This week I am posting a primer about digital television. I think you
will find this informative and will educate you on how to enjoy the
digital television experience, as well as knowing what choices you have
when considering selecting a digital television and service in the future.

*THE DIGITAL TELEVISION PRIMER *

The image seen on the best HDTV set has five times more detail than
analog televisions. Now watching a big football game feels like you're
15 rows up on the 50-yard line as you see every inch of the field—even
the scuffs on the quarterback's helmet. Not only is the picture more
realistic, like looking through a sparkling clean picture window, HDTVs
have wider, rectangular screens like movie theaters and deliver the same
Dolby Digital surround sound that thrills audiences at the local Cineplex.

HDTV is revolutionizing television as CD players did for music. CDs
eliminated scratches and hisses from records, while HDTVs eliminate
ghosts, static, snow and poor-quality video. When you see an HDTV
program, it's exactly the same as the one that left the TV station:
colors are crisp, text is easier to read and the higher quality audio
embedded into the signal supercharges the viewing experience. HDTV is
only one part of "digital television (DTV)," an umbrella term covering
all of the digital formats for the standard approved by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) in 1996. The official name is the
Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard. There are several
different DTV picture formats offering varying levels of quality; HDTV
with its widescreen picture and Dolby Digital sound is the pinnacle.
Just as there is a wide variety of DTV picture formats, there are
different types of digital televisions. The most affordable is capable
of showing Standard Definition TV (SDTV). The next best category is
Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV), capable of displaying a higher-quality
480 progressive image. An EDTV set has a digital tuner built-in, while
an EDTV monitor requires a digital set-top box.

The highest picture quality models are HDTVs (720p, 1080i) with a
widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. This television lets you see uncropped
widescreen movies without the black bars on top and bottom used for
"letterbox" presentations (letterboxing is the method typically used to
"fit" rectangular CinemaScope movies onto a square 4:3 screen). As with
all DTV products today (SD, ED), HDTVs are available as HDTV sets with
built-in tuners or HDTV monitors that require a digital receiver.

*How HDTV Differs from Analog TV?*
HDTV has higher resolution meaning sharper, clearer pictures: The image
on a television is composed of small picture elements called pixels. The
pixels in HDTV are closely packed together to provide a highly detailed
picture. Current analog TVs display an image of 200,000 pixels.The
minimum DTV signal shows 300,000 pixels and hits a maximum of two
million for HDTV, the best of the 18 ATSC formats. HDTV has a widescreen
format: In addition to providing improved picture quality with more
visible detail, HDTV is transmitted in a widescreen display commonly
referred to as a 16:9 format, meaning that the picture is 16 units wide
by 9 units high. A conventional analog display is 4 units wide by 3
units high, or 4:3.Thus the 16:9 display provides a wider image area
that more closely matches the movie theater experience. HDTV has better
sound: Many HDTV programs also contain six-channel (5.1) Dolby Digital
surround sound to provide an audio experience to complement the improved
picture quality on HDTV.This is particularly beneficial within a home
theater system.

On December 24, 1996, the U.S. FCC adopted the major elements of the
ATSC DTV standard, mandating its use for digital terrestrial television
broadcasts in the U.S. Within the DTV standard are 18 different picture
formats. The FCC did not mandate use of the specific HDTV and SDTV
formats contained in the ATSC standard, but these have been uniformly
adopted on a voluntary basis by broadcasters and receiver manufacturers.
All digital receivers (set-top boxes) and HDTV sets receive them all. A
DTV receiver, which looks like a VCR or a cable or satellite receiver,
gathers and translates the digital signal for the DTV monitor.

