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A Guide to Digital TV
• What is Digital Television?
Digital television (DTV) is a new way of transmitting high quality video and audio to your TV set.
Using DTV, broadcasters can transmit high definition TV (HDTV) images, Dolby digital surround
audio, and new services such as multicasting (transmitting more than one program on the same TV
channel) and datacasting. Several of these services can be combined into a single digital
broadcast.
Digital Television Services
• Digital Picture Quality
DTV programs are transmitted in two different formats. The first is Standard Definition Television
(SDTV) and the second is High Definition Television (HDTV).
• SDTV program formats include 480-line interlaced (480i) and 480-line progressive (480p) video.
480i programs are essentially a digital version of our current analog TV programs, while the 480p
format offers improved image detail over 480i. Some 480p programs are broadcast in widescreen
and are comparable to progressive-scan DVD movies in image quality.
• HDTV program formats include 1080-line interlaced (1080i) and 720-line progressive (720p).
Both HDTV formats are always broadcast in widescreen, and offer much higher picture quality than
SDTV.
• Dolby Surround Sound
With DTV, you can listen to a variety of Dolby digital audio formats from Dolby Surround 2.0 to
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, using your home audio system. Many HDTV programs are now
broadcast with DD 5.1 soundtracks.
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