Digital Television (DTV)

December 31, 2006 is the deadline for conversion from analog to digital television broadcasting It couldn’t be met So George W. Bush extended it until February 17, 2009.

DTV “Any technology that uses digital techniques to provide advanced television services such as high-definition TV (HDTV), multiple standard definition TV (SDTV), and other advanced features and services.”

HDTV Represents the highest pictorial and aural quality that can be transmitted through the air.

SDTV Standard Definition TV Can be transmitted along with or instead of HDTV 5 SDTV channels in the space of 1 HDTV channel

What Happened? Japan Europe United States

DTV Formats FormatActive LinesPixelsAspectAdapter HDTV :9CBS,NBC HDTV :9ABC SDTV :9 4:3 FOX

Progress 1998 – 24 stations 2002 – 1315 stations 2006 – 1698 stations

Consumers 12% of U.S. homes had an HDTV set in 2005 Midsized TVs sold after March 1, 2006 must have a DTV tuner Plug-and-play standard should eliminate need for set-top box 90% of consumers have heard of HDTV

Display Types Direct-view CRT Plasma Display Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Digital Light Processing Projector Liquid Crystal on Silicon

Consumer Male years old $100,000 a year income

Things to Ponder Digital television will eventually replace analog transmission DTV cost = $1500 DTV picture is either perfect or not there Only about 33% of households will be able to handle HDTV in 2006 Manufacturers are the key