In 1997 the FCC adopted companion DTV rules, assigning an additional 6
MHz channel to approximately 1,600 full-power broadcasters in the U.S.
to permit them to offer digital terrestrial broadcasts in parallel with
their existing analog services during a transition period, while
consumers made the conversion to digital receivers or set-top boxes. In
accordance with the FCC plan, digital television service was launched in
the U.S. November 1, 1998. The two most commonly used signals by local
broadcast stations are EDTV and HDTV. With the current analog system, TV
images are created by interlace scanning, which uses two fields of
alternating horizontal scanning lines to form a full picture. This
picture is referred to as "480 interlace," or 480i.With many DTVs, the
number of scanning lines are more than doubled to 1,080 (1080i).This is
HDTV and delivers a more detailed image that practically jumps off the
TV screen. HDTV also may be broadcast and displayed as a "progressive
image" (720p), like a computer monitor. Here, a full frame fills the
screen from top to bottom, eliminating lines altogether so the picture
has a more film-like feel. EDTV quality is referred to as 480p for its
480 progressive lines of resolution. In the new digital era,
broadcasters can offer free, over-the-air television of higher
resolution and better picture quality than is possible under the current
system. If broadcasters so choose, they can deliver HDTV with
theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound. Or a broadcaster can
offer several different TV programs at the same time (called
“multicasting”), but in a lower resolution – SDTV. Even with fewer than
480 lines of resolution, the picture and sound quality of SDTV still is
better than analog TV. The target date for completion of the
analog-to-DTV transition is February 19, 2009

*What is HDTV and why is it so important?*
HDTV is an entirely new system that will ultimately replace today’s
existing analog "NTSC" television system. The term "HDTV" refers to a
television system that can transmit, receive and display high-quality
digital images. Once the DTV standard was set in 1996, the Federal
government subsequently mandated a nationwide transition for the
nation’s 1,600-plus television stations to move from analog to digital
transmission. In order to facilitate this, the FCC allocated an
additional channel to all broadcast TV stations. This second channel is
dedicated for digital broadcasts and upon completion of the transition,
the original analog channel must be returned to the government. The FCC
will eventually auction the analog channel spectrum. Broadcasters are
offering an ever increasing array of high-definition programming. . .
you will be knocked out when you see them. When you get your new HDTV
home, you’ll have an amazing palette of digital entertainment from which
to choose—right in your living room. No matter if you love soap operas,
prime-time favorites from network TV and premium cable networks,
Hollywood blockbusters or almost every sport you can imagine, you'll
likely find sparkling HDTV versions available today.

To find out what programs are airing in HDTV in your town, check out
Titan TV (www.titantv.com), a free online program guide from Decisionmark in conjunction with CEA. The National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) website also is a good source for the latest list of DTV broadcast stations in your area (www.nab.org ). Your new HDTV also is a great companion for the many affordable progressive scan output DVD players widely available on the market. While these players don’t provide a high-definition image, connect one to your HDTV and you'll see a beautiful, seamless picture that exceeds even the quality of a standard DVD player. With thousands of DVD titles available and all the new DTV programming on-air, there's no shortage of digital entertainment for your new HDTV.

*What makes HDTV better than today’s television?*
HDTV offers incredibly detailed, life-like picture quality with up to
five times the sharpness of today’s television along with digital
surround sound capability and a widescreen format.

*Is my current TV obsolete?*
No, analog televisions will continue to receive analog broadcasts
through February 2009. After that, consumers will be able to connect an
inexpensive receiver to their existing TV to decode TV broadcast
signals, just not in high-definition. Of course, current televisions
will continue to work with cable, satellite, VCRs, DVD players,
camcorders, video game consoles and other devices for many years.

*What can I watch in HDTV?*
The great news for consumers is that Hollywood is creating more and more
digital programming at the highest levels of resolution and sound quality.

*What is the difference between “digital cable,” “digital satellite” and
“HDTV?”*
Just because a program arrives through a digital cable or digital
satellite doesn’t mean it is in high-definition. Much of today’s
programming, even that received from a digital satellite, digital cable
or even a digital channel broadcast over-the-air – is delivered in SDTV.
You’ll get a better picture than you get with the analog broadcasts TV
has used for years, because a digital picture will be free from the
“ghosts” and “snow” that can plague analog transmissions. At a minimum,
over-the-air SDTV offers a picture 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high,
totaling 307,200 pixels – about 50 percent more than today’s analog TV.

