Introduction: The Basics; Digital Television (Dtv); High Definition Television (Hdtv); About The Digital Television Picture - Westinghouse HD LCD TV User Manual

2 INTRODUCTION: THE BASICS

Digital Television (DTV)

Television broadcasting is changing. By February of 2009, traditional analog TV
transmissions (the standard since TV's inception) will cease to exist, in compliance
with a federal mandate requiring all U.S. television stations to convert from analog to
the new digital television (DTV) standards.
In contrast to the magnetic waves used for analog transmission (also known as
NTSC, short for National Television Standards Committee), DTV transmits images
and sound as data, using ones and zeroes, the same digital code computers use. As
a result of this increased efficiency, DTV offers an array of benefits including
dramatic improvements to picture and sound quality. In addition, DTV allows the
same number of stations to broadcast using fewer channels, freeing parts of the
broadcast spectrum for other uses, such as public safety and wireless services
Note:
DTV should not be confused with digital cable or digital
satellite systems. While these systems receive digital signals, the
signals are converted to analog for display on channel 3 or 4 of an
analog TV.

High Definition Television (HDTV)

The most common DTV formats are Standard Definition Television (SDTV) and High
Definition Television (HDTV). Of the two, HDTV delivers digital broadcasting's
highest resolution and picture quality. HDTV also uses a "widescreen format," which
refers to the aspect ratio (screen width vs. height) of the image. To put this in
perspective, analog television uses a 4 x 3 aspect ratio; HDTV's aspect ratio is 16 x
9, creating a more cinematic-like viewing experience. Plus HDTV increases the
number of horizontal scan lines on the screen, enabling it to render greater picture
detail. And, while HDTV uses approximately the same bandwidth, it transmits
approximately six times more information, further enhancing video and audio clarity.

About the Digital Television Picture

Your new Westinghouse High Definition LCD TV has a built-in HDTV/NTSC tuner,
meaning it can receive both analog and digital broadcasts from your antenna, cable
or satellite service. But because not all broadcasters have converted to the new DTV
standards, it's important to understand some fundamentals of the digital television
picture.
The elements that make up onscreen images are pixels. The more pixels, the more
detail, because the number of pixels determines picture resolution-and HDTV offers
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