Time for HDTV

摘要

Analogue colour broadcasting began in September 1967 but we had to wait until 1998 for a digital alternative called Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) to became available via satellite, cable or terrestrial means. Its picture resolution is defined as 720 pixels horizontally by 576 pixels vertically (720x576) at 50 interlaced fields per second (a video field is 720x288). This definition is the same as DVD, although DVB rarely matches DVD's image quality. This 'standard definition' (SDTV) system has served us well and still does. However, it harbours three major limitations - it isn't an inherently widescreen format, it has no provision for progressive scanning and it has a low spatial resolution. These only serve to squander the capabilities of modern imaging technologies and multi-media, home cinema systems.