A standard definition picture will be good, but not nearly as sharp and
crisp as high-definition, which can go up to two million pixels.

*How Do I Receive HDTV?*
There are several components required to watch a program in HD.
Generally, it's simple and just like receiving traditional TV:

■ The program must be transmitted in high-definition. Viewers can
receive HDTV signals through one of three ways: over-the-air broadcast,
cable, or direct broadcast satellite.

■ At the consumer’s home, the signal must first go from the antenna,
dish, or cable through a receiver. Again, HDTV Sets have receivers built
in (often referred to as "integrated sets"); others require a separate
set-top receiver. Cable and satellite subscribers currently need a
special HDTV set-top box.

■ The program must be viewed on an HDTV Set or Monitor. In addition to a
receiver (integrated or via a set-top box), a consumer needs a
standalone monitor or integrated set capable of displaying
high-definition images.

*Digital TV Shopping Guide*
Before you walk into a consumer electronics store, it's important to
know some key phrases that describe the advanced TV you'll be buying.
The good news? There are hundreds of HDTV products available today, and
prices are more affordable than ever.

■*BEST - *High Definition Television
Vertical Resolution from 720p to 1080i
Widescreen (16:9)
Receives and reproduces and/or outputs Dolby Digital 5.1

■*BETTER - *Enhanced Definition Television
Minimum vertical resolution of 480p
Widescreen (16:9) or traditional (4:3)
Receives and reproduces and/or outputs Dolby Digital 5.1

■*GOOD - *Standard Definition Television
Less than 480p
Widescreen (16:9) or traditional (4:3)
Receives and reproduces and/or outputs useable audio

*How do I know what to buy?*
Start by doing your homework just as you would for any long-lasting
household purchase. This primer is a good start. CEA also collects HDTV
retailer listings and posts this information on its website – www.ce.org/hdtvguide. These retailer listings are part of a larger print and online resource titled the "HDTV
Guide." Additionally, CEA is working with other industries involved in
the transition to promote HDTV and properly educate retail sales
personnel so that once you set foot in a consumer electronics store,
you’ll be guided to the best HDTV purchase for your needs. One
partnership CEA has established with Decisionmark is the Titan TV Retail
Zone. This program lets retailers enter the address of their customers
and quickly determine which local, off-air TV stations are broadcasting
in digital, and which programs are available in HDTV. The RetailZone
even helps retailers recommend the optimal antenna required to receive
DTV at consumers’ homes by incorporating CEA’s off-air antenna color
coding scheme (www.antennaweb.org ).

*Over-the-Air Broadcast*
At this stage in the analog-to-HDTV transition, consumers need the right
equipment for their specific programming wishes and the area in which
they live. Currently, the predominant way to watch your local stations’
HDTV channel is with an over-the-air antenna. Most cable and satellite
providers do not yet carry your local digital channels (check with your
cable or satellite provider).This is changing every day as more cable
companies join the HDTV bandwagon. Until then, over-the-air HDTV
reception is a free and spectacular viewing experience!

If you want over-the-air reception, you will need an antenna. The type
of antenna required – rooftop or indoors – depends on your location, the
distance from the station’s transmitters and the local terrain. In many
instances a rooftop antenna will be more effective, but you might have a
set of old rabbit ears that work just fine. It varies from household to
household. To find out what antenna works for your home, use the CEA
antenna selector map program located at www.antennaweb.org
< http://www.antennaweb.org/>. This easy-to-use online tool lets you
enter your zip code to see a map plotting your home’s proximity to the
various HDTV stations in your area. The site also tells you whether you
will need a multi-directional or a unidirectional antenna. Again, CEA
also has created a color-coded labeling system on antennas to further
aide consumers when they shop.

*Satellite*
To receive HDTV via satellite, you will need a specific receiver, as
well as a special satellite dish. Both are readily available from local
electronics retailers. DIRECTV and Dish Network are actively promoting
their HDTV services. See your dealer or their websites for more details.

