HDTV – Stands for High Definition Television. HDTV is broad cast with a vertical resolution of 720p or 1080i and is broadcast in a 16:9 (widescreen) aspect ratio. HDTV transmissions also carry Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. HDTV will ultimately replace today’s existing analog “NTSC” television system. The target date for the transition to HDTV is 2006. EDTV – Stands for Enhanced Definition Television.

EDTV, which stands for Enhanced Definition Digital TV, has a lower resolution and picture quality than HDTV. You can read more about EDTV vs HDTV in this article.

A display's ability to fully resolve all the details in a broadcast is dependent upon its resolution. An HDTV-capable flat panel monitor has higher resolution capability than an EDTV model, which allows it to display more of the detail in an HDTV broadcast. EDTV flat panel monitors must convert HDTV signals into a lower resolution that's compatible with the display capability of the flat panel monitor.

Most High Definition resolutions are presented in progressive format. This means that the video is not interlaced but instead the entire image is drawn on the screen at the same time instead of alternating horizontal lines. Computer screens are an example of progressive displays and this is why many of the HDTV resolutions sound like computer display resolutions.

SDTV stands for Standard Definition Television. SDTV is a standard under the digital television umbrella. SDTV televisions must display image resolutions of either 480 x 640 in a 4:3 aspect ratio, or 480 x 704 in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.

HDTV (High-definition television) is a new system of television that improves both production and reception of broadcasts for a picture quality up to 10 times better than standard definition. HDTV features increased lines of resolution and an improved aspect ratio (relationship of width:height): 16:9 as opposed to the 4:3 ratio of conventional screens.

Analog: Standard picture and sound quality with up to 80 channels. Digital: DVD picture and sound quality with more than 300 channels. HDTV: 10 times better resolution/image detail than analog with up to 3 channels currently available; more channels will be added in early 2004.

HDTV is just one aspect of digital television. Our parent corporation, Sinclair Broadcast Group, is very bullish on both DTV and HDTV. Because HDTV is one of the most exciting aspects of digital television we have created a HDTV FAQ that should answer all your questions.

The terms "digital television (DTV)? and "high definition television (HDTV)? are often used interchangeably, but they are NOT the same thing. HDTV is the highest quality form of DTV. Not all DTV is high definition.