The Technical Basics (How it works)
| HDTV (digital) | NTSC (analog) |
| 1125 total lines | 525 total lines |
| 1080 active lines (or 3840, 7680, or even 15360) | 486 active lines |
| 16:9 aspect ratio | 4:3 aspect ratio |
|
1920 x 1080 max. resolution |
720 x 486 max. resolution |
| 5.1 channel surround | 2 channel stereo |
|
30 MHz bandwidth MPEG-2 encoding |
6 MHz bandwidth |
Smart TVs - TVs that connect with Streaming and Internet Services
One technical issue - there is not a global standard for transmission/reception
The squeeze on spectrum - compression technologies vs. rapid growth in information
History
1987 FCC is asked to consider a transition to digital
Why is this even an issue?
Incompatibility!
Cathode Ray Tube TVs are incompatible with Digital TVs
Can you imagine making every TV set in the US obsolete?
A problem:
The FCC decided to phase in digital TV to make the process less painful
"This scares me politically. There is no anger that comes close to the anger of an American that cannot get television." Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO
The big date: June 12, 2009
Consumer phase-in:
| Year | Households with digital TV |
| 2000 | 700,000 |
| 2001 | 1,400,000 |
| 2002 | 3,600,000 |
| 2003 | 7,100,000 |
| 2004 | 12,100,000 |
| 2005 | 15,000,000 |
| 2006 | 20,300,000 |
| 2007 | 33,000,000 (est.) |
(2007 about 30% of American households have a digital TV)
In 2019, approximately 82% of American households had a digital TV of some type.
In the analog era, 99% of American households had a TV.
Does this mean Americans are abandoning TV?
NO! It simply means Americans are finding other devices on which to watch video programming.
Actual Sales (HDTV):
| Year | Sales | Avg. Price |
| 2004 | 8,000,000 | $1,537 |
| 2005 | 8,300,000 | $1,369 |
| 2006 | 11,900,000 | $995 |
| 2007 | 23,000,000 | $850 |
| 2012 | 40,300,000 | |
| 2013 | 41,570,000 | $450 (40-42") |
| 2014 | 37,580,000 | |
| 2015 | 41,150,000 | $330 |
| 2016 | 39,670,000 | |
| 2017 | 39,470,000 | $265 |
| 2018 | 39,200,000 | |
| 2019 | 38,800,000 | $175 |
Where are we now?
transitioning to 4K, but...
8K
1995 - R& D starts in Japan
2012 - First public viewing of London Olympics
2016 - 8K test satellite launched for Japan (NHK)
2018 - 8K satellite broadcasting
2020 - Tokyo Olympics, consumer purchasing
now, up to 85 inch screens
by 2020s, OLED sheets
cost?!
Can the human eye see 4K, 8K, 16K? that's not the question to ask!
16K coming soon to a home near you?
Impacts
Industry Impacts:
Film Industry: Film and Digital provide different textures and potentially different sizes, giving creators more options, but also more headaches!
Film and TV - what do you do with back catalog? Can it be converted/enhanced?
TV manufacturers - is Bigger better?
Consumer impacts:
Is a TV simply a TV?
Choices! Subscriptions
The proliferation of screens:
"seeing is believing"
two screen viewing (TV plus something)
effects on sleep (blue light)
mobility (positives and negatives)
Other Issues