Debunking The Myths About Digital And High Definition Television

As of the middle of 2009, digital television was officially made the standard broadcast format in the United States. But digital TV has not only been sweeping the nation; its infiltration of the home entertainment industry has crossed borders and is in the process of taking over the world as we speak. A large percentage of the countries in the world have already converted to this high-quality format, and those that have not yet done so are expected to in the very near future. So, what does this mean for viewers like yourself? This article will point out certain myths surrounding this technology and help you get your facts straight.

To start with, let us look at the difference between standard definition and high definition. These are essentially the two basic levels of digital format. As you might guess (if you didnt already know), standard is the inferior definition. With an aspect ratio of 4:3, standard definition images appear more square-like. Because of this, if you are watching standard definition programming on a high definition television, the images may look distorted or stretched out. Or they will have vertical black bars to the left and the right of them.

As would be expected, high definition resolution is the best format that digital television is able to be transmitted and displayed in. With an aspect ratio of 16:9, images shown in this format will have a rectangular, cinematic quality about them. Accordingly, if you are watching this type of programming on a regular standard definition TV, you will see horizontal black bars above and below the images.

This begs the question of whether or not it is necessary to purchase a new television set when upgrading to digital broadcasts. The simplest answer to this is no. However, what you will need to do if using an older analog model of TV is obtain a digital converter, which is a small box-like device that typically rests on the top of your TV. You will also need one of these if you plan on recording digital broadcasts using a VCR, even if you are using the VCR in conjunction with a digital television set. To avoid having to purchase a converter, you should exchange your VCR for a DVR (Digital Video Recorder). Many of the DVRs on the market these days are even capable of recording material in high definition.

The next thing that you may be uncertain about is which stations currently utilize digital technology, and which of these broadcast in high definition format. For the most part, all stations are currently available in digital format. However, some of these are limited to standard definition. And those that are not may only offer a portion of their overall programming lineup in high definition. The best way to find out what type of resolution a given program is broadcast in is to refer to the on-screen guide. There, you can also find other information about the show, such as the genre, the main actors, and a brief plot description.