Last updated: July 17, 2005. This version: 8.00
Answer: On December 24, 1996, the FCC adopted a (mostly) single standard for the broadcast of what is now known as "Digital TV" (DTV). Formerly, this was usually known as "High Definition TV" (HDTV), but early HDTV systems were based on analog technology (pioneered by Japanese companies) and were abandonded several years ago in favor of the superior DTV technology (developed in the U.S.). However, there are further wrinkles on the difference between DTV and HDTV though (see below).
But before you could take advantage of DTV technology, the broadcasters needed to begin transmitting in DTV format. The FCC ruling on this came down around April 1, 1997. The FCC ruled that the broadcasters (i.e. the broadcast networks) must begin transmitting DTV signals in thier 10 biggest TV markets by fall 1998. The Top 35 TV markets are to be online by the end of 1999. And all TV markets must have access to DTV signals soon after. In return, portions of the broadcast "spectrum" were given (for free) to the TV broadcasters for DTV transmisions. Several of the 10 largest TV markets had TV stations broadcasting DTV/HDTV signals, as of Dec. 1998. By November 1999, all TV stations in the Top 30 TV markets had broadcasting in DTV/HDTV (and, I think, most made it); all TV stations were supposed to be broadcasting in DTV/HDTV as of May 2003.
The portion of the spectrum devoted, at the present, to (analog) TV was to be sold back to the FCC by 2007, which is when (analog) TV is supposed to be obsolete (but don't bet on this date being firm!).
That date has now changed - according to an agreement with The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the switch-over to Digital TV (DTV - i.e. including HDTV) is now scheduled to be completed in 2009.
The Specifics of HDTV
DTV promises, among other things, "movie-quality" pictures and sound on home TV systems; this is what HDTV has come to mean. Presently, (most) television pictures are roughly square in shape (see below for actual size ratio) and are made up of pixels lined up in approximetely 540 horizontal rows. HDTV promises wider TV screens (see below), and pixels in 1,080 horzontal rows. So, to compare:
SIZE RATIOS:
Regular (analog) TV - 1.00 : 1.33
Digital TV - 1.00 : 1.78
"Regular" Movies - 1.00 : 1.85
"Wide-screen" Movies - 1.00 : 2.25
This will allow DTVs to display much sharper and crisper images, and will allow most movies to be broadcast in their original form with DTV (without the cropping and "pan and scan" techniques need to broadcast movies on TV right now). Also, digital broadcasting will allow for "CD" quality digital sound.
To take advantage of DTV, you will need one of two things: a "DTV" TV (which is different from traditional "analog" TV), or a TV "converter" box (similar to a cable box). Converter boxes cost around $200-300 when they first came out, but will probably end up costing $50-75 when prices stabilize in the next few years. A "DTV/HDTV" TV set you back over $5000 when they first came, but prices for them as of early 2004 were down to the $500-1000 range, and prices will likely continue to decline over time and level off at a price higher than your standard (analog) TV (which these days cost $100-300, and up).
Note, though: to take full advantage of HDTV, you will need a new "DTV" TV.
Additionally, digital technology will likely help realize the promise of "interactive TV", i.e. the merging of your TV with your computer. The FCC ruling leaves questions in this particular area open to development by the market.
The problem is that this tends to be an either/or proposition: there tends to be only enough spectrum for either HDTV, or interactive/data-intensive TV, but not necessarily for both. What this has meant is that premium movie channels (e.g. HBO, Showtime, etc.) were the first to take advantage of HDTV - but over the last two years or so, the broadcast networks have started to broadcast selected programming in HDTV.
The full and final conversion to DTV/HDTV, and what form it will take on each network, will be sorted out over the next several years.
Where Are We Now, with DTV/HDTV?
So, where are we in the process of converting to DTV and HDTV? As of July 2005, most everyone, including the TV cable companies, are broadcasting in DTV, and many are even broadcasting some shows/channels (though, by no means all) in HDTV. High-Defintion TVs are more and more widely available.
The next part of the transition comes next - the phaseout of "analog" TV. That was supposed to happen by 2009, but that date has already slipped twice, so we'll just have to see if it holds. Stay tuned...
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