Monitors Display HDTV? Integrated DTV sets and DTV monitors do not necessarily display programming in full HDTV format. Some integrated sets and monitors will display DTV in lower-resolution "standard definition format." So although sets may be marketed with labels that imply HDTV resolution, consumers for whom this is important should check with their retailers. Why Can't There Be DTV in Addition to the Television System We Now Have? The United States Congress has determined that the current broadcast television service must eventually convert completely to digital. DTV technology is more efficient than analog technology and will allow the same number of stations to broadcast more program material using fewer broadcast airwaves. DTV offers a more efficient use of the spectrum and will make available to consumers increased options in services. |
| This fact sheet
answers common questions about digital television (DTV), high-definition
TV (HDTV) and why broadcasters will be shifting over from their current
analog TV services. |
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