*Cable*
The consumer electronics and cable industries have agreed upon a
national standard for HDTV over cable systems that will allow consumers
to buy DTVs that connect to digital cable without a set-top box and
enjoy easy access to HDTV services offered by cable operators. This
"plug-and-play" agreement ensures that "Digital Cable Ready" TVs (DCRs)
soon will be available at your local consumer electronics retail store
and will allow the millions of cable households in the country to
seamlessly transition to HDTV by simply plugging their new DCR HDTV into
their cable jack and turning on the set. HDTV service and programming
may vary from region to region, so call your cable provider to inquire
about HDTV service in your particular area.

The best television sets currently available are HDTVs with 16:9
widescreen aspect ratios capable of displaying either 720p, 1080i or
higher resolutions. HDTV sets also have built-in digital
receivers/decoders and deliver Dolby Digital sound. There are also HDTV
monitors that offer the same high picture and sound quality as HDTV
sets, but require separate receiver boxes to decode digital signals.
HDTV tuners are the key to the exciting new digital kingdom. You must
have one – either inside or connected as a set-top box – in order to see
DTV programs. HDTV tuners decode all ATSC formats and send 480p, 720p or 1080i signals to an HDTV monitor. It also outputs Dolby Digital audio.
They are often called set-top boxes, receivers or digital decoders. Like
the highest quality HDTV, Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV) is an
all-in-one unit—a display with a built-in decoder in either direct view
or rear projection design. In this case, you'll see at least a 480p
image, rather than 720p or 1080i. The screen can either be square-shaped
(4:3 aspect ratio) or widescreen (16:9). It receives, reproduces and
outputs Dolby Digital sound. An EDTV monitor has the same display
parameters as an EDTV, but does not have a built-in decoder.
Occasionally, this type of TV is referred to as a multimedia monitor.
The Enhanced Definition TV tuner receives all digital signals, but
outputs them to a TV at 480p resolution, rather than 720p or 1080i.
Standard Definition TV (SDTV) sets deliver a digital picture that's
better than your current analog TV, but less than the 480p of EDTVs. It
has a built-in decoder, but no aspect ratio is specified by CEA.

The Standard Definition TV tuner is the one most owners of current
analog TVs are expected to purchase in the years ahead. This tuner
receives all digital formats and outputs an analog (NTSC) signal.
However, it does handle Dolby Digital audio.

*Additional HDTV Resources *

/FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC/) – The FCC, under the
leadership of Chairman Michael Powell, has taken a strong and active
role in the HDTV transition. Although its website deals primarily with
policy rules and regulations, it also has Consumer Alerts and Fact
Sheets. (www.fcc.gov)

/ADVANCED TELEVISION SYSTEMS COMMITTEE (ATSC)/ – The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization
developing voluntary standards for digital television. The ATSC member
organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion
picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite and
semiconductor industries. (www.atsc.org)

/NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS (NAB)/ – The National Association of Broadcasters is a full-service trade association that promotes and protects free, over-the-air local radio and television stations'
interests in Washington and around the world. (www.nab.org)

/NATIONAL CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (NCTA)/ – The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, formerly the National
Cable Television Association, is the principal trade association of the
cable television industry in the United States. (www.ncta.com)

/SATELLITE BROADCASTING COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (SBCA)/ – The SBCA is the national trade organization representing all segments of the
satellite consumer services industry. (www.sbca.org)

/A SPECIAL CEA WEBSITE/ has a wealth of information on the
analog-to-digital television transition. Most of this information is
stored on the HDTV Web page, but additional resources, such as policy
filings, press releases and publications, may be found through the
CE.org search engine. (www.ce.org/hdtv)

/HDTV GUIDE/ – Intended as a resource tool for the industry, the HDTV
Guide also contains useful information for consumers, such as a detailed
listing of HDTV products available with manufacturers’ suggested retail
prices.

/HDTV UPDATE E-NEWS/ – CEA produces this e-mail newsletter at least once
a quarter in order to highlight the latest developments in HDTV
programming, policy and related issues. The E-News archive is available
online at www.ce.org/hdtv