The impending switch to digital broadcast signals as a universal television medium has, perhaps, been the source of more confusion than is merited. At present, there are a great many new terminologies being tossed about regarding television: HDTV, digital television, converter boxes and so forth. Understanding these terms is the key to understanding television in the modern age.
Those who pay for subscription television services, such as satellite television and cable, will not be affected by the conversion. Subscription television services, satellite in particular, have been broadcasting digital signals for a long while now. The actual conversion to digital and all the associated converter boxes, soon to be obsolete rabbit ears and the specter of having to shell out for a new television in a time when consumers are tightening their budgets only applies to free, over the air broadcast television. If you have a dish on your roof, you have nothing to worry about.
This begs the question: To how many separate things is the adjective "digital" applied where television is concerned? The answer is: many things. Digital broadcast signals such as those used by satellite and those soon to be used by broadcast television allow broadcasters to transmit far more programming due to the lower bandwidth requirements of digital signals. Analog signals take up a great deal of the radio spectrum. The point of converting broadcast television to digital signal format is to free up bandwidth for necessary services such as emergency response. Satellite television never occupied bandwidth ranges desirable to these services to begin with and their signal has always been digital.
Of course, companies use digital signals as a means of offering better service and there has been no shortage of advertising about this, either. Digital signals do allow better clarity and they are also the reason satellite providers and, soon, broadcast television will be able to include extra features such as guides in their broadcasts. Broadcast television is a one-way medium, of course, so interactivity is not something likely to be offered. Satellite has long used the digital format to allow customers to interact with their televisions through services such as pay per view, view on demand and other programming enhancements. Picture quality, however, is usually the number one element of digital signal format where advertising is concerned.
It's important to know that HDTV and digital signals are not one and the same. HDTV is a specific format that offers much higher quality than does traditional broadcast format. Digital signals can carry either standard resolution broadcasts or HD broadcasts. Which is carried depends on the provider. Historically and at present, satellite carries more HD programming than does cable. Broadcast networks carry less than satellite or cable. This format is most popular for broadcasting movies and sports where a very clear image is of great value to the viewer. HDTV requires a television that displays in HD resolution. You can watch HD programs on a standard television, but the picture quality will not be enhanced.
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